The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) conducted a focused on-site assessment visit on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee to Spain from 24 to 28 April 2023.
The visiting delegation was led by Assistant Secretary-General, Ms. Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of CTED, and consisted of CTED experts as well as experts from the following United Nations bodies and international organizations: the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT); the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; the International Civil Aviation Organization; the International Organization for Migration; the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol); and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The Executive Director held bilateral high-level meetings with officials from key offices working on counter-terrorism and attended a meeting dedicated to victims of terrorism. The delegation also met and held a constructive dialogue with a number of officials from various ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Justice; the Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organized Crime; the General Commissariat of Information within the National Police; and the Information Headquarters of the Civil Guard. The delegation also visited Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas International Airport.
The visit enabled the delegation to assess progress made by Spain in adopting measures to implement Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant Council resolutions. Country visits are one of the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s key channels to engage and conduct a constructive dialogue with Member States with a view to achieving effective implementation of the relevant counter-terrorism resolutions.
The human rights aspects of Spain’s counter-terrorism measures and the role of women in countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism were also discussed.
The delegation also held separate meetings with the Ombudsman’s Office and with representatives of civil society at the newly established UNOCT office in Spain.
The Executive Director of CTED commended Spain for its continued cooperation and for facilitating a constructive, in-depth dialogue between the visiting experts and their counterparts in Spain.