Three Day Second UN High-Level Conference on Counter-Terrorism

Terrorist groups’ gains in Africa, according to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, “have been extremely concerning,” and he stressed that “helping African governments to combat and defeat the risks presented by these groups must be a worldwide priority for us all.”

“Al-Qaida and ISIL have continued to use societal grievances and gender stereotypes to encourage lone actors and co-opt other groups,” Guterres warned at the High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism.

When counter-terrorism is used to violate people’s rights and freedoms, the result is more alienation within communities and stronger terrorist narratives, according to the Secretary-General, who added that “we must address this by ensuring that security approaches are non-discriminatory and follow the rule of law.” In addition, we must put justice and care for terrorist victims first.”

The three-day Second United Nations High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States on countering and preventing terrorism in the age of transformative technologies began today with the overall theme of “Countering and Preventing Terrorism in the Age of Transformative Technologies: Addressing the Challenges of the New Decade,” in recognition of the fact that terrorists and terrorist organisations are using transformative technologies to achieve their goals.