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Events

The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation organizes frequent meetings, workshops, and public events. These events are designed to raise awareness of the threat of terrorism and as well as the important contributions that multilateral bodies make in the fight against terrorism and how those contributions may be improved.

Some Center events are open to the public while others are primarily off-the-record policy discussions. If you would like additional information about any of the below, please contact Jason Ipe via email at jipe@globalct.org or by telephone at 202.464.6008.

 

Center Co-Director briefs EU Council on counterterrorism strategies for East Africa

26 January 2012 | Brussel, Belgium

On 26 January 2012, at the invitation of the Danish Foreign Ministry, the Center's Co-Director James Cockayne briefed the European Union Council's counterterrorism configuration on possible counterterrorism strategies for East Africa. Cockayne highlighted the work of the IGAD Security Sector Program, and the Center's collaborations with IGAD on the ground over the last four years...Read More

AML/CFT Training for Ethiopian Officials

18-20 January 2012 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

With the support of the Center and the Royal Danish Government, from 18 to 20 January 2012, 21 Ethiopian officials received three days of advanced training on anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and other economic crimes. The training was conducted on behalf of the Center by the Danish State Prosecutor for Serious Economic Crimes, Mr Jens Madsen, and the head of the Danish Financial Intelligence Unit, Mr Jens Kauffeld Andreasen...Read More

Ian Cuthbertson Memorial Lecture: Debating Democracy and Terror

7 December 2011 | EastWest Institute's New York Center

Naureen Chowdhury Fink, Senior Analyst at the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, was a speaker at the annual Ian Cuthbertson Memorial Lecture hosted jointly by the World Policy Institute and the EastWest Institute on 7 December 2011.  The lecture focused on the positive and negative aspects of democratic transitions on efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism.  In response to discussions on the “Arab Spring,” Ms. Fink offered the case study of Bangladesh, a country that has struggled to consolidate democracy and find a role for religion and religious politics in social and public life, as an informative comparison…Read More

Regional Working Group Meeting on Preventing Abuse of the Non-Profit Sector for the Purposes of Terrorist Financing

7-9 November 2011 | Auckland, New Zealand

The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation facilitated the organization of the second “Regional working group meeting on preventing abuse of the non-profit sector for the purposes of terrorist financing” in Auckland on 7-9 November 2011. The meeting, which focused on the Asia Pacific region, was the second regional workshop in a process that includes a series of meetings to discuss the risk of terrorist abuse of the non-profit sector and to share good practices and foster cooperation in responding to that risk in different regions around the world...Read More

Closed door working lunch to consider the Security Council’s Approach to the Prevention of Terrorism and Violent Extremism

25 October 2011| New York, New York

Existing UN political missions in Central Asia (UNRCCA), West Africa (UNOWA), Somalia (UNPOS) and the new mission in Libya (UNSMIL) are all mandated to work with governments that are confronted by the specter of rising terrorist and/or violent extremist threats.  Yet a recent study by the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and Center on International Cooperation at NYU finds that political missions’ approaches to these threats lack strategic coherence.  To address these challenges, CGCC and the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations hosted a lunch for current and incoming members of the Security Council to discuss whether, how, and with what tools, the United Nations Security Council might address the question of terrorism prevention. Also among guests at the lunch were senior representatives of the UN Department of Political Affairs, the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF)...Read More

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Training Seminar on Advanced Interrogation Skills in Counter-Terrorism

18-21 October 2011| Kampala, Uganda

The Center and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development’s Security Sector Programme (ISSP) (previously ICPAT), co-hosted a 4-day interactive training seminar on human-rights compliant interrogation techniques. The seminar was held in Kampala, and included officials from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, as well as South Sudan. Participants were drawn from the National Security Services, Police, National Counter Terrorism Centers and the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force. This seminar was the fourth in a series of meetings designed to strengthen a regional counter-terrorism law enforcement network in the IGAD region...Read More

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Strengthening Regional Security Cooperation and Capacity in South Asia: What Role for Civil Society?

17-18 October 2011| International Peace Institute, New York, NY

On 17-18 October 2011, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and the International Peace Institute hosted a meeting on "Strengthening Regional Security Cooperation and Capacity in South Asia: What Role for Civil Society?" The workshop brought together civil society representatives from across South Asia, experts on the region, and representative from the UN to discuss the potential for greater engagement by civil society in preventing and combating terrorism in South Asia. Participants considered  how civil society contributes to countering terrorism and how interaction among civil society groups can help to build confidence and improve security cooperation among states in the region...Read More

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Violent Radicalization in East Africa: Civil Society and State Perspectives

29 September 2011| Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, New York, NY

The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation held an informal and off the record luncheon event on the topic of violent radicalization in East Africa. The event highlighted the multifaceted role of state actors in contributing to, and alleviating conditions conducive to terrorism, focusing on the notion that states are in no way monolithic in approaches to radicalization, deradicalization and counterterrorism, both in the subregion and beyond. The discussion emphasized that ‘state actors’ refers not only to those states in the region, but also to donor states, foreign powers and other forms of governance, such as clans. Three panelists offered their perspectives:  Mr. George Kegoro, Chairman of the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists; H.E. Ambassador Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations; and H.E. Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, Chargé d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Republic of Uganda to the United Nations. The discussion began with welcoming remarks from the Center’s Director, Alistair Millar and was moderated by Programs Officer, Liat Shetret.  Participants included representatives from UN Member States, various UN agencies, civil society and academia.

