TNTD/Action against Terrorism Unit

Background

The TNTD/ATU, established in 2002, is the OSCE’s focal point, information resource and implementation partner on counter-terrorism activities. The Unit’s work is guided by the OSCE Consolidated Framework for the Fight against Terrorism (PC.DEC/1063), adopted in December 2012. The Decision outlines the strategic focus areas for counter-terrorism activities of the Organization and provides a roadmap for further action.

Importantly, the Consolidated Framework stipulates that the OSCE will further co-ordinate its efforts internally and co-operate externally with relevant regional and international organizations. The Secretary General will continue to ensure co-ordinated efforts among thematic structures within the Secretariat and other executive structures in the pursuit of activities related or relevant to counter-terrorism, in order to maximize the use of resources and available expertise. Furthermore, the Consolidated Framework mandates the OSCE Secretariat to continue ensuring the facilitation and cross-dimensional and cross-institutional co-ordination of all OSCE counter-terrorism activities, without prejudice to the mandates of other OSCE executive structures. To this end, other OSCE executive structures are tasked to proactively inform the Secretariat about planned and ongoing activities as they relate to anti-terrorism.

Terrorism is a serious crime and has to be dealt with determination and effectiveness, within a framework based on the rule of law and human rights. Police and law enforcement play an important role in preventing and countering terrorism, and the work of the TNTD/ATU complements the work of the TNTD/SPMU in relation to the role of law enforcement in countering terrorism.

The Unit has been contributing to the efforts of the TNTD aimed at ensuring strengthened coherence, better co-ordination and efficient collaboration in addressing transnational threats. Internally, the working relationship with ODIHR has been further enhanced, resulting in the pursuit of many joint programmatic activities and projects.

The TNTD/ATU has also been supporting the work of the OSCE field operations and is maintaining regular working contacts with them. The Unit circulates the annual update of the Consolidated Reference for OSCE Counter-Terrorism Efforts. Moreover, the Unit maintains the Counter-Terrorism Network and circulates bi-monthly the CTN newsletter to inform contact points about the latest counter-terrorism developments in the OSCE region and relevant OSCE activities.

Externally, the TNTD/ATU has been collaborating closely with different UN structures and other relevant international and regional entities in the area of preventing and countering terrorism, actively contributing to the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Similarly, the Unit has continued to involve the private sector (business community and industry) as well as civil society groups and the media as much as possible in its anti-terrorism activities.

One of the highlights in 2014 was the Chairmanship OSCE-wide Counter-Terrorism Conference “The Role of the OSCE in Addressing Current Terrorist Challenges”, 28-29 April 2014, in Interlaken, Switzerland. The TNTD/ATU, in co-ordination with ODIHR, supported the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship in the organization of this conference. Around 200 delegates from 43 participating States, eight Partners for Co-operation and 16 international and regional organizations participated at the conference, as well as 17 from civil society groups.

The conference addressed three topics: terrorism financing, human rights and foreign

terrorist fighters. Recommendations made at the conference included ideas on how the OSCE could have a role in these current challenges. These recommendations served as a the basis for two draft Declarations, adopted later by the Basel Ministerial Meeting, titled The OSCE Role in Addressing the Phenomenon of Foreign Terrorist Fighters in the Context of the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014) and The OSCE Role in Countering Kidnapping and Hostage-Taking Committed by Terrorist Groups in the Context of the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2133 (2014).

Other activities implemented in 2014 by the Action against Terrorism Unit with participation of police and law enforcement representatives are described below.

Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism (VERLT)

The TNTD and ODIHR have jointly developed the guidebook Preventing Terrorism and Countering VERLT: A Community-Policing Approach, which provides policy guidance on central issues that can have an impact on the success or failure of police efforts to harness a community-policing approach to preventing terrorism and countering VERLT. The guidebook was officially launched on 17 March 2014 with an event attended by several delegations of OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation. The publication is available in several languages at http://www.osce.org/atu/111438. Hard copies can be obtained through Conference Services.

