Vienna / Budapest. 17 June 2011. Sharing best practices and enhancing national, regional and global capacity in countering terrorism was at the heart of discussions today in Budapest at a one-day seminar organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Government of Hungary and the United Nations Office of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF). Attended by counter-terrorism practitioners from over 60 Governmental and international organizations from various parts of the world, the seminar aimed to promote awareness of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy as well as highlight concrete and practical action taken by countries at regional and global levels in implementing the action points of the Strategy.
Adopted in 2006 by all Member States of the United Nations, the Strategy is the blueprint of the international community's response to terrorism. It is built on four pillars which aim to provide an across-the-board, internationally appropriate response to this threat: a) tackling the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism; b) preventing and combating terrorism; c) building States' capacity to prevent and combat terrorism and strengthening the role of the United Nations system in that regard; and d) ensuring respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis for the fight against terrorism.
While implementation of the Strategy is primarily the responsibility of Member States, the United Nations has been assisting countries in their work through the CTITF which brings together over 30 different programmes, offices, agencies, departments within the UN system.
The Budapest seminar is part of a number of meetings allowing Member States to better align practices and translate the Strategy into direct and tangible actions at national levels.
Since 2003, UNODC through its Terrorism Prevention Branch has assisted 168 countries to ratify and implement the legal instruments against terrorism and by doing so promotes a rule of law-based approach to counter terrorism.
In his address to the Budapest event UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov reaffirmed his Office's commitment to working with countries on this front. Mr. Fedotov said that while actions taken so far have been successful, much remains to be done to fight the global scourge of terrorism, in particular with regards to enhanced cooperation and exchange of information: "If we are to further combat and prevent terrorism then we must step up our efforts behind the quick transfer of information. If the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is to continue to make inroads in fighting this crime then we have to cooperate on all issues and at all levels."
UNODC's counter-terrorism work is responding to concerns of Member States and places increasing focus on the issue of victims, as well as on the possible connections between terrorism and related criminal activities, In March 2011 a Symposium was held in Vienna which brought together 100 countries to consider how to strengthen responses to terrorism by addressing such criminal connections, and which also highlighted the need for enhanced support to victims of terrorism.
UNODC is a key member of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force and has played an active role in supporting the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia and other regions, with the Office's projects in Afghanistan and the neighbouring countries an example of successful implementation of the Strategy at national and regional levels.
In addition to attending the Seminar Mr. Fedotov met with several senior officials including János Martonyi, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Sándor Pintér, Minister of the Interior. The Executive Director used the meetings to discuss a range of issues including terrorism prevention, illicit drugs and organized crime.
Mr. Fedotov praised Hungary's hosting of the counter-terrorism Seminar, noting that during the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Government had placed significant importance on enhancing international cooperation and sharing of best practices in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, including by fostering full compliance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. He also discussed the linkages between terrorism and organized crime and noted that UNODC looks forward to continuing and enhancing cooperation with the Government of Hungary.
Janos Tisovszky, Acting Director: United Nations Information Service
T: (+43-1) 26060-5676 | M: (+43-699) 1459-5676 | E: janos.tisovszky {at} unvienna.org
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Kevin Town, Associate Public Information Officer: UNODC
T: (+43-1) 26060-5575 | M: (+43-699) 1459-5575 | E: kevin.town {at} unodc.org
