Engaging parliamentarians
Graphic: UNOCT
“Parliaments play vital roles as defenders of democracy, agents of accountability, and crucial links between the local and the global, bringing the concerns of people into the international arena.”
– UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his video message for 140th Interparliamentary Union Assembly, Doha, Qatar, 6 April 2019
Parliaments for preventing and countering terrorism
The role of parliaments is crucial in preventing and countering terrorism and addressing the underlying spread of violent extremism. They are involved in law-making, policy-setting, budget allocation, oversight of government actions and ensuring a whole-of-society approach to countering terrorism by representing the interests of communities and working with vulnerable groups at risk of radicalization. Through monitoring governments’ actions, they ensure implementation and monitoring of and compliance with international obligations related to terrorism and initiate parliamentary hearings and inquiries as well as public campaigns to draw attention of citizens to emerging issues.
Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism
The UNOCT Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism’ was established through an Agreement signed between UNOCT and the Shura Council of the State of Qatar on 25 November 2020 and officially launched in Doha on 16 June 2021 in a hybrid opening ceremony in the Shura Council of the State of Qatar.
The Programme Office serves as a global hub to support and build the capacity of parliamentarians worldwide in their efforts to counter terrorism, through innovation and by leveraging partnerships with parliamentary assemblies, United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities, regional and international organizations, academia, and civil society.
Key Objectives
- Conducting research, analysis and normative work for Parliamentarians on counter-terrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism (CT/PCVE).
- Providing technical assistance and consultative services to Parliamentarians and Member States.
- Supporting the effective functioning of the Global Parliamentary Network and the coordination platform for regional parliamentary assemblies on countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism.
Photo Gallery
High-Level Parliamentary Conference -Understanding the Terrorist Threat in Africa, Doha, Qatar, 30 &31 March 2022. Photo/UNOCT.
High-Level Conference on Parliamentary Support to Victims of Terrorism, Rome, Italy 7-8 June 2022. Photo/UNOCT.
Second Counter-Terrorism Coordination Meeting of Parliamentary Assemblies, Naples, Italy, 10 June 2022. Photo/UNOCT.
High level Parliamentary Conference on Youth Engagement in Counter-Terrorism and Prevention of Violent Extremism in Africa & First Meeting of the Parliamentary Counter-Terrorism Working Group for Africa, Lomé, Togolese Republic, 19-20 Jan 2023. Photo/UNOCT.
Third Counter-Terrorism Coordination Meeting of Parliamentary Assemblies & First Parliamentary Policy Dialogue, Doha, Qatar, 30-31 Jan 2023.