On 29-30 April 2014, TNTD/ATU and the OSCE Centre in Astana jointly organized a seminar in Almaty on youth engagement to counter VERLT, in co-operation with the Institute of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event brought together over 80 participants from the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Anti-Terrorism Centre, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the state agencies in charge of religious affairs and education, as well representatives from the civil society and the media, including the OSCE Central Asian Youth Network. Participants discussed the phenomenon of youth involvement in VERLT and ways to engage youth in countering VERLT through education, the arts, sport and the media;

platforms for interaction with local authorities; and law enforcement outreach activities.

TNTD/ATU and the Centre in Astana facilitated participation of speakers from Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

On 13-14 May 2014, TNTD/ATU organized an international workshop in Istanbul on

“Supporting Civil Society Initiatives to Empower Women’s Roles in Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism”, in partnership with the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). This was the first joint activity of the GCTF with a regional organization. The event brought together over 80 participants from public authorities and civil society organizations from OSCE participating States, Partners for Co-operation and GCTF member countries. The event was opened by the Deputy Minister of Family and Social Policies of Turkey. An introductory keynote presentation was delivered by UN Women’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, which outlined parallels between the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and the need to ensure the equal involvement of women in and the promotion and protection of women’s rights while countering VERLT. Participants shared first-hand experience and insights, good practices and challenges in mobilizing and advancing the role of women in countering VERLT. They also discussed the involvement of women in VERLT, whether as members of terrorist groups, supporters or sympathizers. This workshop was the first of two workshops under the 2014 joint OSCE-GCTF initiative mentioned above.

Countering the Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes

On 26-27 March 2014, TNTD/ATU, in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Astana, organized a seminar titled “Countering the Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes” in Astana, Kazakhstan. The seminar was attended by 70 local and international experts, including representatives of state agencies and civil society groups. The seminar focused on countering the terrorist use of the Internet, on terrorist threats against critical infrastructure and on better use of public-private partnerships to effectively prevent and combat terrorism.

The seminar facilitated a discussion among the participants on promoting a comprehensive understanding of the threat posed by the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, recognizing interlinks between security and human rights dimensions. In addition, the participants discussed and the way forward for Kazakhstan as regards the possible use of international best practices on the national level.

On 29-30 October 2014, TNTD/ATU organized a seminar on several cyber/ICT security challenges, including the abuse of the Internet for terrorist purposes, cybercrime and issues addressed by PC.DEC/1106 on the Initial Set of OSCE Confidence-Building Measures to Reduce the Risk of Conflict Stemming from the Use of Information and Communication Technologies. The event was co-organized with the Law Enforcement University of Mongolia and brought together some 30 participants from various national agencies as well as international experts from France, the United Kingdom and UNODC. The seminar offered participants a platform to take stock of the latest cyber threats and effective responses. A key objective was to identify needs for potential capacity building assistance by the TNTD to interested Mongolian authorities.

Travel Documents and Traveller Identification Management

On 8-10 April 2014, TNTD/ATU and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan supported the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with organizing a regional seminar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan titled “Regional Seminar on Machine Readable Travel Documents and Traveler Identification Management”. This event, which focused on Central Asia and neighbouring countries, was the first one of its kind in the region. It gathered 164 experts from 27 countries and examined how to enhance processes and security features associated with modern travel documents to offer better protection against terrorist and criminal use.

Specifically, sessions explored best practices and standards for travel documents as well as effective procedures for identifying travellers and related border-security processes. A key objective of the seminar was therefore to underscore the need to take a comprehensive approach towards travel document security – from secure and reliable civil registry systems to integrated border security solutions. In addition, the event offered an opportunity to discuss assistance needs with States and regional organizations and explore ways for consolidating regional co-operation and more effective capacity building assistance. The seminar represents the continuation of OSCE efforts in Central Asia to prevent cross-border movement of terrorists and other criminals using forged or fraudulent travel documents, including by promoting pertinent ICAO standards.

On 5-17 May 2014, TNTD/ATU, jointly with the United States European Command (EUCOM), organized two back-to-back advanced training courses in Istanbul on detecting forged travel documents. The training courses offered 40 border control officers an opportunity to deepen their knowledge about the latest forgery methods and ways to detect them, as well as to exchange experiences with colleagues from Turkey and Austria. A key focus of the interactive sessions was on the manufacturing processes of travel documents as well as the growing number of security features of travel documents available. The training was conducted by two trainers from the Austrian Ministry of Interior.

