On 28 September 2001, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1373, establishing the basis of the Security Council’s response in countering the terrorism threat. The resolution also established the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) as a subsidiary body of the Council to assess Member States’ compliance with the resolution’s provisions. In the nearly twenty years since the resolution’s adoption, the terrorism threat has ebbed and flowed in intensity and evolved in terms of its nature and source. Counter-terrorism responses have also evolved and expanded in scope during the same time period, with the Council playing an increasingly central role through its resolutions and guidance documents.
The Security Council has long emphasized the positive contribution that civil society can make to Member States’ efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism that is conducive to terrorism. Security Council resolution 1624 (2005) stresses the importance of the role of civil and religious society, among other actors, in efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding, in promoting tolerance and coexistence, and in fostering an environment which is not conducive to incitement of terrorism. Resolution 2178 (2017), in addressing the threat posed by Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs), urges States to consider empowering concerned groups of civil society and adopting tailored approaches to countering recruitment to violent extremism and promoting social inclusion and cohesion. In accordance with these provisions, CTED has actively engaged with civil society actors, and it has encouraged Member States to do so as well, in a human rights-compliant manner.
On 12 January 2021, the Security Council, under the presidency of Tunisia, will hold an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of resolution 1373 (2001) and the establishment of the CTC. In support of the high-level meeting, CTED will organize a virtual roundtable with international civil society organizations to reflect on the experience of the last 20 years and the development of effective approaches to countering the threats of terrorism and violent extremism.
The virtual roundtable “Partnerships and Challenges in International Counter-Terrorism Efforts” will be held on 8 January 2021 from 09:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), and is open to Member States, United Nations entities, and civil society organizations.
The virtual roundtable will be held via Microsoft Teams. Interested participants are asked to register at the following link: .
The concept note for the virtual roundtable is available here.
The draft agenda for the virtual roundtable is available here.