Terrorists benefiting from transnational organized crime, the increased exploitation by terrorist and violent extremist groups of the modern information and communication technologies and foreign terrorist fighters have further stressed the importance of effective and expeditious interstate cooperation.
International cooperation in criminal matters related to terrorism was specifically addressed by the Security Council at its meeting on 12 December 2016, at which the 15 Council's Members unanimously adopted resolution 2322 (2016) seeking to further strengthen the international response to terrorism. The resolution, inter alia, recognized UNODC as the key entity entrusted with promoting cooperation among Member States in order to efficiently prevent terrorist acts and bring terrorists to justice, as well as further empowered the relevant UNODC mandate.
On the margins of the Council's meeting, Spain, in its capacity of the President of the Security Council, UNODC and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) co-hosted a side event on "Enhancing Counter-Terrorism International Cooperation: 24/7".
The event was opened by H.E. Mr. Juan Manuel Gonzalez de Linares Palou, Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations in New York; Mr. David Sharia, CTED Deputy Head of Assessment and Technical Assistance Office and Chief of Branch, and Mr. Mauro Miedico, Chief a.i., UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch. Furthermore, participants benefited from the interventions by Judge Najat Abou Chakra from Lebanon, Judge Luigi Marini from the Italian Court of Cassation, Mr. Ethan Mennen, INTERPOL Specialized Officer, and Ms. Giulia Lucchese from the Counter-Terrorism Division of the Council of Europe.
The event brought together almost 100 representatives of Member States and international and regional organizations, and raised awareness of effective, practical international cooperation mechanisms and tools. It was particularly instrumental for highlighting UNODC's work in promoting and facilitating international judicial cooperation just prior to the meeting of the Security Council. Member States and regional and international organizations discussed ways in which to make better use of existing tools, arrangements and instruments for cooperation and their further development without weakening existing ones. The Panel also elaborated on the risks and challenges posed by emerging terrorist threats for smooth interstate cooperation and a way forward to overcome those impediments.
