Since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), the Member States of South and South-East Asia have made significant progress in strengthening their counter-terrorism capacities. Specific measures introduced have focused on counter-terrorism legislation, countering the financing of terrorism, law enforcement and border controls (including maritime and aviation security, immigration, and intelligence-sharing), as well as on international, regional, and subregional cooperation.
Acting on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, CTED has conducted assessment visits to several States of South Asia and to all States of South-East Asia. These visits have enabled CTED to identify strengths, effective practices and progress made by States in implementing the relevant Council resolutions and related international standards. They have also provided an opportunity for the Committee to identify remaining challenges and areas in which the visited States may benefit from receiving technical assistance.
The objectives of the proposed open briefing are:
- to facilitate discussion of the current and evolving threat of terrorism in South and South-East Asia, especially in light of evolving situation in Afghanistan, close ties between Taliban, largely the Haqqani Network, Al-Qaida and foreign terrorist fighters in the region, and growing influence of ISIL-K;
- to identify progress achieved and remaining gaps in implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions and international standards in compliance with international law (particularly with the adoption of resolution 2617 (2021) and the updated version of the Global survey of the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant resolutions by Member States;
- to inform the Committee about CTED’s efforts to facilitate technical assistance delivery in accordance with the Committee’s visit recommendations and the requests of Member States, including in close cooperation with the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC/TPB); the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); and the relevant United Nations Resident Coordinators; and highlight the impact and implications of Covid-19 on counter-terrorism and the countering violent extremism landscape as and when conducive to terrorism.
Taking place at United Nations Headquarters on Monday, 14 February 2022 in the Economic and Social Council Chamber from 10:00am to 1:00pm EST, the open briefing is open to Member and Observer States, members of the media including photographers with valid accreditation, United Nations staff and interns, UN entities, intergovernmental organizations, and specialized agencies, as well as invited guests with a valid UN grounds pass. It will also be livestreamed on UN Web TV.
The open briefing will include representatives from Member States in South and South-East Asia, and United Nations entities, including the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The briefing is also open to the wider membership and other implementing partners (including relevant United Nations entities) and other relevant actors. It is anticipated that the briefing will include briefings by Member States in South and South-East Asia, especially those who have been visited by CTED on behalf of the CTC recently.
The initial statements will be followed by a question-and-answer session, and active participation will be encouraged.
In view of the logistical and technical arrangements required to hold the open briefing, the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee requests that non-Committee Member States and non-South and South-East Asian regional Member States watch the briefing on UN Web TV.
For Member States wishing to make a virtual intervention during the open briefing, please register here.
For any questions, please contact Fei Xing xing@un.org or Sibylle Eschapasse eschapasse@un.org.
The concept note is available here.
The agenda is available here.