Counter-terrorism in Central Asia

Phase I (2010-2011)

Phase I was devoted to the preparation of the Joint Plan of Action (JPoA) for implementing the Strategy in Central Asia. The JPoA was prepared based on a one-year consultative process, during which three expert meetings were held to review the four pillars of the Strategy, identify opportunities, gaps and needs and draw recommendations to devise this joint plan of action. Central Asian countries reached agreement on the endorsement of the JPoA in November 2011. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, with Uzbekistan opting for observer status, signed the ‘UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia - Joint Plan of Action’ at a High-level meeting held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Afghanistan joined the Central Asian countries later, as an observer, taking into account its geographical situation.

Phase II (2013-2017)

Phase II was devoted to supporting the implementation of the JPoA through five regional thematic capacity-building workshops on different pillars of JPoA, namely:

1. Dialogue with Religious Institutions and Leaders;
2. Engaging the Media for Countering Terrorism;
3. Border Security and Management for Countering Terrorism;
4. Countering Radicalization and Preventing Violent Extremism;
5. Effectively Countering the Financing of Terrorism.

In addition, the project led to the preparation of a Mapping of activities of regional and international organizations operating in Central Asia under each of the four pillars of the JPoA in 2012, which is updated every year. Phase II culminated in a High-Level Dialogue on the Implementation of the UNGCTS in Central Asia, held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on 13 June 2017, chaired by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The High-Level Dialogue provided an opportunity to review progress on the implementation of the JPoA in Central Asia, take stock of the strategic counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism achievements and challenges faced by the region and identify priority areas for the following phases of the joint project. The meeting led to the adoption of a second Ashgabat Declaration where countries committed to enhanced regional cooperation.

Phase III (2018-2021)

Phase III continued regional capacity-building and assisted Central Asian countries to adequately respond to emerging challenges of counter-terrorism and preventing violent extremism in the region, as well as provided continued and coordinated UN System support to the regional countries in implementing the JPoA. A particular focus has been made on border security and management, countering the financing of terrorism and countering the use of the Internet for recruitment and propaganda online. 

Phase III further added assistance in the development of national counter-terrorism and preventing violent extremism strategies and national plans of action, such as  National Strategy on Prevention of Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism for 2020-2024 and the Action Plan of its implementation.  

Phase III also began to focus on emerging issues related to the rehabilitation and reintegration process of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) in Central Asia as well as raising awareness of the impact of terrorism and counter-terrorism on the promotion and protection of human rights. In this regard, the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) developed an e-learning course for representatives and experts from law enforcement, counter-terrorism entities, intelligence agencies and other relevant organizations. The e-learning is aimed at strengthening knowledge and increasing awareness on international human rights standards in the context of countering terrorism . 

Within the framework of the project, in 2019, UNOCT deployed personnel to the field (Ashgabat and Bishkek) to more effectively and efficiently deliver the project. UNOCT’s presence in the field enables the office to work closer with beneficiaries, acquire a better understanding of national and regional needs, capacities, and expectations, and enhance the sustainability of capacity-building assistance.

Within the framework of the Phase III, UNOCT and UNRCCA prepared “Ten-year review on the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia” . The purpose of this review is to take stock of what has been achieved in the past decade since the adoption of the JPoA in the region, outline what challenges remain, and what new trends have appeared in the past decade.

The results of this ten-year review are reflected in the phase IV and in a revised version of the JPoA, developed with support of UNOCT and UNRCCA, and to be adopted by the Central Asian states at the high-level Regional Conference “Regional Cooperation among the Central Asian States within the Framework of the Joint Plan of Action (JPoA) for the Implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2022.

Within the framework of the project of the phase III, a close coordination and collaboration was ensured with the ongoing UNOCT Global Thematic flagship programmes, such as Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Strengthening Resilience Against Violent Extremism in Asia (STRIVE Asia), Countering the financing of terrorism (CFT), Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (PRR) and other .