Programme Description
Towards the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia
In 2010, in order to assist Central Asian countries to respond to emerging challenges of countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism in the region, the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) Office of the United Nations and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), launched an initiative to assist countries in devising a regional plan of action to implement the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
As a result, in November 2011 at a high-level meeting in Ashgabat, the Central Asia States adopted the Joint Plan of Action document which is the first regional framework designed to address the threat of terrorism through a common approach, based on the UNGCTS and strengthened international partnership. Additionally, a Joint Declaration, known as the “Ashgabat Declaration” committing support for the Joint Plan of Action (document) and for regional cooperation on countering terrorism, was also adopted. Since that time the joint UNOCT-UNCCT and UNRCCA project has implemented a broad range of UN support to Central Asian countries from assistance in the drafting of national strategies and counter-terrorism legislation to specialist workshops and trainings at both the national and regional levels in topics such as CFT, BSM and combating use of the internet in terrorist recruitment. The JPoA project has been successful in building a functioning platform of exchange between Central Asian countries on counter-terrorism approaches both politically (through UNRCCA) and operationally (through UNCCT workshops and trainings).
eLearning Objectives
The eLearning on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism in Central Asia has been developed by UNOCT, UNRCCA and UNITAR in consultation and with substantive inputs from OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia, as well as UNICEF (in relation to Module 9 on Children’s rights), within the framework of the Phase III of the project “Towards the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia”.
It is aimed at strengthening knowledge and increasing awareness on international human rights standards in the context of countering terrorism, as well as on international, regional and national policy and legal framework in this area. The course is in Russian language and is tailored towards representatives and experts from law enforcement, counter-terrorism, intelligence agencies and other relevant organizations dealing with security and counter-terrorism in Central Asia, as well as students aspiring to work in these fields. In long term, it seeks improved acceptance, application, and promotion of human rights standards in counter-terrorism activities in Central Asia.
