Who:
- Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
- H.E. Ms. Alya Al-Thani, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN
- H.E Mr. Zhang Jun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the UN
- H.E. Mr. Cho Hyun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN
- H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Mora:nos, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
- Ms. Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED)
- Ms. Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, Director of the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
- Mr. Mohammed Hanzab, Chairman, International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS)
When: 3 February 2020, from 10 to 11 am (launch and opening of the event)
Where: UNHQ Conference Room 1 and live on webtv.un.org
Background
In the last decades, many terrorist attacks were perpetrated in public places against soft targets. Attacks occurring during sports events are particularly hideous as sports have historically played a significant role in the dissemination of positive values across civilizations and cultures, especially for young people.
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and in consultation with the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), are joining forces to launch the 'Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism'. This new programme is aiming at developing innovative policies and practices to strengthen the protection of major sporting events through enhanced international cooperation, public-private partnerships and sustainable security approaches, while promoting the values of sport as a powerful means to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism.
For the first time, the event will gather experts from Member States, international and regional organizations as well as sport federations and the private sector.
The programme is supported by the State of Qatar, the United Nations Peace and Development Fund (UNPDF – funded by the People’s Republic of China) and the Republic of Korea. The launch of the programme will be followed by a two-day International Expert Meeting (closed meeting) focusing on the security of major sporting events.
Contact: Laurence Gerard, UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, gerardl@un.org More information on: https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/sport/