Secretary-General, at Counter-Terrorism Advisory Board Meeting, Stresses Need for Collective Response, Investment in Prevention

NEW YORK, 30 October (United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism) — Secretary-General António Guterres participated in the fifteenth meeting of the Advisory Board of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre in New York today. (See Press Release SG/SM/18771.)

The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre is part of the newly created Office of Counter-Terrorism.  It provides capacity-building support for Member States and the United Nations System in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.  The Advisory Board is composed of 21 Member States and the European Union as a guest member.

The Secretary-General stressed that the threat of terrorism is real, complex and transnational and that our response must be just as serious and shared.  He added that we have a collective duty to deliver greater security, dignity and opportunity for all.  “Together with our international partners, we need to respond early and effectively in the cycle of conflict and radicalization and invest more in prevention.”

Since the Centre was first established in 2011 through a generous grant of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, over 25 other donors have contributed to projects implemented by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre.  The Secretary-General welcomed Member States’ contributions and pledges to the Centre and called for the further expansion and diversification of donor support.  He also stressed the importance of transparency in the work of the Centre, as well in the need for reporting on the impact of the Centre’s projects.

The Secretary-General thanked the Advisory Board and its Chair, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi of Saudi Arabia, for their insights and support, underlining that the General Assembly has repeatedly recognized the importance of the Centre’s work.

Mr. Guterres said that through the wise advice of its Advisory Board, he was confident that the Counter-Terrorism Centre would be able to deliver tangible results and make an impact on people’s lives.  “I look forward to continuing to work together in the fight against this common scourge,” he concluded.

For more information, contact gerardl@un.org.