Fourth United Nations High-Level Conference on Counter-Terrorism (Session 4 and Closing Session)

Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, good afternoon.
On behalf of my co chair, miss Shoko Noda, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Crisis Bureau of the United Nations Development Program, and on my own behalf, it is my honor and pleasge to welcome you all to session four of the 2026 high level conference heads of Counterterrorism agencies of member states, a warm welcome to our special guests and distinguished panelists, to representatives of member states, to our colleagues from across the United Nations system, and to representative of regional and international organization joining us today.
This session dedicated to strategic capacity building responses, counter misuse of artificial intelligence and new emerging technologies.
This session focuses on one of the most rapidly evolving dimensions of the contemporary counter tourism landscape.
Technological innovation presents significant opportunities for prevention, preparedness and response.
At the same time, tourist groups continue to exploit digital platforms, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, encrypted communications, and other emerging technologies to enhance their capabilities, expand their reach, and adopt their operational models.
Addressing these challenges requires sustained international cooperation, effective capacity building support, and responsible approaches to innovation that uphold international law, human rights, and the rule of law.
We look forward to a rich and substantive discussion.
Before we proceed to our speakers, my co chair and I will each deliver a brief remarks in our respective capacities.
Allow me to switch in Arabic for my remarks.
A Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
The world is witnessing accelerating developments in the field of new and emerging technologies.
Terrorist groups are growing more capable of exploiting these tools to recruit, spread extremist propaganda, raise funding, and plot terrorist operations.
We must strengthen countries preparedness and national capabilities to keep pace with these evolving threats.
The Kingdom believes that capacity building is a key pillar to combat terrorism and extremism.
Success in counterterrorism effort hinges not only on security measures, but also requires strong national institutions, efficient legal frameworks, close international cooperation, and sustained investment in human and technical capacity development.
The Kingdom was keen to support capacity building effort nationally, regionally and internationally.
In 2011, we contributed to the establishment of the United Nations Counterterrorism Center, UN CCT, providing a total of $110 million to support member states and enhance their ability to implement the UN Global counterterrorism strategy.
We continue to support international effort by actively participating in the Global Coterrorism Forum, the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh, and the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Coalition, guided by our belief that counterterrorism is a collective responsibility that requires effective partnerships and continuous expertise and knowledge exchange.
On extremism prevention, we established the Global Center for Combating extremist ideology at IDL.
The center works to monitor, analyze, and combat extremist discourse and harness modern technology to raise awareness, and counter terrorist propaganda in the digital space.
Ladies and gentlemen, we believe that capacity building programs must be based on the needs and national priorities of the beneficiary states.
Programs must be implemented at the request of and in full coordination with the beneficiary states to ensure sustainability and effectiveness.
For example, in Yemen, Capacity building is particularly important to counter the growing threat of terrorist groups, including the terrorist Houthi militia and Al Qaeda seeking to access and exploit modern technologies such as drones and other emerging technologies.
In this regard, Through the coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen in coordination with the legitimate Yemeni government, we have supported efforts to build the capacities of Yemeni security institutions to counter terrorism, especially in liberated regions in southern Yemen, detect and disrupt financial and logistical support networks, and stop attempts to transfer technology and military capabilities to terrorist groups.
This contributes to bolstering security and stability and prevents these groups from exploiting security vacuum to expand their activities.
To conclude, Countering the misuse of new technologies by terrorist groups requires that we strengthen international cooperation, exchange expertise, and invest in capacity building.
So these technologies are harnessed to benefit security, development, and prosperity, not exploited to spread violence and extremism.
I thank you.
Excellency, distinguished colleagues, it is a pleasure, real pleasure to co chair with His Excelleny doctor Abdulaziz Alwasi, a permanent representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this important session on strategic capacity building to counter the misuse of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Today's discussion comes at a critical moment.
Rapid technological innovation is fundamentally reshaping the global counterterrorism landscape.
Violent extremist groups are increasingly exploiting AI, digital platforms, cyber capacity capabilities, unmanned systems, and encrypted communications to advance recruitment, radicalization, financing, operational planning, and attacks themselves.
These tools are lowering barriers to entry, expanding reach, and accelerating the speed at which threats can materialize.
The 2024 Global Index on responsible AI found that 92 countries out of 138, almost 6 billion people live without adequate protection from AI related risks.
At the same time, these technologies offer great promises for accelerating development and inclusion.
They can strengthen early warning systems, support prevention efforts, and enhance more effective and targeted responses.
The dual use nature of AI, where innovation creates both opportunity and risk makes this one of the most dynamic and complex dimensions of contemporary counterterrorism.
For UNDP, this underscores the importance of a prevention oriented and capacity driven approach.
This means taking proactive efforts to counter discrimination, disinformation, strengthen digital literacy, and protect the integrity of information ecosystems, especially at the community level.
Our role as UNDP is to support member states in strengthening governance systems, building resilient institutions, and ensuring that digital transformation is inclusive, rights based, and aligned with the rule of law.
No single actor can respond to these challenges alone.
Effective solutions require very strong collaboration across governments, across private sector, civil society, and UN system ourselves.
We must work together to close capacity gaps, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and ensure that innovations serves peace, security, and development.
At the UNDP's workshops, community led action by youth, journalists and local peace builders can transform online spaces into platforms of trust, inclusion, and prevention.
This session provides us with an opportunity to move from analysis to action by identifying practical approaches, sharing experience, and forging partnership that can keep pace with technological change.
Reiterating the Secretary-General remarks on the priorities, prevention, cooperation, technology, and values of the UN counterterrorism strategy review.
I do look forward to a very rich and forward looking discussion.
Thank you.
Thank you, Assistant Secretary-General miss Snowda.
We will now turn to our special guests for their interventions.
It is my pleasure to give the floor to doctor Mohamed El Kowaiti, head of Cyber Security Council of the United Arab Emirates.
Chair, executives, Excellencys distinguished guests.
Thank you very much for allowing me to be a part of this.
Let me begin by thanking the co chair and the organizer for inviting me to participate as a special guest in this important session.
I also thank them for bringing us together and for placing artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies at the heart of our discussion.
These issues are now really a center to the cybersecurity as well as to security in general of every nation and to the safety of the people we serve.
We meet at a moment of profound transformation.
AI and cyberspace are reshaping the environment in which we all operate.
They provide government with powerful new tools to detect threats, protect critical infrastructure, and keep their people safe.
Yet these capabilities are also being misused for terrorist purposes and by violent extremist actors, including to spread progandas at scale, recruit and radicalize, create, synthesize media that deceives and incites violence and operate across borders while seeking to evade detection.
The challenges before us is to ensure that these technologies remain instruments for justice and security and never become weapons in the land or in the hand of these who seek to do harm.
This is why our shared task is to keep cyberspace safe and secure and to ensure that artificial intelligence is developed and used in ways that are safe, secure, and trustworthy.
Technology is advancing faster than the institutions many of us serve.
Our responsibility, therefore, is not simply to acquire new tools.
It is to ensure that our institutions, our cyber capabilities, and our decision making evolves as quickly as technology itself.
The experience of the United Arab Emirates has taught us one lesson above all.
In cybersecurity and in artificial intelligence, technology alone is not enough.
A safe and secure digital environment does not come from system and software alone.
It depends on strong institutions, skilled and trusted people, secure and well governed data, resilient cybersecurity, clear governance, and effective cooperation, coordination, partnership across entities and agencies.
Where these foundations are in place, AI and cyber capabilities become a genuine advantage.
Where they are absent, even the most advanced systems will fall short and may themselves become a point of vulnerability.
We have also learned that readiness in this field is not a destination, but a continuous process.
Cyber threats that accompany it involves just as quickly.
Institutions must therefore learn to adapt continuously, remain agile, learn as they go, adopt new technologies responsibly, and keep their system secure as threats evolve.
Building institutions that adopt by habit rather than by exception is perhaps the defining capacity building.
Challenge our time.
This leads me to a reflection drawn directly from our national experience.
Encountering the misuse of AI and emerging technologies, the most valuable form of capacity building is not the transfer of technology, but the development of lasting sovereign capability, knowledge and expertise.
We can support one another by sharing operation experience and the lessons we have learned by building technical partnership, investing in people and in cybersecurity workforce, and strengthening national cyber and digital resiliency.
Our aim should be to build enduring institutional capacity and digital space that remains safe and secure rather than simply acquiring system that may quickly become obsolete.
None of this can be achieved by any country acting alone.
In cyberspace, those who misuse these technologies respect no borders.
Our response must be equal, collaborative, and transnational, guided by the rule of law Government, the United Nations, industry, and academia, each have an essential part to play in sharing expertise.