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Civil Society Side Event on the Occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Adoption of Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) and the Establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Committee

28 September 2011 | ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations, New York

On 28 September 2011, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation organized a civil society side event on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) and the establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

The event was held in the Chamber of the UN Economic and Social Council at UN Headquarters in New York on the margins of a special meeting of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee.  It provided an important opportunity to foster a better understanding of the diversity of ways in which civil society can contribute to UN counterterrorism efforts and how the UN and member states can engage with and help empower civil society to advance shared objectives...Read More

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Briefing  US Congressional Staff on the Challenges and Opportunities for Counterterrorism Cooperation in South Asia and the Horn of Africa

11 August 2011 | United States Capitol Visitors Center, Washington, DC

Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation founder and Co-director, Alistair Millar  spoke to staff members from Senate and House of Representatives working on international security issues. Mr. Millar started with an overview of the Center's work in South Asia to provide training for the region’s police officers, prosecutors, and judges on issues related to interview and interrogation, the handling of sensitive evidence relevant to national security concerns, and effective implementation of domestic counterterrorism legislation...Read More

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Community Engagement to Counter Terrorism

19-21 July 2011 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, in partnership with the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development’s Capacity Building Programme Against Terrorism (ICPAT), recently concluded the third seminar in a series designed to strengthen law enforcement cooperation in East Africa. The seminar, entitled, “Community Engagement to Counter Terrorism,” held from 19-21 July 2011, focused on community, civil society and media engagement for the purposes of effective counterterrorism cooperation. It brought together law enforcement, military, and judicial officials from around the region, as well as civil society representatives from Kenya, Somaliland, Japan, and the United Kingdom, to share best practices and develop innovative thinking...Read More

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Open Source Analysis and Information Sharing in Counter Terrorism

14-16 June 2011 | Nairobi, Kenya

From 14-16 June 2011, CGCC and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development’s Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism (ICPAT) co-hosted a seminar on Open Source Analysis and Information Sharing in Counter Terrorism in Nairobi for a select number of intelligence officers and criminal analysts from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, as well as South Sudan...Read More

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Fourth Regional Workshop for Police Officers, Prosecutors and Judges of South Asia on Effectively Countering Terrorism

24-26 May 2011 | Thimphu, Bhutan

On 24-26 May 2011, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation co-convened the “Fourth regional workshop for police officers, prosecutors and judges of South Asia on effectively countering terrorism” in Thimphu, Bhutan. The three-day workshop, which was the fourth in a series of workshops designed to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation and capacity in the region, focused on issues related to interview and interrogation, the use of sensitive evidence that raises national security concerns, and effective implementation of domestic counterterrorism legislation...Read More

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Lessons Learned from Investigating Terrorism Incidents

18-20 May 2011 | Nairobi, Kenya

From 18 to 20 May 2011, Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development’s Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism (ICPAT) co-hosted a seminar on Investigating Terrorism Incidents in Nairobi for more than 50 law enforcement, intelligence, security and prosecutorial officials from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, as well as representatives from South Sudan and Somaliland.

The Seminar provided a unique opportunity for officials from around the subregion to engage with their counterparts and meet with foreign experts. Participants discussed the current status of efforts to ratify and implement the IGAD Conventions on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance, and expressed strong support for increased efforts at the national level, and for the promotion of a discussion about how to strengthen rule-of-law based counterterrorism cooperation at the subregional level.

Participants explored the importance of effective cooperation by examining lessons learned from the investigation of a number of the Kenya/Tanzania embassy bombings of 1998; the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland of 1998; the Kikambala/Paradise Hotel attack of 2002; and the recent Kampala bombings of 2010. The Seminar explored lessons learned in the areas of leadership, community engagement, financial investigations, information-sharing and inter-agency coordination, and protection of human rights.  These themes will be explored in more depth in seminars gathering some of the same officials, and others, in coming months.

Press Coverage:

Click here to watch a video from the event by NTV Kenya.

"EA states urged to cooperate on terror," Oliver Mathenge, The Daily Nation, 18 May 2011

"East Africa: Drugs Cash Used to Fund Terror Groups in East Africa, Says Wako," allAfrica.com, 18 May 2011

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Regional Working Group Meeting on Preventing Abuse of the Non-Profit Sector for the Purposes of Terrorist Financing

22-24 March 2011 | Bangkok, Thailand

The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation facilitated the organization of a “Regional working group meeting on preventing abuse of the non-profit sector for the purposes of terrorist financing” in Bangkok on 22-24 March 2011. The meeting, which focused on South and Southeast Asia, was the first regional workshop in a process that will include a series of meetings to discuss the risk of terrorist abuse of the non-profit sector and to share good practices and foster cooperation in responding to that risk in different regions around the world...Read More

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Preventing Radicalization and Promoting the Rule of Law: Perspectives from the Netherlands and the United States

24 March 2011,  11:30-1:00 PM | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC


The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation held a luncheon event on “Preventing Radicalization and Promoting the Rule of Law: Perspectives from the Netherlands and the United States.”  The event focused on the outreach efforts and rule of law approaches by government agencies in the Netherlands and United States to counter the threat of radicalization within communities that could be vulnerable to extremist radicalization and terrorist recruitment .  Three panelists offered their perspectives:  Prof. Ernst Hirsch Ballin, (former) Minister of Justice and Minister of Home Affairs of the Netherlands; Mazen Basrawi, Counsel, Office of the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice; and David Gersten, Director, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Programs Branch, Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The  Center’s Director, Alistair Millar moderated the discussion and the question and answer session that followed.  The discussants offered experiences on policies undertaken by their respective government agencies on preventing radicalization in vulnerable  communities, outreach to these communities to open dialogue, including  Muslim leaders, criminal justice methods to prevent communities from falling to violent extremism, and the issue of civil rights and civil liberties when handling legal cases within the community.  The panelists also explored some commonalities and differences between government approaches taken by the Netherlands and the United States on preventing radicalization.

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The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation presents: The Terrorist Who Came Home

17 February 2011, 12:30-2:00PM | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC


The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation hosted a screening of The Terrorist Who Came Home, the first in a series of films from the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task (CTITF) designed to highlight voices of repentant terrorists. The CTITF documentary project features former terrorists and their victims and is intended to provide states with practical experiences to address issues related to violent radicalization.  The brief film examines the life of an Algerian fighter who has since chosen to put down his weapons and focus instead on his family and future. Richard Barrett, Coordinator of the Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee at the United Nations, will introduce the documentary and lead a question and answer session following the screening.

Click here to watch the film.

