The visiting delegation with its hosts during the assessment visit to Ecuador.
Acting on behalf of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee, its Executive Directorate (CTED) conducted a visit to the Republic of Ecuador from 23 to 27 October 2023. The assessment, which was the first time for Ecuador, covered all relevant Security Council resolutions, including 1373 (2001), 2178 (2014), 2396 (2017), and 2617 (2021).
The delegation was led by Assistant Secretary-General, Ms. Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of CTED, and included CTED experts, as well as representatives of the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Inter-American Committee on Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS-CICTE), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the United Nations Al-Qaeda and ISIL Monitoring Team.
The Executive Director held bilateral meetings with the President of Ecuador, and officials from key offices working on counter-terrorism, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Defense, the State Attorney-General, the Prosecutor-General, and the Ombudsperson. The Executive Director additionally met with the President of the Constitutional Court and its respective members, civil society organisations, and academic institutions.
The Executive Director also had the opportunity to engage with the United Nations Resident Coordinator, heads of 缅北禁地agencies working in Ecuador, and Member States involved in international cooperation activities in relevant counter-terrorism areas.
The visit allowed the delegation to assess progress made by Ecuador on the implementation of its counter-terrorism measures. Thematic areas covered included discussions both at the political and technical levels of the threats that Ecuador faces; counter-terrorism legislation; criminal justice and international cooperation in criminal matters; financing of terrorism; countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism; and law enforcement and border management, including on-site visits for aviation and maritime security, intelligence gathering, and the police fusion centre. A visit to the maritime port of Guayaquil allowed the border management team, including two experts from IMO, to focus on Ecuador’s maritime security provisions.
In accordance with the practice followed for the Committee’s previous visits, discussions also included the role of women in countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, as well as human rights aspects. As an integral part of the official assessment, the delegation held a meeting with representatives of a wide range of civil society organizations and academia in Ecuador, an exchange that took place at the International University SEK.
Assessment visits are the most important means by which the Committee conducts its dialogue with Member States. They allow Member States to update the Committee on their own assessment of the terrorism threat they face. In addition, the visits provide an opportunity for CTED to identify shortfalls in the effective implementation of the relevant counter-terrorism resolutions and areas where the assessed Member State could benefit from technical assistance, as well to provide recommendations and learn first-hand about Member States’ good practices.