Supporting national capacity building, building trusted partnership, and ensuring that artificial intelligence, and cyber capabilities strengthen justice and security in accordance with international law, including our respective obligations under international human rights law.
The United Arab Emits is fully committed to this shared endeavor.
We believe that with the right foundations, the right partnership, and a steady commitment to responsible innovation, artificial intelligence, and safe and secure cyberspace can serve the very purpose that brings us together here today to protect our nations from terrorism and to safeguard the security and the dignity of the people we are here to serve.
I thank you very much for allowing me to be a part of this and looking forward for more discussion.
Thank you very much.
I would like to thank doctor Al whiti for your valuable remarks.
It's now my pleasure to give the floor to Mr.
Amanp Singh Gil, under Secretary-General and special envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies.
Excellency, distinguished colleagues.
Thank you very much for this opportunity to share some thoughts.
The question we are addressing today, strategic capacity building, encountering the misuse of new and emerging technologies is most timely.
It's really at the heart of the challenge we face from the misuse of these very powerful technologies.
We are not building the right capacities fast enough in response to these rapid developments, and this is something that I really want to bring home to you today.
The risks that we are seeing with these technologies are no longer theoretical.
Very recently, powerful AI model was used to discover thousands of cybersecurity vulnerabilities that lay out there in some platforms that have thousands of people looking at them over years.
The capabilities are enormously powerful today and in the wrong hands, they can wreak a lot of effort.
There is the side of enabling and amplification, emerging technologies, and AI are already being leveraged to amplify propaganda, scale recruitment, and automate targeting with a scale and speed never seen before.
The response also has to scale up and speed up.
I think the larger challenge, the more profound challenges, is the speed of change every day, every week, new models, new harnesses for those models, new applications.
Institutions that have been used to a more slow pace of change are struggling to keep up.
This is a structural gap that we must address.
Because in counterterrorism, this structural gap translates directly into risk to people, to communities, and to frontline institutions.
So what we need to do is approach strategic capacity building, not as a long term objective, but as an immediate necessity.
At the United Nations, momentum has been building up on artificial intelligence pursuant to the agreement in 2024 on the Global Digital compact, which called for stronger AI capacity building partnerships and a more coordinated approach to global digital cooperation.
Last year in 2025, that commitment was translated into concrete mechanisms, the Independent International Scientific Panel and the global dialogue on AI governance, as well as the thinking, the options presented by the Secretary-General in his report on innovative voluntary financing options for AI capacity building, including the goal of helping countries reach a minimum irreducible AI capacity.
This year, member states are taking clear tangible steps.
The report of the scientific panel is due tomorrow.
It'll be available just before the dialogue next week in Geneva.
You will see in the report examples of how powerful the impact is and what is the pace of development and how it is posing new challenges in terms of responding to the non state actor threat, whether it's a lift in bio weapons related capacity or cybersecurity offensive capacity.
In parallel, member states are taking steps through a voluntary AI capacity development network, a member state led platform designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across the various aspects of AI from data and compute to skills and technical advisory support.
Need to be clear that these efforts are not just about tools or technology, they are about people and systems, the ability of institutions to absorb rapid change, to understand this chain, the ability of practitioners to interpret new risks, and the ability of governments everywhere to act with confidence in an increasingly complex digital environment.
In this for us at the United Nations, it's a cardinal principle that we should adopt a human centered approach.
It's not an abstract principle in the context of counterterrorism, it means asking very concrete questions, who's being exposed, targeted, or exploited, who's left without access to support or protection, and how can these same technologies be used to restore agency and dignity? In this regard, I commend the work of UN OCT on the gap analysis of digital tools to support victims of terrorism.
It reminds us that digital innovation must not only counter threats, must also serve those who have been most directly affected by them.
Let me conclude with one reflection.
If technological change continues to accelerate and it will, then our collective response must also accelerate.
Not only in terms of tools, but in terms of trust, coordination, and shared capacity.
Because without stronger cooperation, the misuse of these technologies will continue to outpace us.
With the right investments in people, in institutions, and in international cooperation, we will have the opportunity to ensure that emerging technologies are not a vector of harm, but a tool for protection, resilience, and ultimately prevention.
I thank you.
I thank I thank Mr.
Gill for his remarks and I will now turn to our distinguished panelists.
But before doing so, I appeal to all speakers to observe time, at least in line with the UN 80 initiative and the efficiency, but as well as to face the challenge of long list of speakers, and we have to finish on time.
Now, I invite His Excellency, Mr.
Song Yu, Deputy Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations to take the floor.
Ambassador Avars, Assistant Secretary-General Shoko Node, colleagues.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Global counterterrorism strategy.
This high level meeting is very timely and is of great significance for raising global awareness and strengthening international counterterrorism synergy.
I thank the co chairs as well as the special guests for the important addresses just made.
Against the current global counterterrorism backdrop that remains grim, terrorist activities increasingly intertwined with geopolitical conflicts while terrorist forces step up the use of emerging technologies such as new media, drones, and artificial intelligence making their operations ever more covert and destructive.
At the same time, international counterterrorism efforts are becoming politicized block based and instrumentalized with certain countries adopting selective approaches to fighting terrorism, thus undermining the foundation of international cooperation and strengthening international counterterrorism cooperation I wish to make four proposals.
First, uphold the right principles and build synergy in fighting terrorism.
Countries should stay committed to a new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, strengthen the UN's central coordinating role in international counterterrorism cooperation, resolutely countered all terrorist organizations and individuals listed by the Security Council and opposed selective approaches and double standards.
We must firmly oppose groundlessly attacking or discrediting other countries, legitimate counterterrorism and de radicalization measures and interfering in others internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, ethnicity or religion.
Second, adopt comprehensive approaches and eliminate root causes of terrorism.
The rise of terrorism is often a product of regional conflicts.
We must promote political solutions to hotspot issues, to deny terrorist forces opportunities, to exploit instability and development is a key driver behind the persistence of terrorism.
Support should be given to developed countries to improve livelihoods, eradicate poverty, and accelerate implementation of the 23rd agenda for sustainable development in a bid to break the vicious cycle of poverty begoting terrorism.
Third, strengthen capacity building and enhance the effectiveness of counterterrorism efforts.
Developing countries face dual challenges of insufficient capacity and inadequate resources in fighting terrorism, in keeping with the problems identified in fighting terrorism and the country's technical assistance needs, constructive assistance should be provided in keeping with national specificities.
Global counterterrorism resources should be further directed towards developed countries, especially those facing higher risks to effectively strengthen their capabilities.
Fourth, enhance governance of technology and respond to emerging threats.
China supports the implementation of the Aber Dhabi guiding principles and encourages all countries to incorporate drone based terrorist attacks into national counterterrorism strategies and risk assessments, while strengthening legal regulation, risk assessment, and capacity building in taking countermeasures.
Efforts should be made to actively promote training and infrastructure development for AI based counterterrorism, enhancing member states' ability to leverage AI to prevent and combat terrorism.
At the same time, legitimate civil and use and innovation of emerging technologies must also be safeguarded so as to ensure a balance between counterterrorism security needs and lawful technological applications.
Colleagues, in response to threats posed by terrorist forces such as ETRM, China has developed a counterterrorism approach that combines suppression with prevention with notable results in fighting terrorism in accordance with the law.
As a determined participant in an active contributor to international counterterrorism cooperation, China actively implements the global counterterrorism strategy, shares its successful experience in counterterrorism and direct rization and support capacity building in developing countries.
Presiden Xi Jinping's global security Initiative and global governance initiative provide important guidance for strengthening international counterterrorism cooperation.
China stands ready to work with all parties to build up consensus, enhance coordinated action, and contribute more to building a future free from terrorism.
Thank you.
I thank His Excellency, Mr.
San Yu, for his remarks.
I and Dao invite His Excellency, Mr.
Hiyoki Minami, Ambassador in charge of International Cooperation for Counterterrorism and International Organized Crime of Japan to take the floor.
Ambassador Minami will speak from the lecture.
Thank you, co chair.
Thank you very much, Chair.
I would like to express my respect for the daily dedication of many UN officials, representative from various countries, those in academia, and the private sector, and all the other people involved.
I would also like to thank you for all the preparation you have made for today's conference.
Today, I'm honored to have been given the opportunity to speak at such an important forum.
The theme of today's yesterday's today's end conference is a future free from terrorism.
When we consider what terrorism is, it is said Alongside with genocide, it is one of the most difficult concepts to define.
I have been involved in a work within my government dealing with international terrorism for 2.5 years and most of the multilateral forums dealing with terrorism I experience have their roots in the 911.
