Facilitating the Provision of
Technical Assistance to Member
States
Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)
United Nations
21 July 2010
Key elements of CTED’s mandate
 Monitoring and promoting the implementation of
resolution 1373 (2001).
 Promoting the implementation of resolution 1624
(2005).
 Facilitating technical assistance to States in order to
enhance their counter-terrorism capacity.
 Other tasks emanating from the UN Global CounterTerrorism Strategy
Main objectives of the TA
strategy
With the aim of improving the effectiveness of CTED’s
facilitation of technical assistance needs, new strategy
introduced in June 2008 to:
1) Enhance the internal capacity and working
methods
2) Create a favorable external environment
vis-à-vis donors, to improve take-up of
referrals from CTED.
General details of strategy
 Introduction of effective internal working methods:
• Primary focus to be placed on obtaining take-up of a limited
number of high priority referrals.
• Visited Member States to be focus of TA referrals.
• Mechanism to ensure all referrals are tailored/targeted.
• Appointment of Donor Focal Points.
• Use of information and technology to ensure better match-up of
referrals.
 Undertake wider outreach:
• Cooperate with CTITF Secretariat on CT capacity building.
• Generate a larger pool of donors.
• New emphasis on its outreach activities aimed at enhancing
institutions and strengthening the rule of law.
• Review the feasibility of engaging the private sector.
Regional Approach
•States’ challenges often have regional character, share
similarities with neighbours.
•Regional cooperation between States vital component of
counter-terrorism regime.
•CTED collaborates intensively with regional organizations.
•Provides platforms for regional counterparts to gather to
share experience and good practices, and to work towards
effective regional cooperation.
Examples of CTED’s Regional Work
•South Asia: creation of regional platform for police officers and
prosecutors to meet regularly to discuss issues they identify as vital to
their work; work towards establishment of regional law enforcement
academy
•Europe: input to EU’s priorities on counter-terrorism technical
assistance in framework of Stability Instrument
•Africa: workshops with African Centre for Study and Research on
Terrorism (ACSRT) to identify common technical assistance needs in
West Africa and for North African and Sahel States on terrorist
financing
Thematic approach
• Relates to issues that cut across geographical
boundaries and impact many Member States
Examples:
-Upgrading of machine readable travel documents
(MRTDs)
-Upgrading of UN Convention Travel Documents (CTDs)
-Creation of an international database of lost or stolen
firearms (SLARM)
-Human rights and rule of law form part of technical
assistance package. Pilot project in South Asia.
Working with CTITF on technical
assistance
•The Integrated Assistance for Countering
Terrorism (I-ACT) Initiative of the UN
Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task
Force (CTITF)
•Current partners
Working with regional organizations
• African Centre for Study and Research on
Terrorism (ACSRT)
• IGAD Capacity Building Programme
Against Terrorism
Exploring the complementary role
of the private sector
• Active engagement with multilateral
cooperation (within framework of the UN
Global Compact)
• Contact with relevant Permanent Missions
expressing interest in recommending
private corporations
Recommendations
• Encourage Member States requesting technical
assistance from the Committee to work closely with
CTED in identifying detailed projects that could be
brought to the attention of donor States and
organizations;
• Encourage donor States and organizations to engage
actively with CTED when drawing up their technical
assistance framework in the area of counter-terrorism;
and
• Encourage donor States and organizations to take into
account priority technical assistance needs identified by
CTED when implementing their counter-terrorism related
programmes.