ecurity Council meeting Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts International Judicial Cooperation in countering terrorism Letter dated 2 December 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (S/2016/1030)
The transnational nature of terrorism requires a coordinated response for all States and actors of the international community. Cooperation in judicial matters is an indispensable requirement in order to overcome challenges pertaining to the investigation and prosecution of terrorist acts, particularly when the various elements of a case are spread beyond the jurisdictions of several States.
These were some of the conclusions of the 12 December 2016 high-level, open briefing of the United Nations Security Council on international judicial cooperation in countering terrorism.
Resolution 2322 (2016), unanimously adopted by the Council under the presidency of Spain, reinforces mechanisms for mutual legal assistance, and includes references to new information and communication technologies (ICT) including the Internet, to facilitate the process of gathering and sharing of evidence with judicial authorities. The resolution also has a special focus on cooperation in terms of obtaining and preserving e-evidence, and reinforcing a network of so-called Central Authorities.
In addition, the resolution seeks to strengthen police-to-police cooperation in several areas, including through the reinforcement of the INTERPOL 24/7 communication network, as well as the development of regional networks of focal points such as the one approved by the Council of Europe in its Additional Protocol, which has been operative since late November 2016.
This resolution is significant for the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate (CTED) in their work to promote international cooperation at all levels, including by investigators, prosecutors, and judges, in order to prevent, investigate, and prosecute terrorist acts.
“Our policies and methods must reach beyond the parameters of traditional security by taking a larger perspective, based on international cooperation not only between Member States but also with specialized and regional organizations, as well as on partnerships with civil society, academia, and the private sector,” Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of CTED Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde stated in his remarks to the Security Council on 12 December 2016.
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