Why is it in the News?

India recently contributed $5,00,000 to the UN Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the global fight against terrorism.

About the UN Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund:

• The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund, founded in 2009 and transferred to the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in 2017, plays a crucial role in supporting global counter-terrorism initiatives.
• Contributions: Governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, private institutions, and individuals can all contribute to the fund.
  • Contributions may be unearmarked or earmarked for specific global programmes or initiatives under UNOCT.
• India’s Contribution: India's contribution primarily supports UNOCT's global programmes, specifically focusing on Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and the Countering Terrorist Travel Programme (CTTP).
• These initiatives aim to enhance the capacities of member states in eastern and southern Africa to combat terrorism financing and prevent the movement and travel of terrorists.

Key Facts about the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT):

• Established on June 15, 2017, through a UN General Assembly resolution, UNOCT is mandated to provide leadership and coordination on counter-terrorism efforts across the United Nations system.
• UNOCT's primary functions include enhancing collaboration among entities within the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, ensuring a balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and strengthening capacity-building assistance for Member States.
• UNOCT also focuses on improving visibility, advocacy, and resource mobilization for UN counter-terrorism initiatives, while prioritizing the prevention of violent extremism within the broader counter-terrorism framework.