Madrid (EFE).- A little over a month ago, the United Nations Office to Combat Terrorism was inaugurated in Madrid, although its work began a few months earlier with one objective: to extend the anti-terrorist offensive to all countries, focused on all in the prevention of violent extremism and in the protection of victims.
He explains it this way, in an interview with EFE, the head of the office, Ignacio Ibáñez, who lists the priority areas in which this body focuses its work, such as the protection of vulnerable targets, including critical infrastructures and public spaces; and preventing and countering violent extremism, especially among youth, through sports, among other areas.
The choice of Spain as venue
Ibáñez recalls that Spain has been for many years “a crucial partner” for the UN in the fight against terrorism and that for decades all the governments of our country “have understood that international cooperation in this matter was key to defeating the terrorists”.
In addition, Spain supported the creation in 2017 of the Office to Combat Terrorism (UNOCT). After its constitution, the United Nations considered that offices outside the headquarters in New York were necessary to be able to more effectively execute anti-terrorist support programs for countries that required it, continues Ibáñez.
Despite the fact that several cities applied, including Malaga, Madrid was finally chosen “given the ease of communication and the fact that other ministries and national organizations with which it was expected to develop cooperation were based in the capital of Spain.”
Ibáñez understands that since Spain has “very valuable experience and great professionals in this field, the intention is to be able to establish close cooperation so that the beneficiary countries of the projects can learn about the good practices developed here.”
Technical assistance to countries with fewer resources
From the office in Madrid, programs and activities are carried out mainly aimed at countries that have fewer resources, experience or capacities to face the existing or potential terrorist threat, or those that need specific support in a specific field of the fight against terrorism. , emphasizes Ibáñez.
“We always work based on the priorities and needs that the 193 UN member states indicate to us,” says the head of the Office before assuring that in these programs it is not only the action of the public sector and the security forces that is essential. .
And give examples. Whether it is about projects for the protection of vulnerable targets, such as public spaces, an urban center or tourist area, or to prevent radicalization and violent extremism among youth, it counts on the participation of merchants, hotel owners , the teachers of those who may be at risk, that is, of civil society.
“We believe that public-private cooperation is crucial”, he emphasizes. In this sense, he recalls how the support of victims’ associations has helped promote legislative changes or has contributed, with their own projects, to the necessary comprehensive assistance that this group requires.
“Although in Spain this is very clear, it is not always like that in other countries, so the good practices developed here are very valuable in other parts of the world,” Ibáñez adds.
Spain, host in 2024 of an international conference of victims
Ibáñez advances that Spain will host an international conference for victims of terrorism next year, a new opportunity to fulfill UNOCT’s commitment to give victims around the world a voice. A commitment “not only firm, but priority”.
While that appointment arrives, the UNOCT office in Madrid already collaborates with more than 120 countries around the world and, more specifically, with 21 of them “advising them technically, putting experts from all over the world in contact, promoting good practices and training in the fight against terrorism”.
Projects for the protection of public spaces and the publication of guides and manuals on the prevention of violent extremism through sport or on the protection of critical infrastructures are some of the initiatives already under way.
Together with the Memorial Center for the Victims of Terrorism and the support of the Ministry of the Interior, a UNOCT exhibition on victims of terrorism from around the world and their personal experiences called “Recuerdos” was inaugurated in Vitoria.
But “the work will increase in the coming months,” according to Ibáñez, with new projects such as the one aimed at preventing the acquisition and use of weapons by terrorists.
“For us, cooperation with Spain will continue to be essential. This country is an international benchmark in anti-terrorism matters and we are sure that it will continue to generously offer its support, experience and the expertise of its experts”, concludes the head of the office.