Thread by @fdelond

Welcome to all tuning in to our virtual Convening on UN Counter-Terrorism + Human Rights eventbrite.com/e/high-level-v…
This brings together UN offices, member states, + civil society to assess the impact of UNCT on human rights, humanitarianism, peacebuilding + development #reformUNCT

The event has three parts: an opening plenary (2-3pm UK time), breakout sessions (3-4 pm UK time) on peacebuilding and humanitarianism, victims, and securitising COVID19, and a closing plenary (4-5 pm UK time) #reformUNCT

I’ll be tweeting from the opening plenary. Follow @jordan_street07 for tweets from the closing plenary. Use #reformUNCT to add your thoughts as we build our platform for a more inclusive, people-centred approach to security.

Opening plenary speakers: Hina Jilani (@HRCP87 @WAFKarachi), HE Kais Kabtani (Tunisia: @PmTunisia), Navi Pillay (@Navi_Pillay), and HE Agustin Santos Maraver (Spain: @SpainUN). The moderator is Vivian Newman Pont of @Dejusticia.

Vivian Newman Pont (VNP) welcoming our 1,000+ delegates to the opening plenary. Civil society wants to be a meaningful and permanent part of CT development at the UN, seeking a more inclusive + human-centred approach. #reformUNCT

VNP: notes UN has not ensured meaningful participation of civil society in its CT work to date. True for creation and enforcement of UNCT, with implications for civil society participation as states implement UNCT. Securitisation of COVID19 exacerbates this. #reformUNCT

VNP asks Hina Jilani (HJ) about CT, civil society, human rights defenders & civic space in Pakistan. HJ: these trends are not unique to Pakistan--reflect global trends. CT law have reduced legal safeguards, enabled a shift to militarised response, and bypassed regular processes.

HJ: Military operations lack transparency about rules of engagement, and even about category (law enforcement? war? CT?). Independent scrutiny is lacking. Both terrorism + CT cause civilian deaths + harm to human security.

VNP asks Navi Pillay (@Navi_Pillay)(NP) about human rights centred CT. NP: militarisation of CT very alarming. As UNHCHR she told the @UNCTC that both terrorism + CT have serious consequences for human rights. States must response approach that protects rights in CT #reformUNCT

NP: states must comply with international law incl. IHRL when countering terrorism, but in spite of this states routinely violate rights while countering terrorism even though HR + Rule of Law are the fundamental basis of countering terrorism. #reformUNCT

NP: counter-terrorism priority should be the protection of people. Thus it is incumbent on states to act in dialogue with civil society, and not to apply CT in ways that undermine civil society #reformUNCT

VNP asks HE Kais Kabtani (@PmTunisia)(KK) about Tunisia's engagement with civil society in countering terrorism. KK: Tunisia's approach is to establish a more transparent, democratic process with civil society participation as a "constant, key element" #reformUNCT

KK: Civil society contributes to effectiveness of CT & CVE, e.g. civil society participation in countering terrorist financing --> establishment of more accurate mechanism of preventing + countering terrorism financing. #reformUNCT Hopes to highlight this as chair of @UNCTC

VNP asks HE Agustin Santos Maraver (@SpainUN)(ASM) about Spain's role as co-facilitator of the review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy + how civil society can engage in these review processes now and in the future #reformUNCT

ASM: radicalisation, technologies, narrative consequences of many years of CT, and funding of UNCT are all key issues for the review. Two seminars so far have been held with civil society presence. #reformUNCT

ASM: Civil society is vital b/c no counter-terrorism strategy can be built without a "strong democratic consensus" with two pillars: parliamentary, and civil society organisations. #reformUNCT

VNP asks KK about role of HR and civil society in reacting to COVID19. KK: Tunisia has initiated a draft resolution to the UNSC to provide a multilateral response. However, we can't lose sight of other priorities esp. CT and HR. #reformUNCT

Tunisia is committed to human rights and civil society remaining an active part of the discussion on rights and CT. Terrorist groups use COVID19 as an opportunity. UNSC and @UNCTC must remain "united and responsive" against terrorism at this time #reformUNCT

