The agreement between the Shura Council and United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) for establishing the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Program Office for parliamentary engagement in preventing and combating terrorism is another contribution by Qatar in global fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
The main tasks of the office include undertaking joint initiatives to support the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant Security Council resolutions in the field of countering terrorism and violent extremism leading to terrorism. It will also provide technical assistance and legal advisory services to parliaments in order to support their role in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Security Council resolutions and terrorism-related instruments.
The office will also conduct research, analysis and normative work in support of preventing and combating terrorism and violent extremism, including monitoring the enactment of new legislation around the world, and helping to formulate legislation, policies and model counter-terrorism strategies led by parliaments.
In recent years, Qatar’s Shura Council has played important role as an international parliamentary partner to address different challenges being faced by the global community. In December last year, Qatar hosted 7th Conference of Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) in Doha. The hosting of the conference was a confirmation of determination and sincere efforts made by Qatar to combat corruption understanding devastating effects of the phenomenon on countries and nations.
On UNOCT Programme Office, Speaker of the Shura Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud said this is a “historic day” when the Shura Council signed exchange letters between the State of Qatar and the United Nations, represented by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, to establish the UNOCT Program Office which is concerned with parliamentary engagement in preventing and combating terrorism, to be headquartered in the State of Qatar and its activities cover the parliaments of the world.
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov expressed thanks and appreciation to the Shura Council and the State of Qatar for its role in combating terrorism, praising the establishment of the UNOCT Program Office in Doha.
The opening of UNOCT Programme Office in Doha and subsequent support to parliaments of the world through this platform will definitely help addressing issue of terrorism as well as increase Qatar’s global stature in world community.