The 911, which occurred exactly 25 years ago, near here at the Pentagon and on the plains of Pennsylvania remains the framework of our discussions.
On the other hand, looking back at a quarter of a century of history, the environment surrounding terrorism has dramatically changed conceptually and geographically.
A quarter of a century ago, we are fighting the same battle against terrorism.
Our belief that we must fight terrorism remains unchanged.
But as international criminal organization become more vicious and violent and their vandalism has grown into something that could be called terrorism.
As the concept of international terrorism spreads, the areas where terrorism operates has expanded geographically.
Now, international conflict show no sign of decreasing as the fight against terrorism continued to intensify and it seems that a future without terrorism may be impossible.
However, beyond the conceptual expansion of terrorism and the resulting increase in geographical scope of terrorist activities, a more significant changes occurring.
It is exactly about the technology that terrorists misuses in their acts of violence.
Their technology is rapidly evolving.
As an aside, I believe the reason UNODC is introducing the concept of the Connect Project in tomorrow's side event is because traditional terrorist organizations and newly emerging international organized crime groups that have grown larger and more violent, both are using similar fundraising methods and employing similar technologies to torment humanity.
It is to show that we must engage in all out work to counter the new axis of evil.
Ladies and gentlemen, according to the UN concept of paper, the theme of this meeting is how to address terrorism using new technologies such as the AI, drones, and cybersecurity.
Only three examples has been raised.
The UN has repeatedly requested Japan to provide capacity building support to developing countries.
However, we should distinguish on one side, the technologies Japan has a comparative advantage in and on the other technologies it does not even possess, let alone have a comparative advantage in.
For example, Japan has excellent technologies in image analysis.
Therefore, by extending facial recognition systems to developing nations to improve the accuracy of immigration control in those countries, Japan is contributing to their counterterrorism efforts.
This is already being done sufficiently.
Japan is always providing educational opportunities for maritime law enforcement capabilities to developing regions.
While Japan can help other countries improve some basic national management capabilities or governance, so to speak.
Japan is now in a position to provide assistance in areas such as long range drones or highly secure communication apps, mostly used in combat zones.
To reiterate, there are two types of technologies, one, civilian and general purpose technology that is useful in our daily lives and two, technology primarily used by combatants and terrorists wearing camouflage uniform.
Japan can contribute in the first case.
As we are already doing, we continue to do it in case of necessity.
On the other hand, regarding the latter type of technology, it is actually this type of technology that has made exponential progress in recent years.
The reality is that we have no choice about to wait for cooperation from the countries that actually possess such technologies.
The technologies used by combatant and terrorists around the world, causing many casualties and posing a major threat to humanity.
But there are two types of countries, of course, that actually possess such technologies.
One group is the countries that possess advanced military technologies and they are using them for their proper security.
These countries may or could extend a helping hand to developing regions suffering from heinous acts of terrorists.
On the other hand, weapon technology is linked to each country's national security, which presents a major problem as it makes it difficult to easily provide technological assistance to other countries.
The other group of countries have traditionally been called state sponsors of terrorism and in recent years have been able to manipulate not only their own terrorist group, but also those acting as proxy within other countries.
It is difficult for the international community to expect aid to developing countries from those countries and the international community must once again unite and put pressure on state sponsors of terrorism.
Some of these countries are even continuing to fire missiles that are more powerful versions of long range drones.
Now, I will conclude my remarks.
Well, the actions of the terrorist and international organized crime groups such as gangs that inflict equally horrific damages upon us are becoming increasingly dangerous due to the rapid advancement in the technology they utilize.
Some of this high tech involves the use of a civilian general purpose component and knowledge to Japan's superior technological capabilities will undoubtedly be useful in global counterterrorism efforts.
We are providing assistance and continue.
On the other hand, if the drones, AI, cyber technologies described in this conference concept paper represent are the latest military technologies used not only by terrorists but also the soldiers engaged in warfare in conflict with ones then Japan, a peaceful country lacks knowledge and expertise to provide assistance, specifically regarding drones since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
There have been unprecedented technological advancement, and it has been reported that some drones now have operation capabilities capable to those of certain missile systems.
These are military drones, not a civilian ones.
Technologically advanced countries are pursuing technological innovation to ensure their own country, so it is understandable that providing assistance to developing country would be difficult.
Looking back at our world history, technological innovation has continuously enriched our lives.
The military industry is an exception exception, only exception maybe.
If the continuation of war, conflict, skimmish is fueling technological innovation used not only by soldiers but by terrorists, then ending armed conflict would be the greatest aid we can offer to the developing countries.
This is a serious challenge for the United Nations and indeed for the international community.
Thank you for listening.
I would like to thank His Excellency, Mr.
Minami, for his remarks and I now invite Mr.
Kybiego Kegan, the Director General of the National Counterterrorism Center of the Republic of Kenya.
The floor is yours.
Thank you, co chairs, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues.
New emerging and disruptive technologies are fundamentally reshaping the way we live, work, and interact.
These transformations are felt most accurately in counterterrorism where practitioners confront both unprecedented risks and unparalleled opportunities.
Artificial intelligence in particular epitomizes this duality, its velocity, accessibility, and adaptability are transformative and enabling it to serve simultaneously as a force multiplier for state security and hyper accelerator for asymmetric threats.
This dual use means that the very capabilities engineer to enhance national security and social well being are being repurposed to undermine them.
In the hands of national security agencies, artificial intelligence delivers a new leap in capability, enabling the real time processing of vast streams of intelligence, the automated detection of illicit networks, and the deployment of predictive analytics to strengthen early warning systems.
Equally, the widespread of artificial intelligence has radically lowered the barrier to entry for asymmetric warfare.
Access to AI now enables terrorist actors to exercise state level influence without the vast industrial infrastructure once required to achieve strategic impact.
The diversion of facilitated by AI has eroded the traditional symmetry between the state and non state power, allowing extremists to project strategic influence by leveragingic precision, digital anonymity, and global connectivity at unprecedented unprecedented speed and scale.
As a result, the strategic burden has shifted for counterterrorism practitioners.
Security today is increasingly defined by the capacity to sustain a technological edge in an environment where algorithms evolve faster than institutions can adapt.
The contest is now one of agility, over inertia, innovation, over convention, and foresight over reaction.
To prevail, practitioners must not only master the tools of the present, but also anticipate future trajectories and ensure that policy frameworks keep pace with the velocity of technological disruption.
This changing environment compels counterterrorism practitioners to abandon a traditional reactive posture and embrace a proactive technologically agile strategy.
The decisive advantage lies in leveraging innovation towards outpaced adversaries embedding resilience into systems and ensuring policy frameworks evolve in step with the velocity of the disruption.
In this context, foresight is the ultimate safeguard, agility, the defining strengths and adaptability, the ensuring measures of success.
Distinguish colleagues, as we embrace the opportunities of artificial intelligence, we must strike the right balance.
We should avoid regulating innovation out of fear, but should ensure that AI is always used within the rule of law with respect for human rights.
Innovation and security should strengthen one another, not come at each other others expense.
Using AI without accountability or legal oversight risks undermining the values we seek to protect.
Our responsibility is to ensure that AI is developed and used responsibly, guided by legality, ethics, transparency, and respect for fundamental rights.
Ladies and gentlemen, artificial intelligence is a shared global resource and protecting it is a shared responsibility.
By working together, we can harness its benefits to strengthen security while preventing its exploitation by terrorists.
Through cooperation, responsible innovation, and vigilance, we can ensure that technology remains a force for peace, security, and the common good.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Kegem for your remarks.
Now, I would like to invite Mr.
Wong Ho Park, head of the National Counterterrorism Center of the Prime Minister's Office of the Republic of Korea.
The floor is yours.
Thank you very much.
The distinguished chairs, esteemed UNHT target and delegates from around the world.
It is a great honor to represent the Republic of Korea and speak with you today.
My name is Wan Park, the administration of the Korean National Counterrorism Center.
The National Counterterrorism Center was established in 2016 following the enactment of the Act on anti terrorism for the protection of citizens and public security.
Since then, the center has served as the main body overseeing and coordinating all national counterterrorism policy and operations, marking our tenth anniversary this year to meet the rapidly changing S and terror environment.
Our center is driving a complete innovation of the national counterterrorism system.
One of the primary objectives of this report is to proactively counter the compounding threat of modern terrorism fueled by advanced technologies such as drone, unmanned systems, cyber operations, and artificial intelligence.
The very topic we are discussing today amid global instability, terrorist incident continue without threatening the daily lives of everyone here.
My country, Korea is no exception.
Co chairs and distinguished delegates, while we marvel at generative AIA and its bright future.
This technology has become a new challenge hacking the most vulnerable part of humanity, our heart and mind.