On 9–13 September 2014, TNTD/ATU, jointly with EUCOM, organized a one-week study trip for 15 Turkish Border Police officers to Vienna, Austria. The study trip, which included visits

to the Schwechat Airport (Vienna), the Austrian State Printing House and the Austrian Enrolment Centre, was a follow-up to the training on “Increasing Operational Awareness to Detect Forged Documents” (Istanbul, Turkey, from 5–17 May 2014).

Promoting the International Legal Framework and Co-operation in Criminal Matters Related to Terrorism

On 10 June 2014, TNTD/ATU and the OSCE Centre in Astana, in co-operation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Anti-Terrorism Centre (ATC) of Kazakhstan, organized a round table on “Good Practices to Enhance Implementation of Preventive Aspects of the Terrorist Bombings Convention”. Twenty-five experts from the law enforcement, agriculture, trade, industry and mining sectors (public and private), international organizations and international experts participated at the event. Discussions focused on the control of the use of explosive and chemical substances (such as fertilizers) employed frequently by terrorists in improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Participants suggested recommendations to enhance control and avoid diversion of explosive substances into the black market, including, for instance, the possibility of joint inspections by relevant agencies with a co-ordinating role of Kazakhstan’s ATC.

On 16-17 September 2014, TNTD/ATU and UNODC organized jointly a Mediterranean Regional Counterterrorism Expert Workshop on “Terrorist Kidnapping and Hostage-Taking:

Enhancing the Implementation of the International Legal Framework against Terrorism” in Valletta, Malta under the auspices of the Government of Malta and with the support of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Spain and Switzerland. The event brought together around 70 participants from 21 OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation and eight international and regional organizations. Most participants were senior counter-terrorism practitioners in the areas of law enforcement, the judiciary and prosecution, officials from foreign ministries and crisis management units. The primary goal of the workshop was to exchange information and good practices and to strengthen co-operation in order to better prevent and thwart kidnappings in the region, while implementing relevant Universal Anti-Terrorism Instruments. The international community has recently strengthened its legal framework (UNSC resolutions 2133, UNSC 2160 and 2170) to combat the phenomenon of kidnapping for ransom (KFR). Experts proposed and discussed a number of initiatives on how to put into practice the mandates contained in the Universal Instruments, which, together with the UNSCRs, provide the basis to address the KFR issue both in the preventive and the investigative, adjudicative and prosecution phases, as well as to enhance international co-operation.

On 22-23 October 2014, in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, TNTD/ATU organized a national training workshop in Nicosia on “Strengthening Rule of Law Compliant Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism”. Some 27 criminal justice practitioners from Cyprus, including police, prosecutors, judges, investigators, security and law enforcement authorities, as well as representatives from central authorities and relevant ministries, participated in the event. The workshop was aimed at strengthening rule-of-law-compliant criminal justice responses to effectively prevent and combat terrorism and to share best practices. Discussions focused on a number of areas listed in GCTF’s Rabat Memorandum on Good Practices, including effective co-operation and co-ordination among domestic government agencies working in counter-terrorism; the importance of international co-operation and support for strong criminal justice responses; the relevance of undercover investigations against terrorism suspects; and the professional development of investigators’, prosecutors’ and judges’ handling of terrorism cases.

Terrorism Financing

On 28-30 October 2014, TNTD/ATU and the Global Center on Cooperative Security (Global Center), in consultation with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UNCTED), and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, organized a regional workshop in Bratislava titled “Regional Workshop on Supporting the Prevention of Abuse of Non-Profit Organizations for the Financing of Terrorism”. Around 70 experts from different national structures dealing with the prevention of terrorism financing and representatives of non-profit organizations from 18 participating States and Partners for Co-operation, as well as from a number of international organizations, discussed issues related to the protection of non-profit organizations from abuses for the purpose of financing terrorist organizations in light of the revised Recommendation 8 and the recently published typology report of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The workshop was a follow-up to the 2009 OSCE Public-Private Expert Workshop on Preventing the Abuse of Non-Profit Organizations for Financing of Terrorism. It also built on the experience gained in the framework of a multi-year project implemented by UNCTED and the Global Center in 2011-2013 on behalf of the Working Group on Tackling Financing of Terrorism of the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF). All these prior activities aimed to develop a common understanding of sound practices to counter the risk of terrorism financing through the non-profit sector.

