Global Center on Cooperative Security

Thank you to all friends and partners who joined the Global Center to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We are grateful for your support and proud of our joint accomplishments, working towards more rights-based, inclusive, and preventative approaches to addressing political violence.

🚨 Job Alert 🚨 - We are hiring for two full time positions: 1) Communications and UN Engagement Officer (New York) Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dgQm64hr 2) Programs Officer (London, Nairobi, New York, or DC) Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dz3upwKm

I'm proud to be a board member of the Global Center on Cooperative Security. Since 2004, the Center has worked to support communities to reduce violence and save lives, reform institutions to protect human rights, and shape domestic and international security policies to build a just and secure world. Join with me in donating, as we mark our 20th anniversary, and look ahead to the next phase when our work seems even more relevant and important than ever. You can donate here: https://lnkd.in/eHjp3dFy David McGowan Eelco Kessels Angela Vigil Howard Wachtel Edward Levy Adeolu Adewumi-Zer Laila Bokhari Victoria K. Holt Tess McEnery Bishakha Mukherjee Petra Dunne Tracey Durner

In #SoutheastAsia, counterterrorism agendas too often undercut grassroots #peacebuilding efforts and fail to address drivers of #politicalviolence. Great analysis by Marc Batac and Tuan Nyugen-M on #civilsociety, #counterterrorism, and #humanrights in the region from partners Initiatives for International Dialogue. https://lnkd.in/eVvmhr8g

Despite saturation of international donor counterterrorism funding, and major #UN presence in the region, #EastAfrica CSOs remain marginalized. Insightful review by Karanja M. / Africa Center for Engendered Security on #civilsociety, #counterterrorism, and #humanrights in the region. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/ebVJQvSA

Though home to the largest funders of #UN counterterrorism agencies, the MENA region is one of the most dangerous for civil society organizations, journalists, and rights defenders. Check out MENA Rights Group's timely analysis of #civilsociety, #counterterrorism, and #humanrights in the MENA region. Read the report at: https://lnkd.in/eG3mW-iH

Last week I joined colleagues from the Global Center on Cooperative Security, Rights and Security International, and civil society orgs and activists from around the world to present our report examining whether and how the #UnitedNations can promote, protect, and ensure the meaningful participation of civil society to reign in its ever-expanding #counterterrorism regime. Based on discussions with hundreds of civil society orgs over the past year, we found that even as UN resolutions and mandates are leveraged by governments to justify repression and rights abuses, the UN is at the same time failing to prioritize the safety, voices, and meaningful engagement of civil society – particularly from those communities most impacted by political violence. At the heart of this dynamic is the reality that civil society itself: human rights defenders, journalists, justice campaigners, queer activists, Muslim communities, communities of color, political dissidents, academics, and many other groups, have been, and continue to be, among the primary targets of abusive counterterrorism and related measures worldwide.  If there is ever going to be meaningful, inclusive, and independent civil society engagement around the UN’s counterterrorism regime, governments and the UN must take urgent action to protect #humanrights and #defendcivicspace. Our report offers several ideas and recommendations to move these efforts forward. 📖 Read our report: https://lnkd.in/e7mtFAju 📺 Watch the launch:  https://lnkd.in/eDAci8iU

On 29 May Global Center on Cooperative Security and Rights and Security International were joined by #civilsociety partners, to launch a report on independent CSO-UN #counterterrorism engagement exploring the potential avenues for independent engagement by civil society with the United Nations counterterrorism architecture. Based on input from more than 170 civil society representatives from around the world, we found an overwhelming consensus that the United Nations is failing to sufficiently engage with, promote, and protect civil society in the context of its counterterrorism agenda. The report outlines/describes the hesitation of many groups worldwide to engage with the UN on counterterrorism, the barriers they face, and their aspirations for the UN’s role in promoting and protecting civil society. For meaningful, inclusive, and independent civil society engagement around the UN’s counterterrorism regime, governments and the UN must take urgent action to protect #humanrights and defend civic space. #defendcivicspace Check out the Global Center and Rights & RSI's CSO-UN engagement report, understand the background of the scoping study, read our CSO partners' regional landscape assessment reports, and re-watch the 29 May launch event by visiting: https://lnkd.in/eJ5zU_Ec

It is in a context more than ever marked by the failures of multilateralism, and negative effects of counterterrorism policies on human rights, that I had the chance to participate in the development of a study aimed to establish the contours, the interest, but also and above all the barriers and risks, as well as the necessary conditions for independent and effective engagement between the UN and civil society in counterterrorism. 🚀 Last week, the report was launched at the UN in New York in the presence of all most of our partners (at least, those who managed to get their visa.. sic!) - special thanks to Professor Ben Saul, UN Special Rapporteur on Humans Rights & Counterterrorism for its participation. Although the context in which we operate is difficult and often frustrating, I was privileged to take part in this 18-month-long adventure, which allowed us to meet more than 170 civil society representatives from nearly 50 countries and to work closely with an inspiring advisory committee! ❗️Today, the message is clear: the UN needs to rethink its approach. Counterterrorism policies are proving to be more harmful than ever, and civil society, which often faces risks when exposing these harms, struggles to have a say on the issue with the relevant UN bodies—and much more. 👉🏽 Full report: https://lnkd.in/eTaaw7Zb