United Nations Crime Research Body Brings Together Experts, Country Representatives

 

To Discuss Security Planning for Major Global Events

 

NEW YORK, 7 December (United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute) -- Enhancing security during major events through information sharing and increased international cooperation was the focus of attention at a one-day conference held here today.

The meeting, hosted by the Turin—based United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, brought together representatives of Member States, international organizations and security experts to exchange information and share best practice scenarios in planning and managing security for major international gatherings such as economic summits, world conferences, religious festivals and global sporting events, like the Olympic Games.

The conference showcased the International Permanent Observatory on security measures during major events, a programme developed by the Institute with the aim of improving the capabilities of States to maintain security at major events.  The Institute provides a unique global platform for the emerging community of governmental policymakers and planners, and seeks to facilitate the exchange of security planning best practices and operational experience.

The threat of a terrorist attack on a high-profile major event, such as a political or economic summit meeting, or a major sporting event, has become substantial.  Security planners around the world are faced with a series of significant challenges in terms of developing comprehensive, resource intensive and very expensive arrangements to protect these events, while quite often having limited financial support and experience.  Also, while major events may happen regularly, they seldom take place in the same country, let alone the same city or town.

Apart from limited experience, national capacities could be insufficient to address, on their own, all the security aspects related to planning and holding a major international event.  In order to fill this gap, Government authorities -- especially police and security services –- have called for the development of a credible, independent and reliable entity that can positively address these shortcomings through enhanced international cooperation and improved national security governance.

In his message to conference participants, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan encouraged Member States to improve their cooperation in this area, and supported the Institute’s initiative saying that “UNICRI plays an invaluable role in identifying and disseminating best practices aimed at strengthening protection against terrorist attacks targeting large-scale events and gatherings.  The Institute has developed the Observatory while bearing in mind the need to build up the capacity of national institutions, as well as the need to balance security with human rights”.

The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations recently approved a resolution which encourages Member States planning major events to take advantage of the Observatory and invites the Institute to continue and expand its work on the Observatory, including the provision of technical assistance and advisory services on security during major events to Member States upon request.

The President of the Economic and Social Council and Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations, Ali Hachani,said in today’s meeting that “several Member States have, in response to the invitation contained in the ECOSOC Resolution on IPO, already requested and received the assistance of UNICRI during their security preparations for a major event.  I encourage other Member States planning major events in the future to do the same, and I ask distinguished colleagues in the Diplomatic Missions to the United Nations to consider informing the relevant authorities of their respective countries about the services that can be provided by UNICRI within the framework of the International Permanent Observatory”.

Representatives of the Institute at today’s meeting drew attention to the range of services and expertise it offered to security planners, including a global bank of experts, all of whom have held key security positions at past major events.  This extremely flexible cooperation platform allows the Observatory to offer services across the widest possible range of security topics including planning matters such as venue security, personal protection, counter terrorism contingency planning, etc.

Apart from enhanced security, an overall peaceful environment is the key to holding any successful major event.  This was clearly underscored by the Secretary-General in his message, which concluded by saying that, “in classical times, when the Greeks held their Olympic Games, an ‘Olympic Peace’ was observed for the duration of the Games so that participants and spectators could take part without fear of violence.  We can, and must, expand that idea for our times, and do our utmost to ensure that major large-scale events, from sporting field to convention hall, can take place in peace”.

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For information media • not an official record