Press Conference by Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate

 

Education and interfaith dialogues were as crucial as criminal justice and law enforcement mechanisms in the fight against terrorism, a top official of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Jean-Paul Laborde, Executive Director, said that terrorism, a global challenge, required action on several fronts, including cultivating a greater understanding of different religions through education and dialogue.  Those initiatives could counter violent extremism and impede the activities of terrorist groups.

“But, achieving success also requires a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy that is flexible and consistent with the need to protect human rights and the rule of law,” he stressed.  The United Nations had already set the tone in its commitment to fight terrorism, with a perspective that promoted the rule of law and the principles of the Organization and its Charter.

“The Directorate is strengthening efforts to help Member States to improve their legal and institutional counter-terrorism framework,” Mr. Laborde went on to say.  It was facilitating technical assistance, as well as promoting cooperation and coordination with international and regional organizations.  He emphasized the importance of the media and the civil society played in the dissemination of information on the activities of terrorists.

Responding to questions, Mr. Laborde said that the work of the Directorate entailed country visits to monitor and assess progress on the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions on counter-terrorism, and offer technical assistance.  Country reports were also crucial in gathering information on the counter-terrorism situation of each country. 

However, he called on Governments to do more in formulating strategies to confront terrorism and other acts of religious extremism which fuelled terrorist activities, adding that Member States could outsmart terrorists if they continued to work closely, coordinate better and fulfil their international obligations more effectively.  As well, States needed to tackle terrorism comprehensively by developing national and regional counter-terrorism strategies and by cooperating across borders.

He said, in closing, that strengthening ties with Security Council members, the wider United Nations Member States, and United Nations entities dealing with counter-terrorism remained the priorities of the Directorate.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record