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Conference on Use of the Internet to Counter the Appeal of Extremist Violence

24-26 January 2011 | Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation co-organized a conference on the “Use of the Internet to Counter the Appeal of Extremist Violence” in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 24-26 January 2011. The conference, supported by Germany, was hosted by Naif Arab University for Security Science (NAUSS) and co-organized by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force's Working Group on Countering the Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes. The conference convened over 120 policy-makers, experts and practitioners drawn from national governments, international organizations, civil society the private sector, and academia who have experience or policy interest in designing and disseminating counter-narratives on the Internet. Just as the Internet may influence people towards violent behavior, so too can it promote a counter to the extremist narrative. To this end, experts shared their analyses of the problems and opportunities presented by the Internet and other media in building and delivering effective counter-narratives, with a view to developing national and international initiatives that can challenge the claims of legitimacy, relevance, and credibility by extremist groups.

Click here to view the conference agenda.

Press coverage:
"Agencies Aim to Counter Threat Of Online Extremism," Deborah Amos, National Public Radio, 2 February 2011.

"Terrorism fight 'must shift to cyberspace' Saudi conference agrees," Caryle Murphy, The National, 27 January 2011.

"UN workshop in Riyadh focuses on use of Internet to counter appeal of extremist violence," UN News Centre, 24 January 2011.

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Expert Working Group Meeting on Preventing Abuse of the Non-Profit Sector for the Purposes of Terrorist Financing

18-20 January 2011 | Lancaster House, London


The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation facilitated the organization of an “Expert working group meeting on preventing abuse of the non-profit sector for the purposes of terrorist financing” in London from 18-20 January 2011. The meeting was the first in a process that will include a series of regional workshops to discuss the risk of terrorist financing in the non-profit sector, and to share good practices and foster cooperation in responding to that risk. The meeting was convened under the auspices of the UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate with the support of the government of Canada, and was hosted by the British government. The Center and the Charities Commission of England and Wales collaborated in organizing the meeting. Participants included representatives from international and regional organizations active in this field, in addition to national-level officials with a role in counter-terrorist financing or charities regulation, as well as representatives from the non-profit sector.

Click here to read the organizers' key observations.

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Improving the Criminal Justice Response to Terrorism: A Practical View from Counterterrorism Prosecutors and US and UN Counterterrorism Experts

30 November 2010 | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC

Confronted with an increasing concern over homegrown terrorism and focus on prevention, strengthening the criminal justice response to terrorism has become an increasing priority.  The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation hosted a luncheon event with: Javier Zaragoza Aguado, Chief Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor of the Kingdom of Spain; Cecilia Ruthström-Ruin, Chief, Terrorism Prevention Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Mike Smith, Executive Director, Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate, United Nations; Todd Hinnen, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice; and Alistair Millar, Director, Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation [Moderator].  The discussants offered practical ideas and insights on how to deal with this relatively new field of jurisprudence.  The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime presented its latest tool to strengthen the legal regime against terrorism, its Digest of Terrorist Cases.  Panelists also explored the links between terrorism and other forms of crime, and especially drug trafficking, and organized crime, pointing out the need for more stringent coordination of investigative and prosecutorial strategies.

Click here to read the event summary.

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Regional Workshop for Police and Prosecutors in South Asia on Effectively Countering Terrorism

9-11 November 2010 | Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation, Semarang, Indonesia

The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation collaborated with the UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate to organize a regional workshop for police officers, prosecutors, and counterterrorism focal points from South Asia at the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) in November 2010. A first regional workshop was held in Dhaka in November 2009 and a second workshop held in Colombo Sri Lanka in June 2010 brought together law enforcement officials to share experiences, lessons learned, and best practices in handling cases relating to terrorism and other serious transnational crime. This the third workshop in the series was an exceptional session held outside the South Asia region, designed to better acquaint participants with JCLEC in Indonesia. JCLEC provides a useful model for law enforcement cooperation in a region that faces several shared security challenges. Building on previous workshops in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the sessions in Indonesia focused on topics including: countering the financing of terrorism; community policing; new payment technologies; and investigations using cell phone records and communications.

Click here to read the organizers' observations.

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National Training Seminar: IGAD Mutual Legal Assistance & Extradition Conventions

7-8 November 2010 | Djibouti Palace Kempinski, Djibouti

On 7-8 November 2010, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD’s) Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism (ICPAT)organized a training seminar in Djibouti on extradition and mutual legal assistance in the IGAD region. Participants in this training workshop included law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges from Djibouti. The meeting, supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was facilitated by resource persons from the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, ICPAT, the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate and LALIVE law firm. It was the last seminar in a series of training workshops designed to raise awareness of the recently adopted IGAD Conventions on Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition and to foster the cross border contacts and technical knowledge of the conventions necessary for their effective use.

Click here to read the IGAD Practitioner Reference Manual for Mutual Legal Assistance & Extradition.

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Retreat on UN Counterterrorism

29-30 July 2010 | Greentree Estate, New York

On 29 and 30 July 2010, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation convened key stakeholders to discuss the current progress and future direction of UN counterterrorism. This Retreat, supported by the Governments of Switzerland and Denmark, the Greentree Foundation and the Connect U.S. Foundation, provided an opportunity for discussion amongst a small group of senior policy-makers from within the United Nations Secretariat and agencies, UN Security Council and General Assembly.

The Retreat provided inputs for a forthcoming Independent Strategic Assessment of the UN’s counterterrorism program, which the Center will publish on 7 September 2010, immediately prior to the UN General Assembly review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy on 8 September 2010.

Discussions covered a wide range of issues relating to the UN’s current and future counterterrorism work, including:

  • Human rights;
  • Progress made in implementation of all four Pillars of the UN Strategy;
  • Possibilities for strengthening integrated counterterrorism capacity-building through the UN system;
  • The role of Member States, operating both through the Security Council and the General Assembly, and beyond;
  • Regional organizations;and
  • The important role of civil society.

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IGAD/ICPAT Regional Training of Trainers: Mutual Assistance & Extradition Under the Recently Adopted IGAD Conventions

15-17 June 2010 | The Harmony Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

On 15-17 June 2010, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD’s) Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism (ICPAT) with the support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a training seminar in Addis Ababa on extradition and mutual legal assistance. Participants in the training workshop included law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia. The meeting was facilitated by resource persons from the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, ICPAT, Peters and Peters LLP, and Amicus Legal Consultants Ltd. It is part of a series of training workshops designed to raise awareness of the recently adopted IGAD Conventions on Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition and to foster the cross border contacts and technical knowledge of the conventions necessary for their effective use.

