Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism: The Role of the United Nations Today and the Impact of Security Council Resolution 2178
Author : Naureen Chowdhury Fink
Date : November 2014
The widely endorsed adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2178 reflects an understanding by the international community that the response to the threat posed by violent, transnational, and nonstate groups, like the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), must be multidimensional. This brief explores the evolution of the UN’s response to transnational terrorism since 2001, including the emergence of new international actors, and highlights the innovative focus on “countering violent extremism” or “CVE” in the resolution. Moreover, the brief highlights the new opportunities presented by the resolution to underscore the critical role of human rights and foster a more balanced response going forward. Arguing that the world body should adopt an approach that is cognizant of existing efforts but also strategic in adding value, this brief sets out a number of practical recommendations for the UN and key stakeholders to consider in their efforts to implement Resolution 2178.
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