CTED in joint project on private sector engagement in responding to terrorists’ use of information and communications technologies

BMUSONI — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 21:29:00 +0000

On the margins of a conference in Geneva on the prevention of violent extremism on 7-8 April 2016, a joint project was launched on private sector engagement in responding to terrorists’ use of information and communications technologies (ICT). Behind the project are the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Swiss non-governmental organization ICT4Peace.

Through the project, CTED and ICT4Peace will work with the private sector and civil society to deepen the understanding of current industry responses to terrorists’ use of their products and services, particularly with regard to content, and identify good practices. The ultimate objective of the project is to establish a forum through which these same practices and experiences can be discussed and shared with a greater number of actors. To reach that objective, a series of workshops will be held over the next few months in Europe, Asia, and the Americas with the aim of engaging industry and civil society actors. Initial progress will be presented to the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee later this year.

Present at the launch was a number of industry representatives, including Microsoft, Facebook, Ask.FM, Google, Kaspersky Labs, as well as representatives from United Nations’ counter-terrorism and human rights entities, EU Home Affairs, EUROPOL’s Internet Referral Unit, and representatives of multi-stakeholder initiatives, companies, and think-tanks such as the Global Network Initiative, the Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre at Oxford’s Martin School, SECDEV Canada, and the Institute for Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia.

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CTED supports Africa in enhancing aviation security

BMUSONI — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 16:03:00 +0000

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CTED representative speaking at the Ministerial Conference in Windhoek.

A Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security and Facilitation in Africa was held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 4 to 8 April 2016. The event, co-hosted by the Government of Namibia and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in collaboration with the African Union Commission, aimed at addressing new and emerging security threats, as well as facilitation issues, in Africa.

“Effective border control is the first line of defence against the movement of terrorists across borders and the illegal cross-border movement of goods and cargo, and it is key to the effective implementation of counter-terrorism measures pursuant to Security Council resolutions,” stressed Mr. Weixiong Chen, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), in his speech at the Ministerial event.

“Resolution 2178 (2014) obliges Member States to take steps to ensure aviation security by introducing an Advance Passenger Information (API) system. In this regard, CTED will continue to work with ICAO and other partners in facilitating the delivery of technical assistance to Member States which need capacity-building in aviation and facilitation according to two annexes to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation,” added Mr. Chen. “Effective border control should also be part of any comprehensive and integrated national counter-terrorism strategy,” he concluded.

CTED representative speaking at the Ministerial Conference in Windhoek.

Honourable Alpheus G !Naruseb, Namibian Minister of Works and Transport, told the audience that Africa has become one of the fastest growing air travel markets in the world, although the region also has persistent safety and security related deficiencies which affect African States.

“Aviation security and facilitation requirements are key enablers to a strong aviation industry. Our challenge is to implement ICAO standards and recommended practices to inspire confidence in our security oversight capability individually and collectively,” the Minister emphasised.

An appeal was also made by Mr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, President of the ICAO Council, to the participants to step up efforts of their respective countries in terms of compliance.

The event was attended by African Ministers and senior Government officials on aviation security, as well as representatives from major partner States and international and regional organizations and agencies.

A set of documents, including a Ministerial declaration, targets, and a plan of action, was adopted. According to the concluding documents, all non-machine-readable passports are expected to be removed from circulation by the end of 2017, with API to have been introduced by all African States by the end of 2020.

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Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) - security

CTED in joint project on private sector engagement in responding to terrorists’ use of information and communications technologies

CTED supports Africa in enhancing aviation security

aviation_security_weixiong_april_2016-e1462291520577-1024x578.jpg