Objectives

The project aims to enhance internal coordination and coherence to ensure that the United Nations System provides stronger and more efficient capacity-building support to host states’ justice and security institutions on Counterterrorism (CT) and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE).

Components

Main components include establishing a Network of Peacekeeping Mission Focal Points on Countering Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism (CT/PVE); identifying needs and gaps within host States’ justice and security institutions through assessments and Network meetings; facilitating the exchange of lessons and best practices on capacity-building support; and designing and implementing pilot projects to address identified needs.

Main achievements

The project established a Network of Peacekeeping Mission Focal Points on CT/PVE and the convening of more than four meetings. Additionally, assessments on needs and gaps within host States’ and regional organizations’ justice and security entities involved in CT and PVE were conducted. Furthermore, the project supported the design and implementation of three mission-level pilots to address the identified needs and gaps.

In Mali, MINUSMA conducted a one-month training of trainers’ project for 16 corrections officers of the Malian Prison Service to effectively ensure security and manage incidents in prisons, particularly those holding high-risk detainees linked to terrorism-related offenses.

In The Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO conducted training of trainers’ activities in Bunia, Beni and Oicha for 75 Congolese National Police personnel in the use of special investigative and information-gathering techniques to prevent and combat radicalization and violent extremism.

Finally, in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA carried out 18 training of trainers’ sessions for 2,383 beneficiaries (including Internal Security Forces, journalists, prison staff, detainees and local community members) on the prevention and mitigation of hate speech conducive to radicalization.

Impact

The project, through the Network of Peacekeeping Mission Focal Points on CT/PVE, answers the need for a more strategic and cohesive approach at the UN Secretariat and among member states, while also ensuring that peacekeeping operations are sufficiently resourced and empowered to meet the demands of their mandate and to address operational realities at the field level.

The project, through the Network of Peacekeeping Mission Focal Points on CT/PVE, contributes to a more strategic and cohesive approach within the UN Secretariat and among Member States. The Network also ensures that peacekeeping operations are adequately resourced and empowered to fulfil their mandates and respond to operational realities on the ground.