Countering Terrorism

Countering Terrorism

The Parliamentary Assembly works to advance counter-terrorism efforts in the OSCE region.cct_factsheetJAN22.png

Screenshot 2025 10 01 163803The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly established the Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism (CCT) in July 2017 to strengthen the contribution of parliamentarians in addressing violent extremism and radicalization across the OSCE region.

 

 

Goals of the Committee:

  • Advocate for inclusive, effective and human rights-compliant counter-terrorism responses.
  • Contribute to the timely implementation of the international counter-terrorism framework.
  • Develop forward-looking policy guidance based on identified loopholes and new approaches.

Areas of focus: 

  • Promote the successful prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration of FTFs and their families, including women and children.
  • Strengthen border security and information sharing through sound Advance Passenger Information (API), Passenger Name Records (PNR) and biometric data management systems, in accordance with UNSCR 2396.
  • Foster prevention efforts and promote sensible guidance to counter on-line radicalization to violent extremism with a special focus on youth.
  • Support victims of terrorism and strengthen the role of victims’ associations through advocacy and awareness-raising.
  • Explore the intersection of terrorism with other challenges, such as those posed by organized crime, artificial intelligence, hybrid threats, migration and climate change. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Strengthened the engagement of parliamentarians, assessed new trends and shared key lessons learned through dozens of expert meetings (20), international and regional conferences (20) and field visits to OSCE participating States (10).
  • Developed innovative policy guidance to boost legislative convergence in key areas:
    - Resolution on Preventing Youth RadicalizationResolution on Preventing Youth Radicalizationto Violent Extremism and Terrorism throughEducation, and Media and Information Literacy(2025 Porto Resolution),
    - Resolution on Artificial Intelligence and the Fight against Terrorism (2024 Bucharest Resolution),
    - The Wagner Group's Terroristic Nature and Actions (2023 Vancouver Resolution),
    - Victims of Terrorism (2022 Birmingham Resolution),
    - Addressing the Threats Stemming From the Return & Relocation of FTFs (2019 Luxembourg Resolution),
    - Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism (2018 Berlin Resolution).
  • Promoted the implementation of relevant international obligations, such as those on border security and information sharing stemming from UNSCR 2396 (2019), through parliamentary oversight initiatives, consistent public messaging and contribution to numerous publications, including the Parliamentary Handbook on Promoting the Implementation of UN Security Council 1373 (2001) on Countering Terrorism (2024).
  • Boosted international co-operation through a network of partnerships, including with the OSCE, the United Nations and various interparliamentary assemblies. Notably. the OSCE PA presided over the first Co-ordination Mechanism of Parliamentary Assemblies on Counter-Terrorism, established under UN aegis, from June 2022 to December 2024.
  • Encouraged OSCE governments to uphold inclusive and human rights-based responses to counter terrorism & disinformation, especially during the COVID-19 emergency (2020-2022).

 

 

Mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism: 

  • Advance OSCE PA’s efforts in the field of countering terrorism with a special emphasis on cross-dimensional issues, explore innovative approaches in the OSCE region and report back to the President and the Standing Committee;
  • Consider terrorism trends in the OSCE region and develop forward-looking policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the role of the OSCE and supporting participating States' efforts to develop effective and human rights-compliant counter-terrorism responses;
  • Promote inter-parliamentary dialogue and the exchange of best practices and lessons learned on issues related to countering terrorism;
  • Work closely with the OSCE executive structures and with relevant external partners on issues related to countering terrorism to improve the visibility and impact of the OSCE's action;
  • Promote the follow-up to OSCE PA recommendations in the field of countering terrorism.

 

 

Composition of the Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism:

  • Kamil Aydin (Türkiye), Chair
  • Emanuele Loperfido (Italy), Vice-Chair
  • Marc Veasey (United States), Vice-Chair
  • Paula Cardoso (Portugal)
  • Tsogtbaatar Damdin (Mongolia)
  • Lord John Hannett (United Kingdom)
  • Maria Karapetyan (Armenia)
  • Pia Kauma (Finland)
  • Sverre Myrli (Norway)
  • Jevrosima Pejović (Montenegro)
  • Ricardo Tarno (Spain)
  • Attila Tilki (Hungary)
  • Madeleine van Toorenburg (Netherlands)

Take a look at our PDF factsheet detailing the composition and mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism. 

 

The OSCE PA's Counter-Terrorism Work

Below you may find the official resolutions, publications, reports, speeches, press releases and videos highlighting the OSCE PA's counter-terrorism work.

Resolutions and Publications

 

Official visits

 

Other activities

 

Videos

Chair Kamil Aydin discusses the OSCE PA's counter-terrorism work in Vienna, 21 February 2025

Former Chair Makis Voridis discusses the OSCE PA's counter-terrorism work in Marrakech on 4 October 2019

Former Chair Abid Qayyum Raja discusses the work of the CCT in Luxembourg on 7 July 2019

Former Chair Makis Voridis (Greece) speaks about the role of parliamentarians in counter-terrorism efforts at the OSCE PA's Annual Session in Berlin on 8 July 2018

 Makis Voridis's video address to the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee on 2 July 2019

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