“Since the previous iteration of the Technical Guide, published in 2017, the Security Council has adopted eight further resolutions on counter-terrorism, which cover a broad range of topics, including, among others, counter-financing of terrorism, the proper use of biometrics, the incorporation of the gender dimension, and countering the abuse of information and communications technologies for terrorist purposes.
18 August 2020 – “Since the previous iteration of the Technical Guide, published in 2017, the Security Council has adopted eight further resolutions on counter-terrorism, which cover a broad range of topics, including, among others, counter-financing of terrorism, the proper use of biometrics, the incorporation of the gender dimension, and countering the abuse of information and communications technologies for terrorist purposes. The updated edition of the Technical Guide, which is available in the six official United Nations languages, incorporates all the new elements set forth in those eight resolutions.” These were the opening remarks of H.E. Mr. Kais Kabtani, Chair of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tunisia to the United Nations, during an open meeting of the CTC, held virtually held on 17 August 2020.
In accordance with Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1535 (2004), 1624 (2005), and 2178 (2014), the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) is required to assist the CTC to monitor, facilitate and promote the implementation by Member States of Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005) and 2178 (2014). In this regard, the CTC requested CTED to update its 2009 Technical Guide to reflect the requirements of the relevant successor resolutions of the Council. The Technical Guide is intended as a reference tool to help ensure consistent analysis of States’ implementation efforts.
“It is important to reiterate that, in order to effectively counter terrorism and violent extremism and address the conditions conducive to them, we must avoid narrow, short-term approaches. Our approaches must be holistic, and they must provide for “hard” and “soft” measures, within clear legislative framework, with functioning institutions and effective operations. The updated Technical Guide takes those imperatives into consideration,” said Mr. Kabtani.
The Technical Guide addresses each paragraph of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005) and identifies critical provisions of 2178 (2014). It also takes into account the requirements set forth in resolutions 2129 (2013), 2133(2014), 2178 (2014), 2195 (2014), 2220 (2015), 2242 (2015), 2253 (2015), 2309 (2016), 2322 (2016), 2331 (2016), 2341 (2017), 2354 (2017), 2368 (2017), 2370 (2017), 2379 (2017), 2388 (2017), 2462 (2019), 2467 (2019) and 2482 (2019) in order to reflect the additional elements prescribed in these resolutions.
In her remarks, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of CTED, stressed that the Technical Guide will be of considerable assistance to States in their development of holistic, comprehensive and multidisciplinary policies, strategies and whole-of-society approaches that respect human rights and also take gender dynamics and sensitivities into consideration. She also stressed that it is not just a tool for Member States, but also an invaluable source of practical guidance for practitioners in the field.
During the open briefing, CTED experts presented the updated Technical Guide, focusing on major updates in the following areas: (i) counter-financing of terrorism; (ii) legal and criminal justice; (iii) border management and law enforcement; (iv) mainstreaming of the human rights aspects of counter-terrorism; (v) integration of the gender dimension into peace and security efforts, including counter-terrorism; and (vi) prohibition of incitement to terrorism and countering violent extremism.
The participants noted the need to continue to adapt their approaches to address the constantly evolving terrorist threat, as well as the related trends, issues and challenges.
The members of the CTC expressed their willingness to continue their efforts to ensure that the updated Technical Guide will reflect any new requirements of Security Council resolutions.
A concept note for the virtual open briefing can be found here.
The agenda is available here.
The webcast of the proceedings is available here.
The summary of discussions is available here.