When copying someone's voice with just a few second of data for climbing is possible.
AI terror is no longer a distant future, but a threat that could strike tomorrow or even today.
Similarly, while we cheer for the innovation and convenience of drones, these small aircraft have become a real security threat, penetrating the blind spot where our advanced ad network cannot reach drone based terror were hard to detect aircraft flies freely over cloudy density, strikes major facilities and paralyzes the entire systems.
Is no longer a matter of if, but when and where.
In response, the Korean government has recently established the National AI Security Center to systematically and effectively counter emerging cybersecurity threats driven by artificial intelligence.
Through this center, we are building a comprehensive AI Sr guidework and risk management framework to lead the responsible and safe use of AI technology.
In addition to this action, the Lpuble of Korea plans to launch the National drone and counter drone strategy task force directly under the Prime Ministers of peace to establish a powerful pan government control tower.
Through this framework, we will invest significant budget over the next five years to build advanced integrated counter drone defense systems for critical national facilities and drivable technical standardization.
However, the asymmetric field of technologies escaping human control and threatening our cities cannot be solved by one nation alone.
It demands United global response.
It is in this context that the National Counterterrorism Center of the Republic of Korea strongly support and actively joins the global coalition to counter and eradicate terrorism.
While joining international airport, we plan to expand bilateral exchanges with the UN member states.
Specifically, we wish to institutionalize cooperation by signing MOUs with counterpart agencies that oversee national counterterrorism action worldwide, solving our common problems through common airport.
Terrorism seeks to divide us.
However, our unity will depict it, I think.
I thank Mr.
Park for his remarks.
Before giving the floor to the next panelists, I would like just to remind the speakers of the time as we are already behind.
I now give the floor to Mr.
Francois Javier Martin Lazaraga, Director of the Center for International for Intelligence, A Tourism and Organized Crimes of Spain.
A, you have the floor.
O.
Dear colleagues, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for the introduction.
It's an honor for me to be here with all of you.
Now we can all agree that terrorism and extremist movements have found in artificial intelligence and in technology, something that would magnify the impact of their actions.
We have spoken a great deal about how, AI being used for terrorist purposes includes automated attacks with drones, the use of malware to attack a critical infrastructure as well as designing biological and chemical threats, which is beyond scientific oversight, and the The misuse of AI makes it possible to alter recommended algorithms and digital platforms.
It allows terrorist propaganda as well as massive disinformation operations and all this through the use of decentralized finances, cryptocurrency, and complex transactions on the dark web, which make it difficult to trace these monetary flows.
Yes.
We've spoken about how the new technologies are a fundamental tool in order to protect our critical infrastructure and public spaces or how the counterterrorism response has greatly increased our data processing capability and predictive analysis to identify financing patterns to locate propaganda in real time, as well as a structure to hate speech.
Now, we cannot consider uh Artificial intelligence is an instrument which terrorists used to attack and for the state to use to defend itself.
We find ourselves before a transformative technology, which alters all of society, which is reconfiguring in a swift fashion institutions, labor markets, and personal relations.
We find ourselves before a hyper technification, if you like, which could generate the conditions of a grievance, alienation, discontent, like the ones that historically preceded outbreaks of violence, political violence, and violent extremism.
Now, when we automate administrative decisions that have an impact on the rights of people, even though we gain in terms of time and objectivity, Mark, we are avoiding, uh, having an identifiable human agent who could assume responsibility for these decisions.
This accountability gap deprives institutions of their legitimacy and plunges citizens in defenseless existence when they perceive that their lives are governed by machines.
This resentment is sharpened when in automatic decisions, we see discriminatory biases that reproduce injustice towards vulnerable sectors.
In the labor sphere, this new technology could create and is creating large numbers of displaced workers.
But unlike previous economic revolutions and this transformation, it doesn't only replace physical labor, but it's also dismantling intellectual, administrative, and creative professions of broad sectors of society.
Thus, uh, creating fertile ground for extremist recruitment.
Furthermore, the dizzy pace of AI clashes with the institutional time lag.
The innovation cycle of technological corporations moves in weeks, whereas administrative decisions or international treaties take years to be produced.
This state paralysis accelerates this perception of what could be a capture of the state by corporations.
If, um, AI computers and infrastructures are controlled by a handful of private transnational companies.
The real sovereignty could go beyond democratic control.
Furthermore, the massive implementation of biometrics, indiscriminate facial recognition or automatic identification in public spaces, even though it can be justified to fight terrorism, it could undermine privacy as well as other fundamental rights.
That is why along with classic conventional terrorism, we must be vigilant when it comes to the development of extremism, which are based on this anti technological accelerationism.
In the 19th century after the Industrial Revolution in Europe, the Luddte movement brought together textile workers whose lives were threatened and they destroyed mechanical looms.
The current neo Ludsm is made up of philosophers, colleges and well educated intellectuals that see NI an essential threat for the human condition.
Mitigation strategies, vis-à-vis these threats of whether they're a terrorist or not, cannot be limited to simply the security sphere and close cooperation between countries and their agencies, we have to opt for public and private governance through multilateral frameworks such as the European Union Internet Forum or the GIFCT, which, apply coercive tools, which require that technological companies remove a violent content quickly.
Beyond this, the network could neutralize content before it becomes viral and develop a counter narrative campaigns in real time.
When users are doing searches and looking for extremist content, their attention would be diverted automatically towards alternative content, such as the testimonies of victims of terrorism or psychosocial support resources.
This prevention strategy, especially starting with the uh the youth can find in gaming a resource with the design of educational role playing, designed to promote critical capability, as well as learning about disinformation and media manipulation.
The accountability gap must be resolved with the principle of the man of the loop and forbidding automation of any decision that would affect the rights, the freedom and lives of people, guaranteeing that a human supervisor would assume the civil, penal, and ethical responsibility of any algorithmic result.
Lastly, it's a matter of priority to set up bias audits and oversight of recommended algorithms to change or alter functions that contain polarizing content and to ensure that they don't amplify radical discourse.
At the same time, it we have to look at explainable artificial intelligence to prevent counterterrorism models from operating as inscrutable black boxes and could be out of control.
Their processes should be understandable and auditable, and this is very important.
They should make it possible to have a full conversion of their findings into judicial evidence which is robust and which respects guarantees of due process.
I'd like to conclude by saying that technological capacity should be subordined ethically to unconditional respect for human rights and And then the cyclical magnificent cumats by Pope Leo XV said that the concentration of technical power escapes the sovereign control of states and weakening governance, creating an environment which is hostile to people.
And so he makes an urgent plea to disarm artificial intelligence, to prevent the technology from having dominion over the human and to place technology at the service of the human family.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Lizaraga.
I now would like to invite Mr.
Eldor Aripov, first Deputy Head of the Security Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The floor is yours and I hope you can limit your intervention to 5 minutes if possible.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Doctor Abdul Aziz Al Wassil, miss S Kanoa, Excellencies, distinguished delegates and participants.
On behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, let me express our sincere appreciation to the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism for organizing this discussion on a topic of such a strategic importance.
Today, we stand on the threshold of unprecedented technological transformation.
And as previous speakers already mentioned, artificial intelligence, machine learning, biotechnology, and unmanned systems offer enormous opportunities for sustainable development and for addressing global challenges.
At the same time, we must acknowledge a sobreing reality.
Terrorist groups are rapidly adding these very technologies to their arsenal.
We are witnessing artificial intelligence algorithms being exploited to mass produce propaganda, generate deep fakes, automated cyberattacks and track the most vulnerable segment of our society, our youth.
Over the past year, the volume of destructive EI generated content identified by law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan has doubled.
More than 100 extremist publications created with the use of AI are being blocked every day, demonstrating the scale of this emerging threat.
The adoption of artificial intelligence has reduced the operational cost of terrorist groups by 80%.
At the same time, hosting providers and platforms delete only 30% of all identified terrorist content.
Without the consolidation of our collective efforts in this area, we will not be able to counter the informational offensives of terrorists effectively.
Given the rapid pace of digital development, there is a growing trend of using crypto assets and finance terrorist activities, which necessitates intensified efforts to monitor and analyze suspicious financial transactions.
With the support of the Financial Action Task Force and the United Nations Counterrosm Committee, Executive Directorate.
We have established an effective mechanism to formalize the information obtained and admit IT as evidence in pretrial investigations in judicial proceedings.
As a result, we have initiated more than 20 criminal cases over the past three years alone.
Terrorism knows no borders, and in the digital environment, such borders do not exist at all.
Under these circumstances, traditional response methods are losing their effectiveness.
We need preventive action and a strategic strengthening of our defense capacity.
