Open meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee on

“Countering terrorist narratives and preventing the use

of the Internet for terrorist purposes”

United Nations Headquarters, New York,

Wednesday 24 March 2022, ECOSOC Chamber

Opening statement of Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti,

Chair, Counter-Terrorism Committee

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Excellencies, distinguished representatives, ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome you all to the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s open meeting on “Countering terrorist narratives and preventing the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes.”

I would like to extend a special welcome to the participating representatives of Member States, international and regional organizations, civil society organizations, private companies, and academia.

For those of you active on social media, I would encourage you to use the hashtag #CTNarratives in your posts about today’s meeting.

This hashtag is also visible on the electronic signs at your seats.

Please note that this meeting is being webcast live and that the recording will be made available on the Committee’s website.

Excellencies, distinguished representatives, ladies and gentlemen,

This is the first open meeting of the Counter Terrorism Committee on “Countering terrorist narratives and preventing the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes” since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. By now, we have all learned to adapt to, and live with, this pandemic. So have terrorists.

In fact, terrorists have – yet again – demonstrated how opportunistic, flexible, and adaptive they are to new circumstances, taking advantage of changing realities online and on the ground.

Overall, the pandemic has reinforced and accelerated existing trends. This is true also for terrorist narratives, propaganda, and recruitment efforts. Terrorists keep exploiting heightened vulnerabilities, loneliness, and extreme frustration of people all over the world, including children and youth, who spend more time online even after the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions.

Over the past two years terrorists have exploited pandemic and related grievances through conspiracy theories, the spread of misinformation, and disinformation campaigns, thereby continuing to fuel societal divisions, a rise in sectarian hatred and anti-democratic movements, and distrust in Governments and State institutions.

In this changing landscape, understanding the links between online narratives and offline effects remains a priority – because only with strong evidence-based findings that inform interventions can we effectively counter the narratives of terrorist groups. I also emphasize that terrorists need not be directly or physically involved in attacks as they can incite terrorism by creating and sharing hateful and violent content online around the globe. However, terrorists who incite violence also play a role in these attacks and should be held accountable.

Security Council resolution 2354 (2017) welcomed the “Comprehensive International Framework to Counter Terrorist Narratives” that made clear that “States and others must enter fully into the ‘marketplace of ideas’ to emphasize terrorists’ inhumanity, expose the flaws in their arguments and offer alternative points of view.”

Terrorists’ distorted narratives are utilized to recruit supporters and new terrorists, mobilize resources, and win support from sympathizers, in particular by exploiting information and communications technologies, including through the Internet and social media.

Acting in accordance with a number of Council resolutions, including resolution 2354, the Comprehensive International Framework, and the Addendum to the Madrid guiding principles on foreign terrorist fighters, the Committee and CTED continue to promote a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach to counter terrorism and terrorist narratives. We encourage a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, best embodied by joint efforts by Governments, international and regional organizations, the ICT industry, academia, and a range of other actors, including youth, families, women, victims of terrorism, religious, cultural and education leaders, and other concerned groups of civil society. Governments should work to counter efforts by terrorists under the false cover of welfare or relief organizations to spread terrorist narratives through online and offline means.

The presence here today of participants from all parts of society offers further testimony to how seriously we take the whole-of-society approach to countering terrorism.

Additionally, Security Council resolution 2617 from December 2021 stresses the need to counter the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, including by counterterrorist narratives and technological solutions, and explicitly references the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (“GIF-CT”) and the CTED-affiliated public-private partnership Tech Against Terrorism, and I am particularly pleased to see representatives of both organizations with us here today.

According to Security Council resolution 2354 (2017), counter-narratives should aim not only to rebut terrorists’ messages, but also to amplify positive narratives, to provide credible alternatives and address issues of concern – or grievances – to vulnerable audiences. We also need to strengthen deradicalization strategies and efforts.

This resolution further stresses that to be more effective, initiatives and programmes in this area should be tailored to the specific circumstances of different contexts on all levels, and take the gender dimension into account. And of course, as in all we do, the Committee consistently insists upon the need to comply with relevant international human rights obligations.

This year marks the fifth anniversary since the adoption, by the Security Council, of resolution 2354 (2017). Much has happened since. The United Nations Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee continually strive to adapt and evolve in order to address changing circumstances. To be successful, however, we need everybody’s active involvement and continuous engagement – and that is why I am grateful to all of you for being here today.

Excellencies, distinguished representatives, ladies and gentlemen,

The threat of terrorism is grave and universal, and continues to grow in several parts of the world, particularly in South Asia and several parts of Africa. Terrorism in any part of the world can directly impact peace and security in other parts of the world and therefore, it is imperative for us to reaffirm our commitment to a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to terrorism in its all forms and manifestations. There cannot be any exception or justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of motivation, and wherever, whenever and by whomever it is committed. As has been rightly mentioned under the paragraph 3 of UN Security Council resolution 1566 (2004), that terrorism is, “under no circumstances justifiable by considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnical, religious or other similar nature”.

I would like to thank you for your continued engagement on this issue, and I look forward to our discussions.

Thank you.