Civil Society Reflections on the 2023 Report of…

The event will be closely coordinated with the Co-Facilitators of the Eighth United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review, the Permanent Representatives of Canada and Tunisia, who will open the gathering. After interventions from the floor from a globally diverse group of civil society representatives, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism will provide their reflections. 

A vibrant and active civil society plays a critical role in empowering communities, enhancing resilience, supporting accountability and transparency, advancing the rule of law, and achieving the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Whereas a national government bears the primary responsibility for its nation's security, local authorities, practitioners, and civil society organizations are often well-placed to prevent and respond to localized threats posed by violent extremism in their communities and to mitigate against negative impacts of counterterrorism efforts. Including their experiences and perspectives in policymaking and program delivery is critical to successful counterterrorism and violent extremism prevention efforts in support of the Strategy.

The event will provide a platform for diverse civil society actors to share their perspectives on the Secretary-General's report, reflect on the Eighth Strategy review, and engage with UN Member States and entities. It offers the opportunity to realize a more inclusive biennial review process, in line with past practice, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Civil Society Engagement Strategy (output 1.1.3), and the Secretary-General's Call to Action for Human Rights, while laying the foundations for more meaningful engagement to support the implementation of the GCTS.