Click here to read the Draft IGAD Practitioner Reference Manual for Mutual Legal Assistance & Extradition.

French Version

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Regional Workshop for Police Officers and Prosecutors in South Asia on Effectively Countering Terrorism

8-10 June 2010 | Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka

On 8-10 June 2010, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation co-convened police and prosecutors from across South Asia in Colombo to discuss efforts to strengthen counterterrorism in the region. The three-day workshop provided an unconventional forum for senior-level police officers and prosecutors to consider specific issues that arise in counterterrorism cases. Participants in the workshop also considered steps to strengthen international cooperation in investigations and prosecution, including the possibility of developing a joint regional training mechanism. The workshop was hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka, in association with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). It was organized by the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), based in Colombo, and the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation with the support of the Governments of Australia and Canada.

Click here to read the organizers observations.

Click here to read the press release.

Press Coverage:

"Regional Cooperation in Combating Terrorism," Mike Smith, Ceylon Daily News, 9 June 2010

"Law Officers'Efficiency Helps Solve Terrorist Cases," Daily Mirror, 9 June 2010

"Sri Lanka Parley Mulls Action Against Terrorist Financing," Lanka Business Online, 11 June 2010

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Seminar on European Union Support for the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Human Rights

7 June 2010 | European Commission, Brussels, Belgium

On 7 June 2010 the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation hosted a seminar in cooperation with the Directorate for External Relations of European Commission at the Commission’s Headquarters in Brussels. The Seminar focused on raising awareness of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, particularly the human rights elements of the UN Strategy, and how the European Union’s work on counter-terrorism while promoting and protecting human rights are compatible with the UN Strategy.   Representatives from the European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament were joined by UN officials and non-government experts for the four hour off-the-record event.

Karel Kovander, Deputy Director General Responsible for Common Foreign and Security Policy at the European Commission; Lars–Gunnar Wigemark, Head of Security Policy in the European Commission’s Directorate General for External Relations; Alistair Millar, Director of the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation; Jean-Paul Laborde, Special Advisor to the Under-Secretary General in the United Nations Department of Political Affairs; Linnea Arvidsson, Human Rights Officer in the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Regional Office for Europe; Gilles de Kerchove, Counter-Terrorism Coordinator for the European Union; and Micheal Merker, Policy Officer on Counter-Terrorism in the European Commission’s General Directorate for External Relations.

Click here to read the seminar summary.

Click here to see the agenda.

Click here to read the background paper.

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ISESCO and Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation Co-Host Conference on Improving Counterterrorism Cooperation in North Africa

24-25 May 2010 | ISESCO Headquarters, Rabat, Morocco

On 24-25 May 2010, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a two-day workshop at ISESCO’s headquarters in Rabat on “Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in North Africa.”  The meeting focused on enhancing counterterrorism-related cooperation within North Africa and between the region and external partners such as the United Nations. Participants included representatives from states in the region, the United Nations, and relevant regional and non-governmental organizations.

The meeting is part of a broader effort by the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation to support implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and help stimulate more effective regional and subregional counterterrorism cooperation. It builds on recommendations made at a November 2007 conference held by ISESCO, the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the Tunisian government in Tunisia on “Terrorism: Dimensions, Threats and Countermeasures.”

Click here to read the workshop summary and recommendations.

Click here to read the press release.

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Lunchtime Policy Forum -  Countering Terrorism and Other Transnational Threats: Towards a Rule of Law Based Approach?

6 April 2010 | Church Center for the United Nations, New York

On Tuesday, 6 April 2010, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation convened a policy forum on “Countering Terrorism and Other Transnational Threats: Towards a Rule of Law Based Approach?” Moderated by Center Director Alistair Millar, the policy forum convened more than fifty participants from the United Nations, member states, civil society, and the media to consider the current evolution of the United Nations’ work on counterterrorism and other transnational threats such as drug trafficking, human trafficking and arms trafficking. Participants heard addresses from Ambassador Mike Smith, Executive Director of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate; Ms. Joanne Mariner, Director, Terrorism and Counterterrorism Program, Human Rights Watch; and Mr. James Cockayne, Senior Fellow and Director, New York Office, Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation.

Ambassador Smith stressed the evolving nature of the United Nations’ counterterrorism work, and the comparative advantages that the United Nations can bring to bear in norm-setting, developing political legitimacy, and working with partners to develop rule-of-law promoting solutions to new challenges posed by changing terrorist threats. He suggested that the United Nations is increasingly looking to ‘non-traditional’ areas – such as education and engagement with religious actors – as ways to ensure the long term impact of a counterterrorism efforts. Ms. Mariner stressed the influence of UN frameworks on the actions of member states, describing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Security Council Resolution 1904 – which creates the position of Ombudsperson to assist the Al Qaida sanctions committee consider delisting requests – as “a step in the right direction.” Mr. Cockayne stressed the need to consider counterterrorism in the broader context of transnational crime and multifaceted efforts to “build out the rule of law,” by building better connections within the United Nations, and between the United Nations and national, regional, and private sector partners. The panelists took numerous questions from the floor, including on issues such as cooperation between states and the Al Qaida sanctions committee, and the challenges states confront in adapting international sanctions regimes in light of efforts to engage certain Taliban elements.

Click here to see the agenda.

Click here for more photos from the Policy Forum.

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IGAD/ICPAT Regional Training of Trainers: Mutual Assistance & Extradition Under the Recently Adopted IGAD Conventions

23-25 March 2010 | The InterContinenal Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

On 23-25 March 2010, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD’s) Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism (ICPAT) with the support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a training seminar in Nairobi on extradition and mutual legal assistance. Participants in the training workshop included law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges from IGAD member states. The meeting was facilitated by resource persons from the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, ICPAT, Amicus Legal Consultants Ltd., the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism, the UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, and the Pan African Lawyers Union, among others. It is part of a series of training workshops designed to raise awareness of the recently adopted IGAD Conventions on Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition and to foster the cross border contacts and technical knowledge of the conventions necessary for their effective use.

Click here to see a Draft IGAD Reference Manual.

Click here to read the background paper.