Dear colleagues, the Republic of Uzbekistan regards digital security as an integral element of national and regional stability in Central Asia.
Within the framework of the national program Digital U Bekistan 2030, and the strategy for the development of artificial intelligence technologies.
Our goal is not only to scale up the IT sector, but also to build a reliable, legal and ethical safeguard.
Our approach to countering high tech terrorism rests on three key pillars.
Firstly, the proactive strengthening of the human and technical capacity of law enforcement agencies.
Only more advanced technology can effectively counter technology itself.
In this regard, in 2025, Uzbekistan adopted a strategic presidential decree on the digital transformation of the internal affairs system.
This initiative aims to implement advanced tools to ensure the safety of citizens and the state.
Actively complementing this new technological foundation by investing in human capital.
Law enforcement officers in Uzbekistan are currently undergoing specialized training in cybersecurity.
Secondly, the development of an ethical and legal framework geared toward the protection of human rights.
In preventing the misuse of AI, we must not infringe upon the fundamental rights and freedoms of our citizens.
Uzbekistan is working to introduce artificial intelligence standards that minimize algorithmic bias and guarantee the protection of personal data.
Thirdly, inclusive international cooperation and public private partnership.
We need the expertise and the social responsibility of the big tech companies.
We have a shared duty to make the global network safer and more trustworthy.
In this regard, Uzbekistan proposes the following practical steps.
First, establish under the auspices of the United Nations Sorry, if I may, thank you for your remarks, Mr.
Aripov, because of the time, I think we would like to move on to the next speaker.
Now I'd like to invite Mr.
Chala Bani under Secretary-General and special advisor of the Secretary-General on the prevention of genocide.
F is yours.
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I'm honored to join you in today's session alongside distinguished delegates and colleagues, convened as part of the fourth high level Conference on Counterterrorism and united in our shared commitment to advancing global efforts against international crimes.
I would like to start by thanking the co chairs of this panel, his Excellence, doctor Abdul Aziz M Awai, permanent representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, and miss Skonoda, Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator, Director of the Crisis Bureau of the United Nations Development Program.
I would also like to appreciate and thank my co panelists for their insights, for their remarks on issues of relevance to all of us.
Today's discussion, focusing on the misuse of artificial intelligence and new and emerging technologies and on our collective responses to these evolving challenges lies very close to the heart of my mandate as the UN special advisor on the prevention of genocide, including my office's role as the UN system focal point for the implementation of the UN strategy and plan of action.
On hate speech.
Throughout history, from the Holocaust to Rwanda and Srebrenia, hate speech and incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence have served as big triggers and precursors to the commission of the heinous crime of genocide and of other atrocity crimes.
These tragedies remind us that words, when left unchecked, can deepen divisions, fuel intolerance and exclusion, and in the most serious cases, may even create conditions whereby atrocity crimes have become possible or direct in their commission.
Today, the Internet, social media platforms, together with rapidly evolving technologies, generative AI, and other AI enabled tools advanced deep Fk and boats are transforming our information environment and reshaping our societies.
While offering enormous opportunities, they also contribute the spread of hateful narratives, targeting groups at risk at unprecedented scale and speed, shaping how people access information and amplifying the credibility and visibility of narratives that promote grievances across the world.
This is having a profound and very serious and concerning impact offline.
Generative AI is now fully equipped to create hybar realistic content such as images, videos, and audio using just a few existing options or clips nearly indistinguishable from reality.
We have seen already how digital platforms can be exploited to disseminate hate speech and incitement to violence and advanced humanizing campaigns against minorities.
Such campaigns can ultimately lead to genocide and other atrosit crimes.
We have also seen instances where hate speech, violent extremism, genocide, and terrorism are interlinked, for example, in the context of the genocide perpetrated by ISIL against the Yazidi minority in Iraq.
This is why today, more than ever, it is important to work together, reinforcing and leveraging our respective mandates at the United Nations while also understanding that the dare reality on the ground requires urgent, timely and coordinated response.
We need to step up our collective efforts to counter and address this phenomenon in particular to further understand how the misuse or abuse of AI and other new and emerging technologies change the dynamics towards further erosion of social cohesion, causing harm, exacerbating conflict, or understanding the new spaces for prevention that this field can also offer.
We need to help develop systems and tools that are inclusive, ethical, and aligned with human rights standards, and human dignity.
We need a multifaceted comprehensive approach, an approach that is built upon strong partnerships and involving the whole of society.
The adoption of the Pact of the future, including the Global Digital Compact was a pivotal step forward in this direction, calling for enhanced international cooperation for safe, secure and trustworthy emerging technologies, including AI.
Member States ought to continue strengthening appropriate regulatory frameworks in line with international human rights law, including freedom of expression.
The UN strategy and plan of action on hate speech, together with a bad plan of action, provide valuable guidance for designing and implementing effective strategies to address and counter hate speech.
Technology and social media companies must also take responsibility for the systems they built, including by identifying, preventing, mitigating, and addressing harms from the risks their services may pose.
Civil society, religious, traditional community leaders, women, young people, Influencers and local communities all have essential roles to play and must be empowered.
Digital education and media literacy are essential components of any comprehensive strategy to counter hateful narratives and building resilience against online hate speech.
Building capacity means looking at all actors of society to promote sustainable peace.
But none of this is possible if we don't fully understand the problem.
Let me conclude by emphasizing the importance of continued up to date and in depth research on the scope, trends, target.
I thank you, Mr.
Blai, for your insightful remarks.
I now invite participants to watch and listen to a pre recorded video message by miss Monica Katina a, under Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to address the fourth United Nations High level counterterrorism Conference session on the misuse of AI and emerging technologies.
This discussion comes at a pivotal time for global security.
Terrorist groups are increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence and new technologies to expand the speed, scale, and reach of their propaganda, recruitment, and operations.
As this threat landscape evolves, we must recalibrate our responses and equip criminal justice institutions with the tools they need to keep up with this technological shift.
This requires sustained investment in national capacities, alongside a coordinated multilateral effort across the United Nations counterterrorism operators.
For more than 25 years now, UNODC has been at the forefront of this effort.
We have helped countries strengthen legislative framework and build strong accountable criminal justice systems so that they are better prepared for emerging threats.
We have trained frontline officials on the responsible use of new technologies, ensuring alignment with international law, Human Rights standards, and accountability.
Together with our partners of the United Nations Global Counterterrorism Coordination Compact, we have developed guidance on the use of electronic evidence to strengthen investigations and facilitate information sharing.
This work must now be scaled up and adapted to the realities of an increasingly digital and borderless environment.
Against this background, the ninth review of the global counterterrorism strategy is a timely opportunity to reinforce our collective commitment.
UNODC stands ready to support member states and our partners in advancing our joint efforts for a world that is safer from the threat of terrorism.
I thank you for your attention.
I thank miss Juma for her message.
I now invite Mr.
Mau, Medical Director for Capacity Building and Director of the United Nations Counterrorism Center of the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism.
The floor is yours.
Thank you very much, Ambassador Oil.
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.
With the advance of artificial intelligence and other new technologies, we are no longer addressing only digital disruptions of the past decade.
We are witnessing a significant shift in the global security landscape.
Member states need capacities to respond to this shift.
General Assembly and US member states already in 2021, through the seventh review of the United Nations Global counterterrori Strategy, called upon UOCT to support member states in building their capacities to respond to the challenges and opportunities that new technologies provide in countering terrorism.
The UN Counterterrorism Center promptly responded to this call through its cybersecurity and new technologies program with the financial support of all of our donors and in particular the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the European Union, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Korea, and Germany.
Our partners, we started to support member states develop strategic responses to new technologies through the national counterterrorism strategies.
We help them to strengthen their law enforcement technological capabilities and to better protect their critical infrastructure from terrorist cyberattacks.
There are three things that are essential in our views to make capacity building responses strategic.
First, always ensure national ownership and the tailored approach.
Capacity building on new technologies needs to address individual countries needs and technological readiness.
Nigeria, Ghana, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, and many more countries that UN CCT has supported can attest our assistance to new technologies aligned with the national context, help them advance integration of new technologies in their counterterrorism methods.
We have done this through strengthened counterterrorism strategies, new AI legislation and regulation, strengthened law enforcement responses, or improved partnerships with the private sector.
Secondly, strategic capacity building on new technologies requires more than just training to counter terrorism agencies and delivery of equipment.
Effective capacity building needs to include the role of government and the role of society dialogue and agreement on how to responsibly use new technologies to counter terrorism.
Effective capacity building needs to strengthen the governance and oversight frameworks for technological use, especially EI and improve institutional coordination.
Recently launched training for parliamentarians on artificial intelligence and counterterrorism is addressing all these aspects and has been well accepted by many member states.
