The Â鶹APP Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in cooperation with the Â鶹APP Interregional Crime and Justice Research (UNICRI), convened a two-day training programme for counter-terrorism focal points at Permanent Missions in New York on 25-26 March 2026.
The training programme was designed to help Member States prepare for the ninth review of the Â鶹APP Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS), to be negotiated and adopted by the General Assembly in the coming months.
The high-level opening included Mr. Eihab Omaish and Mr. Lief Villadsen representing UNOCT and UNICRI respectively, as well as the Permanent Representative of Finland, H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku, and the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale in their capacity as co facilitators of the 9th review of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy. H.E. Mr. Sun Lei, Deputy Permanent Representative of the People¡¯s Republic of China also spoke.
Over two days, the training provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the UN counter-terrorism architecture and facilitated discussions on key thematic areas, including:
- The evolution and review process of the GCTS;
- Mandates, coordination mechanism, and the role of the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact;
- Current global terrorism threat landscape, including links to organized crime, and emerging challenges, such as those related to new technologies;
- International law, human rights, and gender dimensions of counter-terrorism efforts; and
- Practical examples of how the Strategy is operationalized.
Reflecting the multi-stakeholder character of the Â鶹APP¡¯ counter-terrorism efforts, the programme featured lectures, interactive discussions and applied case studies delivered by UN officials, subject-matter experts, and external partners. A key theme was strengthening system-wide coherence, enhancing coordination under the Compact framework, and reinforcing a ¡°One-UN¡± approach to supporting Member States in preventing and countering terrorism.
This training programme was financially supported by the Â鶹APP Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) through the project on ¡°Promoting Synergies and a One UN Approach to Policy Coordination through the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact¡±. UNOCT also appreciates the longstanding support of the State of Qatar to its coordination mandate.
Useful resources
- Concept note/programme
Statements
9th review of the strategy
- Report of the Secretary-General on the Activities of the Â鶹APP system in implementing the Â鶹APP Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy ()
- About the review process
Background
The Â鶹APP counter terrorism architecture is the institutional framework that guides efforts across the Â鶹APP system to support Member States in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, while upholding international law, human rights, and the rule of law.
The architecture is anchored in the Â鶹APP Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (2006), which is structured around four pillars:
1. Addressing conditions conducive to terrorism
2. Preventing and combating terrorism
3. Building Member State capacity and strengthening UN coordination
4. Ensuring respect for human rights and rule of law in counter terrorism
In 2017, the General Assembly created UNOCT to strengthen systemwide coordination and coherence, provide leadership on mandates entrusted to the Secretary-General, enhance resource mobilization, and ensure the balanced implementation of the four GCTS pillars.