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Workshop on Building Capacity in the Area of Counterterrorism in West Africa in the Framework of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

16-17 February 2010 | The Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria

On 16-17 February 2010, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, with support from the government of Denmark, co-hosted a workshop on "Building Capacity in the Area of Counterterrorism in West Africa in the Framework of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy" which took place in Abuja, Nigeria. This project is the sixth component of a broader effort by the Center to enhance implementation of the UN Strategy in different regions around the globe, which includes past projects on southern and East Africa as well as a concurrent assessment of North Africa. The goal of this meeting, and the larger project of which it is a part, is to identify and prioritize the unmet counterterrorism and related capacity needs of countries in West Africa across the four pillars of the UN Strategy and strengthen counterterrorism related cooperation among states in West Africa and between the region and the United Nations.

Click here to read the meeting summary.

Click here (French) to see the agenda.

Click here (French) to read the discussion paper.

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Counterterrorism and Human Rights: Opportunities to Improve U.S. and UN Policy

5 February 2010 | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, New York, NY

On 5 February 2010, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and Human Rights First co-sponsored a meeting at Akin Gump in New York on “Counterterrorism and Human Rights: Opportunities to Improve U.S. and UN Policy.” This meeting was the first in a series of workshops and briefings that the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation is holding over the next year on the issue. The primary objective of this project is to encourage the United States to take the lead in getting the UN Security Council to reestablish credibility internationally on human rights issues, in particular by correcting the lack of attention to human rights in the work of its counterterrorism-related subsidiary bodies and by promoting more cooperation between those bodies (and the broader political/security machinery in New York) and the UN human rights machinery in Geneva.

Click here to read the meeting summary.

Click here to read the background paper.

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Workshop on Raising Awareness of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Among Civil Society in Southeast Asia

18-19 November 2009 | The Sultan Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia

The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and Nahdatul Ulama (NU), with support from the governments of Germany and Sweden, co-hosted a workshop in Jakarta on 18-19 November 2009 to raise awareness of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy among civil society in Southeast Asia and explore the possibilities for greater civil society participation in efforts to implement the global framework in a manner that reflects the local contexts, needs, and priorities across the region. Participants in the workshop included representatives from civil society from across Southeast Asia working on an array of issues related to the implementation of the UN Strategy. The workshop aimed to build on the rich contributions of civil society to furthering human security in Southeast Asia and lay the foundations for the development of a civil society network related to the issues covered in the UN Strategy.

Click here to read the meeting summary.

Click here to read the background paper.

Press Coverage:

“Civil Societies Discuss Ways to Combat Terrorism in Southeast Asia,” Sujadi Siswo, Channel NewsAsia, 20 November 2009 (Link to Video)

"Gov't Told to Give Space to Civil Society in Combating Terrorism," Jakarta Post, 18 November 2009

"The UN and Civil Society's Role in Countering Terrorism," Abdul Wahid Maktub and Alistair Millar, Jakarta Post, 18 November 2009

"War Against Terror in Southeast Asia," Rommel Banlaoi, Jakarta Post, 18 November 2009

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Luncheon Discussion on Building Capacity in the Area of Counterterrorism in West Africa

13 November 2009 | Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations, New York, NY

On 13 November 2009, the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations and the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation hosted a meeting on “Building Capacity in the Area of Counterterrorism in West Africa in the Framework of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.”  The luncheon included speakers from the Economic Community of West African States Commission in Abuja and the UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate who provided updates on their re spective efforts to promote counterterrorism cooperation and capacity building in West Africa.

Click here for more information.

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Building Stronger Partnerships to Prevent Terrorism

8 October 2009 | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC

On 8 October 2009, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, with support from the Ford Foundation, hosted a conference in Washington, DC on “Building Stronger Partnerships to Prevent Terrorism." The goal was to focus attention on cooperative non-military counterterrorism efforts and steps the United States can take to strengthen those efforts. Participants in the full-day event included current senior U.S. and foreign government officials, senior representatives from the United Nations and regional organizations, academic and other non-governmental experts, and distinguished members of the Center’s international advisory council. The conference highlighted the comparative advantages of multilateral bodies in general and specifically as they relate to efforts to strengthen cooperation in two priority regions for U.S. counterterrorism efforts, South Asia and the Horn of Africa. The conference elicited concrete recommendations aimed at enhancing U.S. multilateral counterterrorism engagement, as well as making these international and regional actors more effective.

Click here for more information, including meeting summary.

 

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Workshop on Building Capacity in the Area of Counterterrorism in West Africa in the Framework of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

17 September 2009 | Danish Permanent Representation to the EU, Brussels, Belgium

On 17 September 2009, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark organized a workshop on “Building Capacity in the Area of Counterterrorism in West Africa in the Framework of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.” The meeting included representatives from the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States Commission as well as other relevant regional and subregional organizations. It s erved as a preparatory meeting to build support for the larger, follow-on workshop, which will be convened in West Africa in early 2010 and will include representatives from ECOWAS member states, external partner governments, and nongovernmental experts. The participants at the workshop in Brussels discussed counterterrorism and broader related capacity-building efforts in West Africa and focused in particular on the possibility of developing a subregional strategy on counterterrorism and a mechanism for facilitating improved subregional counterterrorism cooperation and capacity building.

Click here to read the background paper.

Click here to read the meeting summary.

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Workshop on Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in North Africa

15-16 September 2009 | Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Hague, The Netherlands

On 15-16 September 2009, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation with the support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a workshop in The Hague as part of a project on “Implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in North Africa.” This meeting included representatives from the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional organizations and researchers and other nongovernmental experts from North Africa and Europe. It was the precursor to a larger, follow-on meeting the Center plans on organizing in North Africa in early 2010 to which government representatives from the sub region and partner countries will be invited. The September workshop considered the threats and vulnerabilities to terrorism in North Africa as well as national, subregional, regional, and international efforts to address them. The participants discussed the UN Strategy in a subregional context, considering the potential opportunities it offers for, among other things, enhancing counterterrorism cooperation and capacity building in the subregion and its overall preparedness to combat terrorism, as well as for stimulating more coherent and effective engagement by the United Nations and other external partners (e.g., the European Union and the United States) in the subregion on issues related to terrorism and counterterrorism.

Click here to read the background paper.

Click here to read the meeting summary.