We've also launched the gap analysis of digital tools to support victims of terrorism with an aim at aligning digital tools with victims needs to establish a clear path for safe, responsible, and victim centered digital innovation.
And thirdly, effective capacity building on new technologies requires partnership and coordination.
This is the only way that member states can build strategic capacities to respond to the challenges and opportunities of new technologies to counter terrorism.
Isolated capacity building efforts on new technologies are likely to fail unless they are part of a broader comprehensive strategies.
UniCT remains committed to working with member states and our partners to ensure that technological progress strengthens rather than undermines our collective efforts to prevent and counter terrorism and protect human rights.
Sustaining the commitment requires continued investment.
We therefore count on member states and regional organizations to continue to support the counterterrorism Center and UniCT in building member states strategic responses to artificial intelligence and other new technologies in counterterrorism.
I thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Medico for your remarks and all the panelists for your excellent contributions.
Now, we'll open the floor for questions and observations, and we have a number of speakers already lined up.
Additional intervention will be taken as time permits, but probably not because I think we have a hard end at 4:45.
So I would like to kindly remind all the speakers to limit your intervention to 2 minutes.
Without further ado, I would like to first give the floor to the first speaker on the list who is Major General Fannin Hon Mid, Director General of the National Counterterrorism Center, Zimbabwe.
Co chairs, distinguished delegates, Zimbabwe expresses her appreciation to the United Nations Secretary-General for convening this fourth high level conference of heads of counterterrorism agencies Of member states, to the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism and to all Global Counterterrorism Coordination Combat entities, donors and partners for making this conference possible.
The review process is critical to reflect on the implementation of the United Nations global counterterrorism strategy and to consider the evolving threat landscape and appropriate responses.
Zimbabwe as a voice to the deep concerns regarding the evolving global terrorism threat landscape, and we take note of the reports of the Secretary-General and the Security Council 1267 committee, among others.
The proliferation of terrorist groups and related non state armed groups poses a serious threat to international security and to the territorial integrity of several member states.
Zimbabwe calls for enhanced exchanges of operational information, including on the actions or movements of terrorist persons or networks, identification of forged or falsified documents, means of communication used by terrorist groups, trafficking in small arms and light weapons, explosives, and sensitive material.
Co chairs, distinguished delegates, we are concerned about the reported links between terrorist groups and organized crime, as well as the exploitation of natural resources to further their nefarious activities.
Terrorist groups use local grievances to subvert some communities and embed their fighters within them.
The terrorism threat requires a comprehensive multidimensional and multilateral approach focused on the balanced implementation of the global counterterrorism strategy across its four pillars.
Capacity building should be provided to support developing countries effective counterterrorism measures.
In this vein, Zimbabwe calls for the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations.
Co chairs, distinguished delegates, as we continue to engage in this review process, Zimbabwe assures you of its constructive engagement.
I thank you.
I thank you, Major General Moshi, for your remarks and I now give the floor to Mr.
Edris Munil Lally, acting Director of African Union Commission.
Thank you, Chair.
Speaking on behalf of the African Union, I wish to share both how we read the evolving threat and above all, what Africa is doing about it.
Excellencies, Africa today carries a disproportionate share of the global terrorism burden, between 70% to 75% of terrorism related deaths are registered in Africa.
The Sahel remains the epicenter while the threat continues to expand its footprint and consolidating its presence along the Sahel, West Africa, the Lakchad Basin, the horn and Central Africa, and parts of Southern region while spreading its tentacles towards coastal West Africa.
Indeed, as we speak today, terrorist groups are occupying and administering an accumulative area of approximately 900,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of Tanzania.
The nature of the threat is also changing.
In several theaters, Trist groups no longer operate merely as armed actors.
They are increasingly replacing the states as the de facto authority increasing governing territories and governing populations while exploiting illegal economies and transnational criminal networks.
They also are leveraging and continue to leverage drones, encrypted communications, digital finances, and artificial intelligence to enhance their capabilities.
At the same time, we are witnessing and unarming privatization of both security and insecurity with the growing use of private military companies, mercenaries, foreign fighters, and seasonal fighters that are recruited locally, regionally, and beyond.
The threats transcends borders through a proliferation, displacement, terce mobility.
Its adaptation cycle is measured in weeks, while our responses, unfortunately, are still measured in months, if not years.
This is why our collective response must be equally agile, coordinated, anticipatory, and sustained.
Having said that, Africa has not remained idle or a passive observer of this threat.
Through our institution, we are delivering concrete African member states responses across the continent.
For the sake of time, I'll simply invite you to a side event that we will be organizing on the 2nd of July at 10:00.
The efforts themselves are anchored in the African Union Comprehensive Counterterrorism plan of action that we are rolling out 2026, 2030, being advanced through the EU Peace and Security Council.
It provides a common African framework to align national, regional, and continental efforts, strengthen early warning and early action, disrupt terrorist financing and criminal networks, and keep counterterrorism firmly anchored in human rights and the rule of law.
The Continental plan of action is guided by the principles of African ownership, national responsibilities, regional solidarity, sustainable capacity building, prevention, inclusion, evidence based decision making, and strengthened international partnership aligned with African priorities.
Excellencies, to conclude, Africa stands ready to contribute a more effective global counterterrorism architecture, not as passive recipient of assistance, but as partners that bring analysis, 20 years of experience and expertise, institutional and operational lessons.
The threat is changing.
Africa is also changing with it and how it approaches the threat of terrorism and it will require the support and better coordinated efforts from our international partner intervening on the African continent.
I thank you for your attention.
Thank you very much, Mr.
La La Li.
Now I'd like to invite His Excellency, Mr.
Coley Seck, permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations.
The floor is yours.
Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
Senegal is pleased to be taking the floor at this meeting on the developments of the global terrorist threat.
Terrorism is no longer localized.
It's become a national system, which is interconnected, and it's fueled by poverty, organized crime, illicit financial flows.
And the diversion of ITCs and artificial intelligence.
Given these changes, our response needs to be comprehensive, coordinated, and anticipatory.
In this regard, the global United Nations counterterrorism strategy, and we're celebrating the 20th year anniversary of that must remain our major framework.
We hail the work of the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism, as well as the Global Compact, which are strengthening the coherence of UN work.
Africa, especially Sahel, is one of the epicenters of this threat.
This reality shows that the security of every one of our states is contingent on the security of its neighbors.
This is why bolstering the capacity of Africa remains an imperative.
That means we need predictable sustainable financing, we need well adapted teams, and we need better sharing of intelligence, and we need African peace and security initiatives as well.
But we also know that no exclusively security response can sustainably beat terrorism.
Security needs to be coupled with development with community resilience and with the integration of young people and the prevention of violent extremism.
This is precisely what Senegal has chosen, which has implemented a holistic approach.
It's grounded in prevention, the resilience of the populations, the involvement of young people and women in alea.
In closing, the combat against terrorism is a matter of international solidarity.
It requires more preparation, more trust, and more shared responsibility.
In pooling our efforts, we can craft a world where security, development, and human dignity will be mutually reinforcing and where victims will find justice, reparations, and hope fighting terrorism must be collective, or it will not happen.
Thank you.
Thank you, Ambassador Sig for your remarks.
I now give the floor to miss Catalin Takasis, counterterrorism expert, permanent Mission of Hungary to the United Nations.
Thank you, Mr.
Co chair.
Please allow me to deliver the following statement on behalf of Her Excellcy Ambassador Corbat.
As after high negotiations, she is currently at the UN Peacekeeping Operation Budget Adoption as the chair of the Fifth Committee.
Excellency, distinguished colleagues.
Hungary welcomes this timely discussion on technology and global security.
Three years ago, during counterterrorism Week in 2023, we were already discussing the implications of emerging technologies.
Since then, however, the landscape has changed dramatically.
Terrorist organizations have become increasingly adaptive, exploiting a growing number of digital platforms to spread propaganda, recruit supporters, raise funds, and coordinate their activities.
Recent international assessments indicate that extremist networks now operate across more than 150 online platforms simultaneously.
Young people remain particularly vulnerable to these rapidly evolving digital threats.
Technology therefore presents us with a dual challenge.
It creates new opportunities for terrorists by at the same time providing us with powerful tools to strengthen our response.
In this complex environment, artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future.
It has become a strategic necessity for effective counterterrorism efforts.
AI enables authorities and online platforms to detect, identify and remove terrorist contact at the scale and speed that would be impoassible through human effort alone.
By analyzing text, images, videos, and behavioral patterns, AI can significantly reduce the time during which extremist content remains accessible online, thereby limiting its reach and impact.
