n the margins of a high-level open debate of the Security Council on international judicial cooperation to counter terrorism on 12 December 2016, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Permanent Mission of Spain to the United Nations organized a side event on the same theme.
Speakers welcomed the unanimous adoption by the Security Council of resolution 2322 (2016) as an important tool for Member States to strengthen police-to-police cooperation, designate Central Authorities for mutual legal assistance and extradition, and transfer terrorism-related requests electronically. The resolution also calls for greater information-sharing regarding foreign terrorist fighters and other terrorists and terrorist organizations, as well as biometric and biographic information.
A representative of the Council of Europe discussed the recent establishment of a network of counter-terrorism focal points, made possible by the adoption of an Additional Protocol. The latter also allows, for example, border guards who encounter suspicious travellers to communicate directly with their designated focal point, thereby speeding up coordination between Member States.
Judge Najat Abou Chakra from Lebanon highlighted challenges in international judicial cooperation, such as the high volume of terrorism-related requests for judicial authorities and outdated procedures. Judge Chakra added that “different judicial systems should not stop us from international cooperation.”
The event was as an opportunity to share good practices and lessons learned, as well as discuss future collaboration between Member States, international and regional organizations, United Nations entities, and judicial authorities, in the field of international judicial cooperation to counter terrorism.
More information about the event is available at /sc/ctc/news/event/side-event-on-enhancing-counter-terrorism-international-cooperation-247/. A webcast of the meeting can be found .