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Workshop on UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Awareness Raising in Africa: Building an African Civil Society Network to Support the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy

24-25 June 2009 | Mandela Rhodes Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa

On 24-25 June 2009, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and the Institute for Security Studies, with the support of the governments of Germany and The Netherlands, hosted a workshop in Cape Town titled: Building an African Civil Society Network to Support the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Participants included representatives from civil society organizations from across Africa working on an array of issues related to implementation of the UN’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, as well as from the United Nations and the governments of Germany and South Africa. Participants agreed that the UN Strategy provides civil society a useful entry point to engage on counterterrorism-related issues and a unique opportunity to push for a recalibration of counterterrorism efforts to better reflect African perspectives and priorities.  The meeting also provided the basis for the formulation of a network of civil society groups working on Strategy-related issues to help improve their contributions and facilitate interaction with the United Nations on the issue.

Click here to read the background paper.

Click here for the meeting recommendations.

Click here to read the meeting summary.

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The Role of Regional Organizations in Countering Terrorism: Lessons for the New U.S. Administration

12 June 2009 | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC

The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation hosted a discussion on the role of regional organizations in countering terrorism with Raphael Perl, Head of the Action Against Terrorism Unit, Organization for Security and Co‐operation in Europe and Pablo Martinez, Deputy Secretary and Programs Coordinator, Inter‐American Committee Against Terrorism, Organization of American States. Center Co‐Director Alistair Millar moderated the discussion.

Click here to read the meeting summary.

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Countering Terrorism in South Asia: Building Capacities and Strengthening Multilateral Engagement

20 May 2009 | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC

The event focused on the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation/International Peace Institute report, Countering Terrorism in South Asia: Strengthening Multilateral Engagement (May 2009), which explores ways to build counterterrorism capacities and strengthen counterterrorism cooperation in South Asia, with a particular focus on the role that the United Nations can play in that regard. Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, delivered the keynote address. He was joined by Mike Smith, the Executive Director of the UN Security Council’s Counter‐Terrorism Committee's Executive Directorate and two of the report's co‐authors, Eric Rosand, Co‐Director of the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, and Naureen Chowdhury Fink, Senior Program Officer at the International Peace Institute. The discussion was moderated by Center Co‐Director Alistair Millar.

Click here to read a summary of the discussion.

Click here for the report.

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O'Neil Hamilton and Richard Cupitt (from left to right)Enhancing Cooperation to Prevent WMD Terrorism: Lessons for the New U.S. President

18 February 2009 | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC

The fourth installment of a series of events on the presidential transition discussed the topic "Enhancing Cooperation to Prevent WMD Terrorism: Lessons for the New U.S. President" with Richard Cupitt from the United Nations Security Council’s 1540 Committee, O'Neil Hamilton, a Visiting Fellow from the Henry L. Stimson Center, and Andrew Semmel, a former official in the U.S. State Department.  The Center’s director, Alistair Millar, moderated the meeting.  The discussants considered successes and challenges in U.S. and global efforts to prevent WMD terrorism and highlighted key lessons to learn for the new administration.

Click here to read a summary of the discussion.

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The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Regional and Subregional Bodies - Strengthening a Critical Partnership

16 December 2008 | German Mission to the United Nations, New York

The Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations hosted a discussion on regional cooperation and the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy including Mike Smith, Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED); Carol Fuller, Secretary of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE); and Eric Rosand, Senior Fellow at the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation. The meeting was organized to allow representatives from UN member states, the UN secretariat and nongovernmental organizations to discuss the recommendations from the Center’s report, The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Regional and Subregional Bodies: Strengthening a Critical Partnership.

Click here to read a summary of the discussion.

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Radicalization/De-radicalization: Lessons for the Next U.S. President

4 December 2008 | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC

In the third installment of a series of events on the presidential transition, Center Director, Alistair Millar, moderated a discussion on "Radicalization/De-radicalization: Lessons for the Next U.S. President" with Richard Barrett from the UN Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Monitoring Team, Frank J. Cilluffo from the Homeland Security Policy Institute of George Washington University, Daniel W. Sutherland from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Mona Yacoubian from United States Institute of Peace. They discussed successes and challenges in efforts by the United States and its partners to counter radicalization and highlighted key lessons learned for the next administration.

Click here to read a summary of the discussion.

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Implementing the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy in South Asia

13-14 November 2008 | International Peace Institute, New York

On 13-14 November 2008, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and the International Peace Institute (IPI) convened a workshop on the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in South Asia. The workshop included over 40 representatives from the United Nations and governments in and outside South Asia, as well as researchers and other nongovernment experts from and on the region. The meeting, and the larger project of which it is a part, focused on deepening UN engagement with South Asia, improving the capacity of governments to combat terrorism, and improving counterterrorism cooperation in the region.

Click here to read the workshop summary.

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Partnership of State Authorities, Civil Society and the Business Community in Combating Terrorism

4-5 November 2008 | OSCE, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation Director, Alistair Millar, spoke at the 2008 OSCE Sub-Regional Central Asian Anti-Terrorism Conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on "Civil Society and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Opportunities and Challenges."

Click here to read his remarks.

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Building States’ Capacity to Combat Terrorism: Lessons for the Next U.S. President

30 October 2008 | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC

In the second installment in its series on the presidential transition, the Center hosted a discussion on building states' capacity to combat terrorism with Darcy Anderson from the U.S. Department of State, Celina D. Realuyo from the National Defense University, Carol Fuller from the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, and Christian Mahr from the United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate. Center Director, Alistair Millar, moderated the event. The discussants highlighted key successes and challenges in U.S. and global counterterrorism capacity building efforts and lessons learned for the next administration.

Click here to read a summary of the discussion.

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Seminar Series on Understanding Terrorism in Africa: Assessing Effective Counter-Terrorism Strategies and Measures

21-22 October 2008 | Institute for Security Studies, Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi

Center Senior Fellow, Eric Rosand, delivered remarks on “Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges.”

Click here to read his remarks.

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International Efforts against Terrorist Financing: Lessons for the Next U.S. President

2 October 2008 | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC

The Center hosted a discussion on international efforts to combat terrorist financing with Michael Jacobson from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Elizabeth Joyce from the United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), and Richard Lalonde from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Center Senior Fellow, Eric Rosand, moderated the event. The discussants identified some of the successes and challenges in international efforts to combat terrorist financing and offered recommendations for the next U.S. administration based on lessons learned since 2001.

