Malaga hosts UN international conference to address the fight against terrorism
A high-level international conference on human rights, civil society and counter-terrorism, organised by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office and the Kingdom of Spain, opened today in Malaga. The two-day conference brings together Member States, international organisations, civil society representatives and human rights advocates for an intensive and practical exchange of views on how to formulate responses to terrorism that respect human rights and the rule of law and how to ensure that civil society can participate meaningfully in the fight against terrorism.
In a video-conference address during the opening ceremony, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that it is essential that responses to terrorism be based on the rule of law, human rights and gender equality to ensure their effectiveness. "As a moral and legal obligation and a strategic imperative, we must put human rights in their rightful place: at the centre of the fight against terror," said the Portuguese diplomat.
In his opening remarks, Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary General of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, noted that "the fight against terrorism contributes to the protection of human rights, but only if human rights are protected when fighting terrorism". He also underlined OLCT's commitment to encouraging civil society participation and facilitating direct dialogue with the office's programme managers.
José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, who was present at the opening ceremony along with the United Nations representatives, stated that "the diversity of the issues addressed is a true reflection of the comprehensive nature of the global counter-terrorism strategy during the seventh review, which was co-facilitated by Spain and adopted by consensus by the General Assembly in June last year".
The opening session of the conference will be followed by a high-level ministerial meeting and thematic sessions focusing on human rights, the rule of law and counter-terrorism measures based on humanitarian principles; support for victims and survivors of terrorism; civil society efforts to prevent and combat terrorism; and the role of the UN counter-terrorism architecture. The event will culminate in the elaboration of a final document prepared by the office and the Kingdom of Spain, in consultation with civil society.
Against a backdrop of proliferating threats of terrorism around the world and, with them, an increase in legal and law enforcement measures to combat them, this high-level meeting is the first face-to-face meeting held by the United Nations dedicated to human rights and the role of civil society in the fight against terrorism. A civil society-focused workshop and six side events preceded the plenary discussions at the conference, with the aim of strengthening the global momentum and the international community's commitment to implementing the UN's comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.
Prior to the main conference, the Kingdom of Spain and Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, organised a workshop on the role of civil society in the promotion of human rights and the fight against terrorism. This workshop, together with six other side events, preceded the plenary debates of the conference with the aim of boosting the global momentum and international commitment to implement the UN's global counter-terrorism strategy in a balanced manner.
