Presenter at United Nations urges global cooperation and four priorities to counter terrorism

Presenter delivered a speech at the United Nations calling for a strengthened global response to terrorism, emphasizing four priorities: prevention, cooperation, technology and a human‑rights‑based approach.

The address came as the speaker marked the 20th anniversary of the UN Global Counter‑Terrorism Strategy and urged delegates to use the review to assess progress and deepen commitments. "This milestone is an opportunity to assess progress and strengthen our resolve," the Presenter said.

The speaker framed the urgency by describing widespread instability: "Conflicts are triggering energy shocks, inflation, and anger across the globe," and said these conditions — displacement, economic hardship and weakened rule of law — create vulnerabilities terrorists exploit. On prevention, Presenter said: "We must address the conditions and grievances that allow terrorism to take root," and called for expanding economic opportunity, increasing inclusion for minorities, and enabling meaningful participation of women and youth.

On cooperation, the Presenter said terrorism is a transnational threat that no country can defeat alone and urged deeper collaboration among states and with local partners. The speech named civil society, young people, victims and the private sector as essential partners to close gaps in capacity and legitimacy.

Addressing technology, the Presenter warned that "terrorists have grown adept at exploiting emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and unmanned weapons," but added that technology can also be used to "detect threats early, stop the flow of illicit assets, and then understand pathways to terrorist radicalization." The address referenced the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact as commitments to harness digital tools for public good and noted an independent international scientific panel on AI will offer guidance.

The final priority stressed the risks of heavy‑handed counterterrorism measures. The Presenter said such measures can "fan the flames of division" and warned that responses must be "rooted in the very principles that terror seeks to destroy: justice, human dignity, and solidarity." The speech emphasized centering victims and survivors in policy and protecting civic space.

No formal decisions or votes were part of the address; the remarks were presented as a policy framework and call to action for member states and partners. The Presenter closed by saying that, through prevention, cooperation and adherence to human rights, the world can "build a safer world in which people everywhere live free from fear."