Click here to read a summary of the discussion.

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The UN’s Counterterrorism Efforts

11 September 2008 | UN Association of the USA Council of Organizations

Richard Barrett, Coordinator of the UN Security Council's Al-Qaida Taliban Sanctions Committee Monitoring Team, and Eric Rosand, Senior Fellow with the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, briefed the UNA-USA’s Council of Organizations on the UN’s counterterrorism efforts. During the briefing Rosand and Barrett discussed the UN’s counterterrorism efforts pre- and post-September 11, and shared recently published recommendations for strengthening the UN counterterrorism program.

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Counterterrorism and the International Community: Waxing Fatigue, Waning Commitment?

5 September 2008 | The Century Foundation

Terrorism officials from dozens of countries came to the United Nations in New York for a two-day meeting of the General Assembly ( 4-5 September 2008) to review their governments' implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted in 2006. The meeting provided an opportunity for The Century Foundation and the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation to organize a luncheon roundtable to allow candid discussion among those officials, UN representatives, U.S. representatives, and terrorism experts on "Counterterrorism and the International Community: Waxing Fatigue, Waning Commitment?" on Friday, September 5.

Click here for video of the event.

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Civil Society Organizations and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Opportunities and Challenges

3 September 2008 | Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations

As the culmination of a project co-sponsored by the governments of Germany and Sweden, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation presented a newly published report on the role of civil society organizations in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Based on input received from civil society groups from all over the world, including those who participated in a workshop convened in New York in July 2008, the report presents a set of recommendations, aimed at a variety of stakeholders, including member states, UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force members, and civil society.

Click here to read the report.

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Raising Awareness and Exploring the Role of Civil Society in Contributing to Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

21-22 July 2008 | International Peace Institute, New York, NY

On 21-22 July 2008, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation convened a workshop focused on exploring the role that civil society can play in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The meeting, held at the International Peace Institute in New York, included representatives from civil society groups from around the world and from the governments of Sweden and Germany, the project sponsors, as well as experts from different parts of the UN system.

Click here to read a summary.

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International Process on Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Concludes, Issues Proposals for Improving UN Counter-Terrorism Efforts


24 July 2008 | New York, NY

The International Process on Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, which was co-sponsored by the governments of Costa Rica, Japan, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Turkey, in cooperation with the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, concluded on 24 July 2008 with the issuance of the process' final document, which enumerates a series of proposals for strengthening the UN counterterrorism program and implementation of the UN's 2006 Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Read more.

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Briefing: The UN's Role in Fighting Terrorism - Where Does Its Comparative Advantage Lie?

11 July 2008 | Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Washington, DC

On 11 July 2008, the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and the United Nations Information Center cosponsored a breakfast briefing by Mike Smith, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive
Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate on "The UN's Role in Fighting Terrorism - Where Does Its Comparative Advantage Lie?"

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Workshop on "Enhancing Capacity Building for the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy – Focusing Mainly on the Experiences of Southeast Asia"

17-18 June 2008 | Tokyo, Japan

On 17 and 18 June 2008 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Japan Institute of International Affairs hosted the fourth workshop in the “International Process on Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation,” which was co-sponsored by Turkey, Costa Rica, Japan, Slovakia, and Switzerland, and supported by the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation. The aim of the fourth workshop was to allow for reflections on the earlier workshops and an opportunity to focus sustained attention on capacity building, which the UN Strategy recognizes as a “core element of the global counter-terrorism effort.” Although not intended to reach any definitive conclusions, the two-day event allowed some 40 experts representing states, multilateral bodies, and civil society to engage in a frank discussion of the role of states, regional bodies and mechanisms, and the UN in enhancing Strategy-related capacity building, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia. The workshop provided an excellent opportunity not only to reflect on the performance of these actors in assessing vulnerabilities and delivering and facilitating Strategy-related capacity building assistance in both the traditional and non-traditional counter-terrorism areas, but to consider ways in which the overall effort could be strengthened.

Read more.

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Panel Discussion: Human Rights and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy - Hopes and Challenges

12 June 2008 | Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Washington College of Law, American University, Washington, DC

Professor Robert K. Goldman of American University's Washington College of Law moderated a panel discussion on human rights and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy with Santiago Cantón of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Steve Crawshaw of Human Rights Watch, Ngonlardje Mbaidjol from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Eric Rosand from the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, and Martin Scheinin, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism. The discussion focused on the Center’s recent report, Human Rights and the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Click here for more information.

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Panel Discussion: Counterterrorism Capacity Building in East Africa

11 June 2008 | Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington, DC

At a panel discussion organized by the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation and the Henry L. Stimson Center, Center Director, Alistair Millar, and Richard Barno with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Capacity Building Programme against Terrorism discussed the challenges of counterterrorism capacity building in East Africa and the Center's report, Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in East Africa.

Click here to read the Center's report, Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in East Africa.

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Panel Discussion: Counterterrorism Capacity Building in Asia and Africa

10 June 2008 | International Peace Institute, New York, NY

The International Peace Institute, together with the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations, organized an expert-level policy forum in which Center Senior Fellow, Eric Rosand, presented the findings and recommendations of the Center's report, Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in East Africa.

Click here for more information on the discussion.

Click here to read the Center's report, Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in East Africa.

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Hill Briefing by Dr. Martin Scheinin, UN Special Rapporteur Focusing on Counterterrorism and Human Rights

9 June 2008 | US Capitol Building, Room HC-7

At a briefing organized by the Henry L. Stimson Center's Security for a New Century project and the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Dr. Martin Scheinin, the UN Special Rapporteur focusing on counterterrorism and human rights, presented a briefing on the need for U.S. counterterrorism efforts to comply with its obligations under international law. The briefing was based on his 2007 fact-finding exercise and legal assessment of U.S. law and practice in the fight against terrorism and subsequent visit to Guantanamo Bay.

Click here to read a summary.

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Panel Discussion: UN Terrorist Designations and Sanctions: a Fair Process and Effective Regime?

