Royal Institute of Traditional Arts implements Saudi-Chinese cultural exchange program    Localization in Saudi military industries rises to 19.35%    Logistics park for vehicles worth SR300 million to be set up at Dammam port    Commerce Ministry recalls 6,500 Genesis cars due to risk of fire    HONOR KSA expands its presence with new flagship Experience Store in Riyadh HONOR's first flagship store in KSA provides visitors with a premium experience, exciting offers and free services    Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Oman-mediated talks with US    Prince Sultan University launches first bachelor's program in language and media    Al-Falih: Eastern Province hosts 700 investment opportunities worth SR330 billion    Putin announces three-day Russian ceasefire in Ukraine from 8 May    Crown Prince donates SR1 billion to support housing for eligible families    Pakistani military says it killed 54 militants attempting to cross border from Afghanistan    Suspect charged after Vancouver car ramming leaves 11 dead    Eight hundred Houthi targets hit after weeks of strikes, says US    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picks Outkast but not Oasis    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi orchestra to perform at Sydney Opera House in May    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Despite advances, terrorist threats continues to persist and diversify
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 29 - 06 - 2021

Although the fight against terrorism has made important advances in thwarting attacks across the world, the UN chief said on Monday that threats continue to persist and diversify.
By exploiting social grievances and gender stereotypes, "the fight against terrorism has itself caused damage," inspiring lone actors and co-opting other groups, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Second High-level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism.
Recounting "especially alarming" advances of Al-Qaida and Daesh (so-called IS) terrorist fighters in Africa, he upheld the importance of supporting the continent as "a global priority".
'Dire' situation
The top UN Official expressed deep concern over foreign terrorist fighters and underscored the need to hold them accountable.
He also drew attention to the fate of the tens of thousands of relatives, women and children who are associated with them, urging member states for their repatriation, particularly the children "who remain stranded in conflict zones".
Amidst some "slow and not comprehensive" progress, Guterres said, "the situation is dire".
Turning consensus into action
At the same time, years of increasing polarization and a normalization of hate speech have benefited terrorist groups.
"The threat stemming from white supremacist...and other ethnically or racially motivated movements is increasingly transnational," stated the UN chief.
And terrorist groups are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We need consistent, coordinated and comprehensive efforts across countries, sectors and disciplines, anchored in human rights and the rule of law," he said, urging the General Assembly to "re-affirm the consensus" behind the UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy to enhance national, regional and international efforts and adopt on Wednesday "a forward-looking resolution for its review".
Resistance building
To counter terrorism, the UN chief outlined a set of overarching priorities, which began with building resilience.
"Strong, just and accountable institutions" as reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 16 for inclusive access to justice "are a pre-requisite for States to deny terrorists the space to operate, bring them to justice and provide security to their populations", was his first priority.
While putting victims at the center of all efforts, he also noted that to help break the cycle of violence, after serving their sentences, those found guilty should, when possible, be rehabilitated and reintegrated back into society.
Reset human rights
The secretary-general's second point was for a "human-rights reset for counter-terrorism".
"We know that when counter-terrorism is used to infringe upon the rights and freedoms of people, the result is more alienation within communities and stronger terrorist narratives," he said, maintaining that this must be addressed by "protecting and promoting human rights, including gender equality".
He also highlighted that misogyny, and women's and girls' subjugation, is "a common element" of terrorist networks, which requires "pluralist and independent civic space" to counter it.
Technological threats
Finally, counter-terrorism must "rise to the challenges and opportunities of transformative technologies", according to the UN chief.
To this end, technological innovation must be nurtured while mitigating its risks.
"New technologies need to be harnessed responsibly for counter-terrorism, within the framework of the rule of law and human rights", he said.
Fighting on and offline
Highlighting that social media is being used to accelerate hate speech and violent ideologies, he pointed out that since the pandemic, there has also been a spike in cyberattacks and cybercrime.
As capabilities and actions have not kept pace with risks, member states have the ultimate responsibility to prevent technologies from falling into terrorist hands, he said.
In closing, the secretary-general urged states to develop the capacity to collect, use and exchange electronic evidence of terrorist activity "online and offline".
Technology in our hands
The head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (OCT) spoke about terrorist challenges in an age of transformative technologies.
"We need urgently to look ahead on how to adjust our counter-terrorism efforts to respond to new realities and emerging threats," Vladimir Voronkov told the meeting.
As digitally-enabled technologies transform societies and economies, they present both opportunities and risks.
"We have the means and...responsibility to work together to ensure safe and effective use of technology and prevent its use for terrorist purposes," concluded the OCT chief.
Global solidarity needed
General Assembly President Volkan Bozkır noted that the initial hope was that the COVID-19 pandemic would deter terrorist groups and lockdowns restrict their movements, "it seems that terrorist groups, have quickly adapted to this new landscape".
He called for global solidarity against the rise of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, stressing: "We must be vigilant, and stop hate speech, when it is first uttered — both in person, and online. That is an individual, collective, national, and international responsibility". — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.