On 27 October 2025, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) convened to mark the 20th anniversary of its Executive Directorate (CTED). The open briefing gathered Member States, United Nations entities, international, regional and subregional organizations, civil society, academia, and counter-terrorism practitioners to reflect on CTED’s achievements, lessons learned, and its comparative advantage to support Member States in countering terrorism.
In the opening segment, Mr. Earle Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet to the UN Secretary-General, spoke on behalf of the Secretary-General, noting that effectively countering terrorism can only be achieved through multilateral cooperation, rigorous assessment of implementation, and effective facilitation of technical assistance in support of Member States – the approach CTED has represented over these twenty years. Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of CTED, emphasized CTED’s unique role within the United Nations at large, as well as within the counter-terrorism architecture. She stated that pursuing a world free from terrorism, as envisaged in the Pact for the Future, requires sustained commitment from Member States, coordinated action across the United Nations system, and meaningful partnerships with all relevant stakeholders. CTC Chair, Mr. Amar Bendjama, noted how CTED’s mandate has expanded with the evolving nature of the terrorist threat, recognizing it for bridging assessment findings and analysis with action and supporting Member States to translate Security Council requirements into concrete measures.
Representatives from Member States shared their experiences of CTED assessments, conducted on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee. H.E. Mrs. Aksoltan Ataeva, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan, H.E. Mr. Tiémoko Moriko Permanent Representative of the Republic of C?te d'Ivoire, Colonel Paul David Babo, Military Liaison Adviser at the Permanent Mission of Cameroon, and Ms. Normah Ishak, of the Royal Malaysian Police (retired) shared how the respective States had benefitted from the visits, including with regards to informing their national policy in line with Security Council resolutions. Member State panelists also detailed CTED’s distinct ability to bring together expertise from multiple United Nations entities and regional organizations to offer a detailed review of legal and policy frameworks and offer actionable recommendations.
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime highlighted their strong collaboration with CTED and noted that its assessments findings and analysis inform their programs. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team discussed terrorism trends, particularly in Africa, as well as close cooperation with CTED. Global Research Network and civil society partners offered views on current and future challenges. A New York University representative presented research on emerging trends in parts of Africa, including terrorist use of drones and online radicalization to violence. The Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding stressed the importance of community-led, context-specific prevention efforts. CTED underscored how these partnerships have transformed recommendations into results and resolutions into practical guidance.
In their interventions from the floor, Counter-Terrorism Committee members as well as the wider membership commended the unique role of CTED in the United Nations system, and its in-depth expertise built over two decades of Member State assessments and dialogue. They acknowledged the increased complexity of global terrorism threats and the need for a whole-of-UN approach to assist Member States to advance global counter terrorism efforts for the future.
A recording of the event is available .