5 June 2008 | Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC

Thomas Sanderson, Deputy Director, Transnational Threats Project, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies led a panel discussion on the effectiveness and human rights implications of the UN's Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions regime. Panelists were: Richard Barrett, Coordinator of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team; Eric Rosand, Senior Fellow, Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation; and Michael Jacobson, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute on Near East Policy.

Click here to read senior fellow Eric Rosand's remarks.

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Workshop on "The Role of the UN in Promoting and Strengthening the Rule of Law and Good Governance in Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy"

22-23 May 2008 | Antalya, Turkey

On 22 and 23 May 2008, the Republic of Turkey hosted the third workshop in the International Process on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, which is being co-sponsored by Turkey, Costa Rica, Japan, Slovakia, and Switzerland, and supported by the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation. That meeting, which included some 55 experts representing states, multilateral bodies, and civil society from around the world, focused on "The Role of the UN in Promoting and Strengthening the Rule of Law and Good Governance in Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy."

Click here to read more.

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Risks & Rewards of a Multilateral Counterterrorism Strategy:
A New Report on Hard Choices in a Changing International Order

9 May 2008 | New America Foundation

On 9 May 2008, Alistair Millar and Eric Rosand discussed and responded to questions regarding their new report commissioned by the Better World Campaign, Building Global Alliances in the Fight Against Terrorism, in which they contend that while targeting and capturing terrorists remain at the forefront of the nation's counterterrorism strategy, the United States will need to adopt a much more internationalist approach -- relying on multilateral cooperation for information sharing, enhancing counterterrorism capacities of states big and small, engagement of non-traditional allies, and international legitimacy. The discussion focused on the trade-offs the next administration will face in a changing international landscape.

This event was co-sponsored by the New America Foundation and the Better World Campaign, the advocacy arm of the United Nations Foundation.

Click here to see a video of the event.

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Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in the Western Hemisphere

31 March 2008 | New York, NY

On 31 March 2008, the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations hosted a workshop on implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in the Western Hemisphere. It brought together representatives from OAS member states, UN Secretariat officials, officials from the OAS Secretariat, and leading academic and other non-government experts on the region. Participants examined the nature of the terrorist threat confronting the Americas and the role of the UN, OAS, governments, civil society, and the private sector in addressing the threat.

Click here to read the discussion paper.


Click here to read the workshop summary.

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Workshop on "UN Engagement with Regional, Sub-Regional and Functional Bodies and Civil Society in Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy”

17-18 March 2008 | Bratislava, Slovakia

The government of Slovakia hosted the second meeting of the International Process on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation on 17-18 March 2008 in Bratislava. That workshop dealt with the "UN Engagement with Regional, Sub-Regional and Functional Bodies and Civil Society in Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy."

Click here to read more.

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pictureImplementing the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy in East Africa (IGAD Region)

4-5 March 2008 | Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

On 4-5 March 2008 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Center hosted a conference financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark on implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in East Africa. Experts from the UN, regional and sub-regional bodies, and academic and research institutions participated in discussions held under the Chatham House Rule. That meeting was the second as part of a Danish-sponsored project on implementing the UN Strategy in the region.

Click here to read the discussion paper.

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Counterterrorism & Human Rights Discussion Panel

28 February 2008 | Columbia University Law School, New York, New York

Columbia Law School's Human Rights Institute hosted a discussion of two new publications from the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation: Handbook on Human Rights Compliance while Countering Terrorism by Dr. Alex Conte, and Human Rights and the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Hopes and Challenges by Eric Rosand, Alistair Millar, and Jason Ipe. Discussants included:

  • Alex Conte, reader in law, University of Southampton, member, Advisory Panel of Experts to the
    UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism,
    and fellow, International Policy Institute on Counter-Terrorism
  • EJ Flynn, senior human rights officer, UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, and former
    officer, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva
  • Eric Rosand, senior fellow, Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation in New York and
    non-resident fellow, NYU's Center on International Cooperation
  • Margaret Satterthwaite, assistant professor of clinical law and faculty director, Center on
    Human Rights and Global Justice at NYU Law School, and member, Advisory Panel of Experts to
    the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering
    terrorism.

"The long-term success of the United Nations’ global counter-terrorism strategy depends upon the protection of human rights, said experts at [the] panel discussion..." Read more.

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"How the UN Can Help Stop Terrorism"

24 January 2008 | Austin, Texas

The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas hosted Center Senior Fellow Eric Rosand who spoke about the role of the UN in combating terrorism.

Click here to read the article from the Daily Texan.

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Workshop on "Institutional Challenges in Implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy"

21-21 January 2008 | Zurich, Switzerland

The Government of Switzerland hosted the first meeting of its expert-led "International Process on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation" on 21-22 January 2008 in Zurich. That workshop dealt with the "Institutional Challenges in Implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy."

Click here to read more.

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Workshop on "Implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in East Africa"

14-15 January 2008 | Copenhagen, Denmark

On 15 and 16 January 2008 in Copenhagen, the Center hosted a workshop financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark on implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in East Africa. Experts from the UN, regional and sub-regional bodies, and academic and research institutions participated in discussions held under the Chatham House Rule. That meeting was part of a Danish-sponsored project on implementing the UN Strategy in the region. A larger follow-on meeting meeting will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in March 2008.

Click here to read the workshop summary.


Click here to read the discussion paper.

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Workshop on Conditions Conducive to the Spread of Terrorism: Implementing Pillar I of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

5 December 2007 | New York, NY

The Center and the International Peace Academy organized a workshop hosted by the Permanent Mission of Belgium to the UN on "Conditions Conducive to the Spread of Terrorism: Implementing Pillar I of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy" on 5 December 2007. It brought together representatives of some 25 UN Member States, UN Secretariat officials, and leading academic and other nongovernmental experts to discuss how the UN can best address conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism identified in the September 2006 UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, how these efforts can be strengthened, and how member states can contribute to a fuller implementation of this part of the Strategy.

Click here to read the workshop summary.

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Center Presents Recommendations for Addressing Youth Radicalization

30 November 2007 | New York, NY

The Center presented recommendations for addressing youth radicalization and implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy at a lunch including 100 UN officials and diplomats hosted by the Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN. Those recommendations are based on meetings convened on 11-12 July in Rome with the Istituto Affari Internazionali.

Click here to read more.