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2.4 TNTD/Borders Security and Management Unit

Background

The OSCE Secretariat, through its dedicated Border Security and Management Unit of the Transnational Threats Department, promotes a comprehensive and cross-dimensional approach to border security and management in accordance with the Border Security and Management Concept (BSMC) adopted in Ljubljana in 2005 (MC.DOC/2/05 of 6 December 2005).

In 2014, the TNTD/BSMU further promoted the implementation of the 2005 OSCE Border Security and Management Concept. Key platforms such as the OSCE Border Security and Management National Focal Points (BSM NFP) Network and Border Management Staff College (BMSC), along with regional training and capacity development activities, helped to improve co-operation in border security and management between participating States.

TNTD/BSMU interactions with field operations also helped to facilitate and improve co-operation between participating States and Partners for Co-co-operation in this area.

Border Management Staff College

Throughout 2014, the TNTD/BSMU consistently supported diverse capacity building training events within the Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe by providing thematic input and serving as instructors. On 8-9 May 2014, TNTD/BSMU participated and contributed to the first female BSMC Staff Course. A total of 25 women leaders from Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Mongolia completed their first week of study for the four-week course covering a wide range of subjects relating to border security and management. The TNTD led an interactive discussion with the participants regarding emerging transnational threats impacting border security and management.

In September 2014, TNTD/BSMU, in co-operation with the BMSC, led efforts to launch the Training Support Network (TSN) initiative, which aimed to link specialized national border guard/police and customs training institutions with the TNTD/BSMU and BMSC. The OSCE/BMSC conducted three four-week staff courses, including one for women leaders, addressing mid-level and senior management from border security and management agencies.

In September 2014, the BMSC, in co-operation with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), launched its Pilot Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership (BSMSL) one-year distance-learning course for 22 participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Algeria and Tunisia. The comprehensive course curriculum covers three modules on Modern Security Challenges and Border Management, Leadership and Management, and Current and Emerging Trends in Border Security Management. Seventeen additional courses were conducted for border officials on a range of border security and management related issues, such as drug trafficking and all the other forms of trafficking; anti-corruption; cross-border interdiction; drug precursor identification; customs controls through risk management; and non-intrusive inspection technologies. During 2014, a total of 464 attendees, including officials from participating States and Partners for Co-operation, were hosted by the BMSC.

Trafficking in Human Beings

The issue of combating THB at borders was addressed at the 2014 Annual NFP Network Meeting working group. The Annual NFP Network Meeting was held from 10-12 June and covered issues such as confidence building for co-operation. NFPs and invited national and international experts had an opportunity to discuss, identify gaps and brainstorm possible solutions for improved co-operation to counter all forms of crime.

Several aspects of combating trafficking in human beings were discussed at the joint OSCE-IOM-UNODC “Trans-regional Workshop on Enhancing Co-operation in Combatting Irregular Migration and Smuggling of Migrants through South Eastern Europe” organized on 11-12 June.

Drug Trafficking

In accordance with the commitments of MC.DEC/4/11 on Strengthening the OSCE Engagement with Afghanistan, the TNTD/BSMU continued to promote cross-border co-operation at the regional level on countering illicit drug trafficking. The OSCE has been providing support in enhancing the existing border management systems between Afghanistan and neighbouring states and enhancing information exchange capacities of the

In accordance with the commitments of MC.DEC/4/11 on Strengthening the OSCE Engagement with Afghanistan, the TNTD/BSMU continued to promote cross-border co-operation at the regional level on countering illicit drug trafficking. The OSCE has been providing support in enhancing the existing border management systems between Afghanistan and neighbouring states and enhancing information exchange capacities of the