Beyond content moderation, AI can also help identify patterns of offline radicalization.
By analyzing behavioral indicators and network connections, it can support the early identification of individuals who may be vulnerable to extremist influence.
This allows member states to complement reactive measures with targeted preventive actions, including credible counter narratives and early intervention initiatives.
At the same time, we must recognize that artificial intelligence is a tool, not a substitute for human judgment.
Its deployment must remain firmly anchored in respect for human rights, the rule of law, transparency, and appropriate human oversight.
Co chairs, no country can address these challenges alone.
Effective responses require closer international cooperation, the exchange of lessons learned and the best practices, and continued collaboration among governments, international organizations, the private sector, and the academia.
In conclusion, artificial intelligence offers unprecedented opportunities to seen our collective efforts against terrorism.
It enables us to move beyond reacting to terrorist activity towards preventing it, disrupting extremist networks before they can cause harm and better protecting our societies.
By combining technical innovation with responsible governance and international cooperation, we can ensure that emerging technologies remain a force for security rather than a tool for those who seek to undermine it.
I thank you.
Thank you very much, miss Takax.
Now I'd like to invite a representative of the permanent mission of Australia to the United Nations.
Thank you very much.
My name is Alistair Mekrin.
I'm representing Ambassador Larson.
Thank you Excellencies.
Critical technologies are reshaping the globe and transforming how our societies function in ways that are difficult to predict.
While technology and AI offer transformative benefits, they also introduce parallel risks, expanding the threat landscape at a pace that challenges our traditional responses to terrorism.
We must keep pace while building resilience against the exploitation of technologies by those who seek to do harm.
I will highlight three priority areas for our collective response.
First, we must understand how emerging technologies are being misused.
Generative AI is enabling the rapid production of extremist propaganda in multiple languages.
Social media is amplifying grievance narratives, eroding trust institutions, spreading hate and creating a permissive environment for violence.
Encrypted applications, gaming platforms and AI assisted tools are enabling more targeted recruitment and radicalization, particularly of young people.
As co chair of the global counterterrorism Forums countering violent extremism working group with Indonesia, Australia is prioritizing efforts to counter youth radicalization on new platforms.
Second, we must strengthen prevention.
With the UN Office of Counterterrorism, Australia is supporting the building safer online Gaming Communities Initiative.
This program equips young gamers and moderators in Southeast Asia with tools to prevent exploitation of gaming platforms and promote safer online environments.
Third, we must continue to promote strong and effective national policy responses.
This includes Australia's world leading under 16 social media laws placing responsibility on platforms to protect users at a critical stage of their development.
These are supported by our strong legislative and regulatory framework.
The Online Safety Act 2021 empowers the E Safety Commission to address and remove harmful content, including terrorism related material.
Regulation alone is not enough.
Australia also promotes safety by design, encouraging technology companies and developers to embed safeguards against misuse from the earliest stages of AI development.
Across all efforts, we remain committed to upholding international law, including human rights.
Effective counterterrorism responses must not only protect our security, they must also safeguard the values that underpin it.
Excellency, the misuse of AI and emerging technologies is present and an accelerating threat.
We must act collectively to share expertise and build capacity to ensure these technologies are used for good, not harm.
Thank you very much.
I thank the distinguished Representative of Australia and I now give the floor to Her Excellency, Ambassador Laura Dewity Lasser, permanent representative of Uruguay to the United Nations.
Good afternoon, Excellencies, delegates.
I'm going to speak on behalf of the ambassador and permanent representative of Uruguay.
Uruguay would like to begin by thanking you for organizing this fourth high level conference, and we value, in particular, the ability to have an exchange during session four.
Tackling the improper use of artificial intelligence and emergent technologies in the fight against terrorism is undoubtedly one of the most complex challenges that we are facing today.
From our point of view, we observe the need to balance the imperative of security with the full respect for international law and in particular, human rights.
Uruguay, a country which has built its diplomatic tradition on the basis of dialogue, multilateralsm, and strong institutions, maintains that technological innovation and the rule of law are not only compatible, but they should move forward harmoniously.
Along these lines, the review of the global counterterrorist strategy represents a key opportunity to consolidate a framework which incorporates accountability, transparency, and the observance of human rights as cross cutting aspects which would cut through technology and security.
Furthermore, Uruguay promotes a collaborative approach which recognizes the different realities of every region.
For us, it's a matter of priority to promote studies which make it possible to understand the real capabilities of the different territories as well as to promote the development of regional databases within existing legal frameworks.
We also value the establishment of regional fora for the exchange of experiences and challenges, which would acknowledge the cultural and linguistic diversity, and we promote a constructive dialogue with the private sector and digital platforms as strategic allies.
With respect to the protection of human rights, we feel it's crucial to carry out impact assessments on human rights prior to the implementation of any technological tool.
And these assessments should be maintained throughout the life cycle of that tool.
Allow me to stress a fundamental aspect.
Technology must be seen as a complement to human judgment and not as a replacement for it.
AI results must be subjected to properly trained human scrutiny.
For that, it's important to invest in the technical and legal training of teams as well as robust oversight mechanisms.
To conclude, Uruguay maintains that strategic capacity building should not be limited to the acquisition of advanced technology.
It also involves a comprehensive commitment to the building of solid institutions as well as transparent institutions which are respectful for human rights.
We opt for an approach which combines the development of knowledge, cooperation with academia and industry, as well as the exchange of experiences between states.
Chairman, the challenges that we have ahead of us are significant, but we trust that a multilateral dialogue and international cooperation will allow us to chart a path which is balanced and sustainable.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Now, I would like to invite His Excellency, Mr.
Ahmed Al Qazi, Executive Director of Hedya Chair Sukaran Sedaris.
Thank you.
Hidaya remains committed to supporting international efforts to address the risk and opportunities associated with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Extremism prior to becoming an act of violence, starts with ideology and communication.
Terrorist groups integrate new technologies in their incitement, recruitment, indoctrination, and mobilization efforts.
Hidai's AI research showed that AI amplifies existing challenges by increasing its scale, speed, and reach.
Radical and extremist content is adapted to become more mainstream and locally contextualized, making it harder to detect.
One of the challenges we faced is the speed of these emerging technologies.
By the time we understand one aspect of this technology, the threat has already evolved to something more complex.
This year, Hidaya brought together governments, researchers, civil society organizations, and tech companies to bridge knowledge gaps and to provide evidence based solutions.
This resulted in identified positive opportunities to leverage AI for good in our prevention efforts, such as assisting with content moderation, identifying trends and vulnerabilities, help practitioners conduct large scale analysis, build online resilience and counter narratives, and ensure stakeholders don't work in silos.
While AI and gaming platforms bring new risks and amplify existing threats, many of the root causes of radicalization actually remain the same.
Through our programs such as Tech to Protect and Skills for resilience, Hidaya has worked with computer science students in Tunisia to translate our knowledge into practice, empower youth, and strengthen online resilience for them to develop their own creative solutions to counter radicalization within their local context.
This also reminds us of the important nexus between the online and offline space as threats are not solely defined within the digital space, every act of radicalization online will have an offline consequence eventually and vice versa.
Grievances and vulnerabilities do tend to influence how receptive individuals are when engaging with extremist content online.
In conclusion, I would like to share a concerning finding.
We are witnessing that radical groups are exploiting blind spots in online platforms, whereby part of the radicalization process is done in one platform, the same individual is then lured to another platform where incitement to commit violence begins.
A recent terrorist attack in Southeast Asia was carried out using exactly this method.
Therefore, it is crucial for us to adapt, multilaterally align, enhance resilience, build digital literacy, and youth community led programs as we counter terrorism together.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Al Qasimi.
Now I give the floor to the final speaker in our list and those who are unable to deliver this statement, we kindly ask them to email them to the Secretariat for publication.
I now give the floor to Mr.
Emmanuel La Fido, Vice Chair of OC CCEPA CCT.
Thank you, dear Chair.
I speak as a vice chair of the Adoc Committee on countering terrorism of the OSC Parliamentary Assembly.
When we discuss artificial intelligence, we often begin with regulation.
Regulation is necessary, but the regulation alone is not enough.
The real challenge is the capacity.
Terrorist and violent extremist actors are adapting quickly.
They can use artificial intelligence to produce propaganda, create a synthetic content, translate extremist messages, target vulnerable individuals, and exploit digital environments such as social media, gaming platform, and encrypted messaging.
Artificial intelligence does not create terrorist intent, but it can multiply terrorist capability.
This is not about blaming institution.
It is a call for urgency and cooperation Parliaments, governments and public administration must work together rapidly to build the awareness, legal tools, and operational capacity needed to respond effectively.
For this reason, capacity building must develop in five direction.
