Coordination and coherence of the counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations

The Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) was established by the Secretary-General in 2005 and endorsed by the General Assembly through the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which was adopted by consensus in 2006.

The mandate of the CTITF is to strengthen coordination and coherence of counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations system. The Task Force consists of 38 international entities which by virtue of their work have a stake in multilateral counter-terrorism efforts. Each entity makes contributions consistent with its own mandate.

The primary goal of CTITF is to maximize each entity‘s comparative advantage by delivering as one to help Member States implement the four pillars of the Global Strategy.  The four pillars are:

1. Measures to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism;
2. Measures to prevent and combat terrorism;
3. Measures to build states’ capacity to prevent and combat terrorism and to strengthen the role of the United Nations system in that regard;
4. Measures to ensure respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis for the fight against terrorism.

While the primary responsibility for the implementation of the Global Strategy rests with Member States, CTITF ensures that the UN system is attuned to the needs of Member States, to provide them with the necessary policy support and spread in-depth knowledge of the Strategy, and wherever necessary, expedite delivery of technical assistance.

CTITF organizes its work through Working Groups and counter-terrorism related projects and activities in areas where cooperation among United Nations system actors can add value for the implementation of the Strategy.