On 20-21 November, Kaha Imnadze, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of UNRCCA, visited Uzbekistan in order to participate at the 11th International Scientific and Practical Conference of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO RATS) entitled “Preventing the Spread of Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism: Addressing the Root Causes”.
Addressing conference participants representing the SCO Member States, Observer States and Dialogue Partner States as well as international and regional organizations, SRSG Kaha Imnadze underlined that the current security situation is compounded by the continued expansion, both in scale and sophistication, of online propaganda and recruitment efforts by extremist groups. Central Asia, with its predominantly young population, more than half of whom are under the age of 30, remains particularly vulnerable to these trends. At the same time, while emerging online technologies may amplify certain risks, they also offer valuable opportunities to strengthen prevention and mitigation efforts.
The SRSG further added that the work of UNRCCA is guided by the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Joint Plan of Action for its implementation in Central Asia. UNRCCA activities in Central Asia fully reflect the Bogota Principles on counter-terrorism strategies, which call the UN Member States to address factors conducive to the spread of terrorism and besides the law enforcement infrastructure, focuses on socio-economic, political, educational, developmental, human rights and the rule of law dimensions.
