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CTED Review

The Security Council established the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) in resolution 1535 to enhance the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s (CTC) ability to monitor the implementation of resolution 1373, which imposed obligations on all states to combat international terrorism. The CTED was set up as “a special political mission, under the policy guidance of the Plenary (the CTC)”, emphasising that the CTC had the sole responsibility for providing policy guidance.

Partly in response to concerns of member states that the Council was imposing a subsidiary body on the UN with unprecedented responsibility, the CTED was established for an initial period ending 31 December 2007 with the Council to conduct a comprehensive review by December 2005.  However, in light of the extended delays between the adoption of resolution 1535 in March 2004  and the CTED becoming operational only on 15 December 2005, the review was reset to take place before 31 December 2006.

The Council highlighted the following areas in which the CTED would provide support to the CTC:

• addressing the difficulties encountered by the CTC in its monitoring functions and enhancing its capacity-building work;
• reminding states that they must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, and should adopt such measures in accordance with international law, in particular human rights, refugee and humanitarian law;
• cooperating and collaborating with international, regional and sub-regional organisations and other UN bodies in developing and delivering programmes for capacity-building assistance in the fight against terrorism;
• facilitating assistance to states that require assistance in implementing resolution 1373; and
• conducting country visits to enhance monitoring of a state’s implementation of resolution 1373 and identifying areas where a state would benefit from receiving technical assistance and facilitating such assistance.

In  resolution 1566, the Council also asked that the CTC, in consultation with relevant international, regional and sub-regional organisations and other UN bodies, develop a set of best practices to assist states in implementing the provisions of resolution 1373.  Also, the Council assigned the CTC responsibility to monitor implementation of resolution 1624 dealing with the prohibition of incitement to terrorism.

In its preliminary report to the Council in December 2005, the CTC relied on the original goals set for the CTED to establish the benchmarks and criteria for the December 2006 review.  

These required the CTED  to develop and follow specific plans approved by the CTC for implementing its policy guidance, including targets for achieving specific goals within an appropriate timeframe. 

However, the review in December will be measured against the following criteria, in line with the priority areas established by the CTC.

• Providing the CTC with in-depth analysis of states’ implementation of resolution 1373.  This is expected to assess states’ efforts to satisfy various aspects of the resolution, as well as specific issues in a sub-regional, regional or international context, and provide proposals for how the CTC can do more to help states in overcoming specific challenges. 
• Developing best practices for implementing resolution 1373, including in collaboration with relevant international organisations, and make them available to states.
• Capacity-building by helping states obtain such technical assistance required to achieve measurable, concrete results.
• Strengthening contacts and coordination with other UN bodies, greater cooperation between the CTED and these bodies, including with the UNDP and UN Coordinators in the various states, as well as with other counterterrorism-related subsidiary organs.
• Developing an action plan for enhanced cooperation and coordination among international organisations in the fight against terrorism, including the objectives set out as well as implementing commitments contained in the outcome documents agreed by the three previous CTC special meetings with international, regional and sub-regional organisations.  Also, the CTED is required to develop proposals to support regional organisations to develop counter-terrorism programmes and to help their members meet international responsibilities.
• Enhancing dialogue with states, including a more tailored approach to states’ individual circumstances, a more flexible approach to visits to monitor implementation of resolution 1373 and facilitating technical assistance.  The CTED was asked to provide the CTC with more substantial information in advance of each visit to ensure the efficient use of resources, and to coordinate these visits with the 1267 Committee’s Monitoring Team and experts of the 1540 Committee to reduce duplication of effort and to maximise efficient use of resources.  The CTED is required to ensure proper follow-up to each visit and report on implementation of recommendations that arise.
• The CTED is expected to review and make proposals to update the reporting regime taking into account the World Summit Outcome Document recommendation on consolidating reporting requirements in cooperation with other counter-terrorism related subsidiary organs of the Security Council.  Also, it is expected to enhance close cooperation with the other relevant subsidiary bodies of the Council, specifically the 1267 and the 1540 Committees and their experts, including on information sharing, visits and technical assistance, as appropriate.
• The CTED was expected to adopt a communications strategy to promote transparency in its work and provide states with a clear picture of the work of the CTC and the CTED.

The CTC will also take into account the extent to which the CTED’s support to it must provide the foundation for it to take decisions that lead to the most efficient and effective steps to further implement resolution 1373.

The 2006 review of the CTED is not expected to have an immediate impact on its future. However, it will provide an indication to the Council and the wider UN community on whether the CTED is meeting the original expectations of providing effective support for the work of the CTC in its central role in the UN in combating terrorism.  Effective implementation by the CTC of its two primary responsibilities—monitoring implementation of resolution 1373 and other related resolutions and facilitating capacity-building assistance—are the benchmarks by which the CTED’s role will be measured.  The review should offer the Council the opportunity to carry out any course correction considered necessary to enhance the CTED’s structural and operational capability.  It should also provide the UN community as a whole an opportunity to provide feedback as to whether the CTED is meeting expectations.

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