Countering terrorism

The OSCE implements effective measures to countering terrorism, as a serious crime that has no justification, whatever its motivation or origin may be.

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OSCE participating States agree that terrorism is one of the most significant threats to peace, security and stability, as well as to the enjoyment of human rights and social and economic development, in the OSCE area and beyond. Terrorism seeks to undermine the very values that unite the OSCE. At the same time, participating States unequivocally reject the association of terrorism with any particular race, nationality or religion. The organization is therefore resolute in implementing effective measures to prevent and combat terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, as a serious crime that has no justification, whatever its motivation or origin may be.

The OSCE's guiding principles in countering terrorism

The OSCE makes a comprehensive contribution to international efforts against terrorism led by the United Nations, addressing the manifestations of terrorism, as well as the various social, economic, political and other factors, which might engender conditions in which terrorist organizations could engage in recruitment and win support.

The OSCE promotes a co-operative and co-ordinated approach to countering terrorism at all levels, including co-ordination among national authorities, co-operation among states, co-operation with relevant international and regional organizations and, where appropriate, establishment of public-private partnerships between state authorities, the private sector (business community, industry), civil society and the media.

These efforts are guided by and supportive of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, in accordance with the OSCE Consolidated Framework for the Fight against Terrorism.

Strategic focus areas for OSCE counter-terrorism activities

Promoting the implementation of the international legal framework against terrorism and enhancing international legal co-operation in criminal matters related to terrorism;
Countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, following a multidimensional approach;
Preventing and suppressing the financing of terrorism;
Countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes;
Promoting dialogue and co-operation on counter-terrorism issues, in particular, through public-private partnerships between State authorities and the private sector (business community, industry), as well as civil society and the media;
Strengthening national efforts to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
Strengthening travel document security; and
Promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of counter-terrorism measures

Relevant activities are implemented by OSCE executive structures within their mandates, including the Secretariat, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Humans Rights, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and OSCE field operations.

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Countering terrorism

OSCE in Action

Information and activities on Countering terrorism from across the Organization.

Institutions and Structures

OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Protecting human rights while countering terrorism

Measures to combat terrorism that violate human rights are counter-productive. They undermine the rule of law and the credibility of public authorities, reduce trust and cooperation with the people and communities they seek to protect and obstruct international cooperation in countering terrorism. As such, they weaken, rather than strengthen, the state’s ability to counter the threat posed by terrorism. Against this background, ODIHR provides expert analysis on a broad range of human rights and anti-terrorism issues. The Office supports participating States, upon request, in developing and implementing anti-terrorism laws and policies in line with international human rights standards. Furthermore, it promotes dialogue between governmental and non-governmental actors for human rights-compliant responses to terrorism and works to build the capacity of public officials, law enforcement and other target groups to respect, protect and promote human rights as a means to effectively prevent and combat terrorism.

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OSCE Secretariat

Action against terrorism

Anti-terrorist activities play a central role in the OSCE’s efforts to address transnational threats to security. These efforts are guided by the ‘OSCE Consolidated Framework for the Fight against Terrorism’ which highlights operational principles and identifies the strategic focus of current and future OSCE counter-terrorism activities. Activities promote the implementation of the international legal framework against terrorism and the rule of law, prevent violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, counter the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, suppress the financing of terrorism, and help protect critical infrastructures and other vulnerable targets.

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Field Operations

OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

The Centre holds a constant dialogue with the host government to address existing and evolving transnational threats such as violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes and foreign terrorist fighters. The Centre supports comprehensive national efforts to counter drug trafficking and cybercrimes.

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OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

As part of its extrabudgetary project “Assistance to Istanbul Process Secretariat”, the Centre supports Turkmenistan’s co-chairmanship of the Regional Infrastructure – Confidence Building Measures (RI-CBM) of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process by facilitating the organization of regular meetings of the technical working groups and other events in Ashgabat hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

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OSCE Mission in Kosovo

The OSCE Mission provides support to Kosovo institutions in drafting, implementing and updating the strategy and action plan for preventing and countering terrorism. It implements activities to support police efforts counter terrorism and violent extremism and radicalization, and to strengthen the role of civil society, women, youth and religious leaders.

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OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

In line with the OSCE Consolidated Framework for the Fight against Terrorism, the Mission assists authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in preventing and combating terrorism in a manner that upholds the rule of law and ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

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OSCE Mission to Skopje

The Mission supports national public safety agencies in strengthening their institutional and operational capacities to combat terrorism. It organizes high quality and innovative training courses on the use of modern analysis techniques to identify and follow the trace of criminal organizations, terrorism financing and the flow of “dirty money” as well as the prevention of radicalization and recruitment of potential terrorists. To promote the co-operation among law enforcement agencies and strengthen their international network, the Mission also supports the participation of country officials in international conferences on the prevention and countering of terrorism.

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OSCE Presence in Albania

To respond to the threat of terrorism, the Presence engagement involves countering financing of terrorism and addressing the issue of returning of foreign terrorist fighters family members. A well-established collaboration at local and central levels for co-ordinated, targeted and needs-based security responses plays an important role in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Leads to Terrorism. To prevent violent extremism and radicalization across Albania, Presence works closely with the national CVE Co-ordination Centre to co-ordinate, integrate and synchronize central bodies’ activities with grass root organizations, community members, religious leaders, youth, women NGOs. The Presence also supports the host country`s experts to organize and participate in regional events to ensure coherent and coordinated response to VERLT at regional level.

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OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek

The OSCE Programme Office is engaged in strengthening the efforts of the Kyrgyz Government in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT). A long-term strategic approach includes systematic capacity building initiatives and comprehensive in-country training programmes. The programmes aim to enable law enforcement agencies to efficiently address current security concerns. The Programme Office recognizes the role of youth in stemming the threat of VERLT; empowering young men and women as agents of change through conflict prevention and resolution initiatives.

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OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The Programme Office provides systematic and tailored capacity-building and technical assistance to relevant government bodies and the civil society sector of Tajikistan in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism (VERLT).. Its cooperation with civil society focuses on strengthening societal resilience in countering VERLT. The Office works with local community members, teachers, youth and women leaders to raise their awareness on VERLT-related factors and sensitize them on early signs of terrorist radicalization and violent extremism.

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OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan

The Project Co-ordinator assists Uzbekistan’s government with the development of a national action plan to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their spread to terrorist organizations. Efforts are also made to strengthen travel document security by upgrading the security features of passports and issuance systems to prevent the cross-border movement of terrorists and other criminals. The Project Co-ordinator works with the National Financial Intelligence Unit to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, including its linkages with illegal economic activities.

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