First, parliamentary capacity.
Parliaments must be able to understand these technologies, assess their risk, update the legal framework, and exercise democratic oversight.
Second, law enforcement and judicial capacity.
Police authorities, prosecutors and judges need clear legal instruments, technical expertise, and stronger international cooperation to detect, investigate, and prosecute the malicious use of AI and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
Third, technological and institutional capacity.
Technological sovereignty means democratic capacity, the ability to understand, audit, and govern technologies that affect security, fundamental rights, and public debate.
Fourth, prevention capacity.
In the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, our committee has focused on youth radicalization, artificial intelligence, media, and information literacy, and online safety.
Through the school Dialogue Initiative development with the NextWave Center, we engage directly with the student, teacher, local expert and civil society.
Two dialogues have already taken place, one in Tordea Fz Giulia, Italy, and one in Cetina, Montenegro, involving around 200 students aged 13 to 18.
Their message was clear, young people are asking for more support, more protection, and more institutional responsibility.
They are also asking us to make digital literacy a permanent part of education, not a one off project.
Fifth, international capacity.
No country can face this challenge alone.
Terrorist networks, digital platform, online propaganda, and financial flows are transnational.
Our response must be equally coordinated through the United Nations, regional Organization, and parliamentary assemblies.
To conclude, their Chair, countering the misuse of AI is not only a security issue.
It is a test of democratic readiness.
If terrorist actors adapt faster than our institution, they will exploit our weaknesses.
But if we strengthen parliaments, law enforcement, schools, communities, and international cooperation, we can ensure that artificial intelligence serves security, freedom, and human dignity.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I thank all those who have taken the floor.
The list of speakers is now exhausted.
And then those who still have statements to give, please do so.
So now.
I would like to thank all participants, special guests and delegation for their insightful contribution and active participation.
This session has highlighted both opportunities and challenges associated with the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in the counterterrorism context.
Discussion has underscored the importance of investing in capacity building, strengthening international cooperation, and ensuring that innovation is accompanied by appropriate safeguards, accountability, and respect for international law and human rights as technological change continues to accelerate, sustained dialogue and practical cooperation among member states, the United Nations system, Academia and other stakeholders will remain essential to preventing the misuse of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
I will give the floor to my co chair to close the session.
Once again, we'd like to thank all the participants for your presence and engagement and please now stay here for the closing session.
With this session, force of the high level conference is adjourned.
Dear participants, please take your seats.
We should start our closing session, which I assure you will be very important but very short.
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues.
I call to order the closing session of the fourth high level Conference of Heads of Counterterrorism agencies of member states.
It is my honor to give the floor to the Chief de Cabinet, Mr.
Courtney Ratter, who will be delivering remarks on behalf of the Deputy Secretary-General.
Cabinet, the floor is yours.
Excellencies, Under Secretary-General Zouev.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's a pleasure for me to deliver these remarks on behalf of the Deputy Secretary-General.
Let me begin by thanking the UN Office for Coterrorism for convening this important conference and for its continued support to member states in strengthening the international cooperation against terrorism.
I also want to recognize the people in this room.
You lead the agencies that disrupt terrorist activities.
Follow the financing, secure borders, and bring perpetrators to justice.
Your work is carried out, as you know, under intense pressure, often with incomplete information and against networks moving faster than the law, always with the knowledge that lives are at stake.
When your agencies succeed, much of that success is invisible.
When something fails, the consequences are public and they are devastating.
Therefore, my first message is one of recognition.
Thank you for your service, thank you for your commitment.
Over these two days, you have examined a threat that evolves across conflict zones, criminal networks, and digital platforms, exploiting vulnerabilities, grievances, technology, and fear.
As we approach the ninth review of the UN Global counterterrorism strategy and mark 20 years since its adoption, we have a chance to strengthen its impact.
The strategy recognized the fundamental truth that your experience confirms each and every day.
Lasting security cannot be achieved through enforcement measures alone.
The balance that we strive to uphold is clear, protecting people from immediate threat while reducing the conditions that allow terrorist groups to recruit, finance, move, and hide.
This conference has shown how demanding that balance is.
As you know firsthand, a cell can be dismantled and other forms.
A group can be weakened in one place and resurface in another.
Where the underlying conditions persist, the threat simply regenerates.
That is why prevention is not an alternative to your work.
It is what makes its gains hold.
Prevention deserves the same seriousness, investment, and attention as response.
Building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable societies is therefore central to lasting security.
2030 agenda provides the roadmap to invest in people, strengthen institutions, reduce inequalities, expand opportunity, and leave no one behind.
This requires partnership among member states, the UN, regional organizations, and civil society, partnership anchored in national ownership, local engagement, and a commitment to reach those most at risk.
Ladies and gentlemen, this week also brought important voices into the room.
Victims and survivors remind us of what is at stake.
They carry the consequences of terrorism long after the headlines move on.
Their rights, dignity, and participation must remain central to policies and the systems.
Women's organizations and women leaders are often among the first to recognize shifts within their communities where trust is fraying, young people are being targeted and support is needed.
Their participation makes counterterrorism more grounded and credible.
Young people and civil society are also an essential part of the work.
A whole of society approach means including these actors in policy design and implementation, drawing on the knowledge needed to be as effective as possible.
Friends, 20 years since the adoption of the strategy, we've gained significant insight.
We know that counterterrorism is most effective when it is anchored in the rule of law, human rights, and in the trust of communities.
We know that prevention works best when it is early, sustained and is rooted in local realities, and we know that no one can address this threat alone.
That means supporting the agencies protecting people every day, while ensuring that our collective response remains grounded in dignity, opportunity, and trust.
The DSG remains firmly committed to this effort alongside the Secretary-General.
Rest assured that the UN Office of Counterterrorism and the wider United Nations system will continue to support member states in carrying it forward.
I thank you.
I would like to thank very much the Sheriff De Cabinet, for delivering the remarks on behalf of the Deputy Secretary-General, and I thank the Deputy Secretary-General for her unwavering commitment to our collective efforts in preventing and countering terrorism.
The Deputy Secretary-General had been instrumental in bringing into sharper focus the need to support, especially the efforts of member states in Africa, where as we just discussed, terrorism has been taking a growing and devastating toll.
We are especially grateful for her leadership in advocating for a comprehensive approach that recognizes how sustainable development, human rights, peace and security are synergetically interlinked.
I will now deliver a brief summary to conclude this high level conference.
First of all, you should be happy.
It will be really short, first of all, and secondly, unlike the opening session when I used my four official UN languages, our interpreters won't be tortured.
I will speak only English this time.
Of course, first of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all co chairs, special guests, panelists, and participants who contributed to the richness of our discussions over these two days.
Obviously, I would like to thank all the United Nations colleagues from different UN agencies which participate in the Secretary-General global counterterrorism compact, which we were asked to coordinate from UOCT.
But every agency made a very valuable contribution and obviously on my right, I have Assistant Secretary-General from GCA.
We have to thank this department for all their support and they were very instrumental.
As you know, probably had all together during these four days, we had more than 45 events in different conference rooms.
Not only the plenary, which is here in the Well, I cannot resist to tell that, you know, initially we announced that the closing will be in the General Assembly Hall, but the fifth committee is a very powerful committee which of the General Assembly, which approves our budget and staff tables, I mean, all this.
In addition, unlike City, they are general assembly main committee.
So they are very kindly and softly but evicted us from this wonderful hall, but at least I'm happy that you've heard the Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez to address you in this beautiful environment of this historic, I would say conference room of the General Assembly.
Well, since I mentioned this, of course, even in Absentia, but I hope Sheriff De Quine will convey this message from all of us.
I would like to thank Mr.
Antonio Gutierrez, Secretary-General of the United Nations not only for addressing, but as you remember, he stayed very long and listening to the whole opening session and I hope it was very important for all of us not only Keno Adré but his steadfast leadership and support for the counterterrorism work of the United Nations system, which myself personally, but my office feels every day and obviously it comes from his executive office, from the Sheriff Cabinet, and from DSG as I said, you know, The perspective and insight shared throughout these two days must not remain within these walls.
We stand ready to support member states and all our partners in taking forward the ideas, recommendations, and commitments raised during your deliberations in our discussions.
Let this conference stand as a renewed call to action and a demonstration of the enduring importance of multilateral cooperation in the face of the evolving terror threats.
Last but not least, I would like to remind you that, as you probably remember, tomorrow, General Assembly will not only review but hopefully approve the ninth edition of the global counterterrorism strategy, which is a guiding policy document for all global compact entities, including obviously Uo City.
With this, the fourth high level Conference of Heads of Counterterrorism agencies of member states is hereby officially closed.