As NGOs' resources are depleted in the pandemic this may reduce their capacity to engage on counter-terrorism and HR at UN level. Tunisia is working towards "open and transparent" engagement w civil society incl. by participating in UNCTC sessions #reformUNCT

VNP now asks HJ about civil society as 'implementers' of CT. HJ: civil society is not just implementers. Civil society is "indispensable to...a clear, focused and strong" CT policy. Must be part of constructing not just implementing strategy #reformUNCT

HJ: civil society is part of the international community. The human rights community has always has an uphill task in getting rights integrated in UN counter-terrorism. "Mere lip service to human rights in the strategy text is not good enough" #reformUNCT

HJ: No strategy will be credible without a commitment to protecting human rights defenders and protecting civil society space. CT is used to surveil and harass civil society. This needs to be recognised and addressed. We must "reset narratives" #reformUNCT

HJ: a human security narrative must be developed that obliges states to redress the negative effects of CT on communities and civil society. Tensions b/w HR and security are false; security will be best served when there is full compliance w IHL and IHRL #reformUNCT

VNP says @Navi_Pillay about risks of using emergency frameworks to address COVID19. NP: IHRL makes clear that states can only take health actions that are proportionate, necessary, and lifted as soon as no longer required #reformUNCT

NP: reactions to COVID19 understandably give rise to anxiety because some states have brought in the army, treating people as the enemy instead of protecting people against the virus. The last thing we need is for security mechanisms to address health challenges #reformUNCT

NP: It is civil society that is truly informed on the local drivers and factors on the ground and how best to protect communities. Securitising COVID has given rise to bizarre results in some countries, violence, and unnecessary, arbitrary regulations to counter C19 #reformUNCT

VNP asks ASM what lessons Spain has learned on the real b/w victims' rights and those of the rest of society as co-chair of the Group of Friends on Victims of Terrrorism. ASM: terrorism seeks to break the democratic consensus, destroying the basis of citizenship. #reformUNCT

ASM: Restoring the conditions of citizenship to victims of terrorism + all to all of society is "the first objective" in any strategy against terrorism. We delegitimise terrorism by reconstructing the democratic space it seeks to destroy. #reformUNCT

Audience Q for HJ: how do we better communicate value of rights in CT to the general public? HJ: organisations are already working to make rights realities of CT visible. Conversations + interactions w. HR networks and UN bodies will be to the benefit of this. #reformUNCT

HJ: people who are experiencing CT and suffering the consequences of reducing human security know what the realities are. #reformUNCT

Audience Q for ASM: what concrete steps can be taken to make sure civil society involved in 2021 GCTS review? ASM: regional seminars, making networks of organisations (notes UNOCT already working on this), and connection of networks w the 'normal' review work #reformUNCT

ASM: we know very well that CT strategies are sometimes used to squeeze civil society space. This is why it is so important to bring a civil society narrative to this, which we do at state level and from the UN. #reformUNCT

Audience Q for NP: what would true reform to put HR at the centre of UNCT look like? NP: governments would be more accountable for their obn to ensure CT measures comply w/ IHRL. If they complied w/ their obligations "the UN would then be a totally different place" #reformUNCT

Audience Q for KK: how can civil society + general public participation in CT be increased? KK: you cannot adopt an inclusive and comprehensive approach if you do not involve all key social and civil society actors. Stresses importance of women's participation. #reformUNCT

Audience Q for KK: what are the concrete steps Tunisia will take as chair of the CTC to ensure HR are adequately integrated in the work of the UN Security Council? KK: Tunisia eager to protect HR in its work as chair of CTC #reformUNCT

KK: The fight against terrorism should not be at the expensive of human rights, and should not be expanded to other contexts such as COVID. Any approach to CT that does not respect rights will be counter-productive + inefficient. #reformUNCT

That is the end of the opening plenary. Breakout sessions begin presently. Attendees will see the links to breakout sessions in the chat function of the plenary zoom. Follow @jordan_street07 for tweets on the closing plenary, beginning at 4pm UK time.