Enhancing the Role of United Nations Field Presences in Countering Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism (Phase II)

Lead Entity/ies
Department of Peace Operations (DPO)
Collaborating Partners
Entities within the United Nations System: United Nations Office of Counterterrorism (UNOCT), Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Duration
January 2024 - December 2024
Location
United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) and United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Approved Budget
$ 472,339
Description/outline
This project has supported MONUSCO and UNRCCA in strengthening the capacities of national authorities and regional organizations in counterterrorism (CT) and preventing violent extremism (PVE). Support was guided by needs assessments within host States’ and regional organizations’ justice and security entities involved in CT and PVE, as well as consultations with the “Network of Peacekeeping Mission Focal Points on CT and PVE.” MONUSCO trained 75 criminal justice actors on prisoner deradicalization and preventing radicalization in prisons. UNRCCA and the UN Office of Counterterrorism co-hosted a regional conference and training in Tashkent on community resilience to extremism, attended by 50 representatives from state institutions and civil society organizations across all five Central Asian states. UNSMIL organized a “Code of Conduct Training” for military and security personnel in Tunis. Four meetings of the Network further enhanced coordination among peace operations on CT and PVE efforts.
Status
Completed

Synopsis

Objectives

This project seeks to enhance internal coordination and coherence for stronger and more efficient capacity-building United Nations System support to host States’ and regional organizations’ justice and security entities involved in Counter terrorism and Preventing violent extremism.

Components

The project involves expanding the scope of the Network of Peace Operations Focal Points, facilitating the exchange of lessons and best practices on capacity-building support, identifying needs and gaps within host States’ and regional organizations’ justice and security entities involved in CT and PVE, and designing and implementing pilot or first-phase projects to address the identified needs and gaps.

Main achievements

Preliminary assessments were performed to identify needs and gaps of host States’ and regional organizations’ justice and security entities involved in CT and PVE, including through exchanges with Network members. Following this, it was determined that the project would support the design and implementation of pilot or first-phase initiatives facilitated by three missions, MONUSCO, UNRCCA, and UNSMIL.

In the DRC, MONUSCO carried out training sessions for criminal justice actors on the deradicalization and reintegration of prisoners, and the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism in prisons. Training sessions were delivered in Beni, Bunia and Kinshasa, and provided participants with the relevant tools to address risks and conduct investigations. In total, the training sessions were attended by 75 beneficiaries, including magistrates, Congolese National Police and corrections officers.

From 10 to 12 September 2024, UNRCCA and UNOCT co-hosted a regional conference and training in Tashkent for the Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Network for Central Asia. The event included training to build community resilience to extremist ideology and to help address regional insecurity and how it is impacted by the situation in Afghanistan. It was attended by 50 representatives from state institutions and civil society organizations of all five Central Asian states, giving them the opportunity to exchange information on the latest security-related trends in the region.

On 5 and 6 November 2024, UNSMIL convened a “Code of Conduct Training Workshop for Military and Security Actors” in Tunis. Concurrently, the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions supported UNSMIL’s delivery of a side event which brought together opposing national actors of Libya to explore common ground on border management and preventing the spread of violent extremism. The support for this event included an in-person visit by the Head of the Policy and Operational Support Team of OASG/ROLSI to co-facilitate the side event and to brief on OROLSI priorities and perspectives.

The scope of the network is being expanded to focal points from among all relevant peace operations with a rule of law and security institutions capacity or mandate, including peacekeeping operations and special political missions.

Impact

The Network of Peace Operations Focal Points on CT/PVE addresses the need for a more strategic and cohesive approach at the UN Secretariat and among Member States.