The issue of returning or relocating Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) poses a substantial challenge to border security and, more particularly, law enforcement and management agencies working on the ground. The second day of the OSCE-wide Counter Terrorism Conference explored existing commitments and good practices in identifying and detecting returning or relocating FTFs. Throughout the day, participants examined how the OSCE can further support participating States and Partners in increasing the exchange of information and, more particularly, to foster cooperation.
More than 300 high-level participants, including government experts and representatives of international and sub-regional organizations, academia and civil society from across the OSCE participating Member States were present for the second day. National, regional and international perspectives on the challenge were provided by the Conference’s keynote speakers: Belarus State Security Committee Head of Section; Ms. Rasa Ostrauskaite, OSCE Co-ordinator to address Transnational Threats; Mr. Alessandro Cortese, Italy’s Deputy Director General for Political Affairs; among others.
More particularly, session two of the Conference addressed the role of capacity-building and training activities to front-line screeners, such as immigration, customs and border security agencies, as well as on sharing relevant information with other concerned States and organizations, while respecting and protecting human rights. ‘Counter terrorism measures that undermine human rights will delegitimize any efforts to an effective operation’, said Ms. Jennifer Croft, Deputy Head, Human Rights Department, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The role of local communities, social, health, education practitioners and other relevant stakeholders in shaping and adopting such tools was also discussed on session two. Ms. Ariane Wolf, Head, International Affairs Department, Violence Prevention Network argued that neither extremism nor radicalization are a new issue, not even a sole muslin problem. According to Ms. Wolf, radicalization and violent extremism has been present in all sectors of all societies throughout history.
Session three shed light upon rehabilitation and reintegration programmes within and outside the Criminal Justice System, including the roles of women and children. Understanding the local dynamics of conflicts is of utmost importance to address the structures of terrorist fighters, participants in the panel concluded. In addition, gender sensitive analysis must be included in every rehabilitation and reintegration programmes and policies.
In the closing session participants outlined conclusions and recommendations from each conference sessions, compiling information and sharing good practices. Moderators of each session started by identifying the main initiatives and lessons learned in relation to the topic of the conference, especially how the OSCE can better foster its assistance in the field of CVE. Ms. Rasa Ostrauskaite, OSCE Coordinator to address Transnational Threats highlighted that the OSCE IS well-equipped to contribute to international efforts to address risk of returning foreign terrorist fighters by building capacity of states in Europe and beyond. In concluding, Mr. Alessandro Cortese, Deputy Director General for Political Affairs and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, contended that now more than ever there is a need for greater international cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms, given its transnational nature.
Over the course of the two-days conference, participants had the opportunity share their experiences on national and international cooperation to strengthen border security and information sharing, as well as to develop rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in close collaboration with civil society organizations. Participants also discussed how to address the challenges related to accompanying family members of foreign terrorist fighters, having human rights and gender analysis at the forefront of the issue.