June 28, 2012 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today announced Canadian support for projects that enhance global peace and security, support that demonstrates Canada’s continued leadership in the international effort to combat terrorism.
Baird made the announcement at the United Nations in New York City during the third biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Canada is committed to implementing the Strategy, and Baird urged other countries to continue building resilience against terrorism.
“Terrorism is the great struggle of our generation and a global phenomenon that knows no borders,” said Baird. “Global threats require global action. Canada will continue to work with our friends and allies to root out terrorism and promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”
Through its Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program (CTCBP), Canada is contributing up to an additional $8 million in support for capacity-building projects that aim to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation globally. The program funds training, equipment and technical assistance to help other states prevent and respond to global terrorist activity.
“The fight against global terrorism continues and must evolve with the threat,” said Baird. “In this ongoing struggle, it is important for freedom-loving nations and their citizens to keep faith and keep vigilant, if we are to prevail.”
Canada remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of Canadians and their interests at home and abroad.
For more information, please visit Address by Minister Baird at Plenary Session of Review of UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
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A backgrounder follows.
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Backgrounder - Support for Security Cooperation Initiatives Through Canada’s Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program
On June 28, 2012, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced up to $8 million for security-capacity-building programming that aims to enhance security cooperation globally. These projects are supported by Canada’s Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program (CTCBP) and contribute to the international effort to combat global terrorism.
Law enforcement capacity-building projects
Strengthening counter-terrorism responses in the Horn of Africa in support of the East Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation Counter-terrorism Strategy
Implementing partner: Institute for Security Studies
Funding announced: $743,043
Timeframe: September 2011 to March 2014
This project will support the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation’s counter-terrorism capacity-building efforts by providing tailored training programs to law enforcement officials. Training in areas such as managing crime scenes and investigating complex crimes will strengthen the capacity of law enforcement officials from East African countries to effectively address the transnational nature of terrorism, through counter-terrorism and international cooperation mechanisms.
Strengthening counter-terrorism responses in the Sahel in support of the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Strategy
Implementing partner: Institute for Security Studies
Funding announced: $758,040
Timeframe: December 2011 to March 2014
This project will support counter-terrorism capacity-building efforts in West Africa by providing tailored training programs to law enforcement officials. Training in areas such as managing crime scenes and investigating complex crimes will strengthen the capacity of law enforcement officials from West African countries to effectively address the transnational nature of terrorism, through counter-terrorism and international cooperation mechanisms.
Expanding the use of Interpol tools to combat terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa
Implementing partner: Interpol
Funding announced: $714,029
Timeframe: November 2011 to September 2013
Through this project, law enforcement agencies from selected countries in the Sahel region of Africa will receive training on the use of Interpol’s tools and services as well as equipment to detect and share information about terrorist threats. Training in the use of Interpol systems will result in more thorough data collection and information gathering, which is essential to preventing and responding to terrorist threats.
Expanding the use of Interpol tools to combat terrorism in Asia and the Horn of Africa
Implementing partner: Interpol
Funding announced: $3,785,786
Timeframe: November 2011 to March 2014
This project will provide training to law enforcement agencies from selected countries in Asia and the Horn of Africa on the use of Interpol’s tools and services as well as equipment to detect and share information about terrorist threats. Training in the use of Interpol systems will result in more thorough data collection and information gathering, which is essential to preventing and responding to terrorist threats.
Capacity-building projects to counter the financing of terrorism
Multi-donor anti-money laundering/combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) trust fund
Implementing partner: International Monetary Fund
Funding announced: $2,300,000
Timeframe: April 2010 to March 2014
This global capacity-building project will support the development of robust and effective anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) mechanisms in beneficiary countries around the world. As a result, beneficiary countries will strengthen their financial frameworks, which will be reflected in the implementation of national and agency-specific AML/CFT strategies as well as the development of comprehensive laws and regulations and effective and efficient institutional infrastructure for financial-institution supervisors and financial-intelligence units.
Strengthening national training institutions to assist in building capacity to combat financing of terrorism
Implementing partner: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Funding announced: $374,990
Timeframe: April 2010 to December 2013
This project will provide anti-money laundering/combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) training for police academies, prosecutors’ colleges and other relevant national training institutions in Bangladesh, Morocco and Tunisia. The training will assist these countries in increasing the specialized expertise and skills of criminal-justice officials who investigate complex financial crimes, particularly those related to terrorist financing.
Preventing abuse of the non-profit sector to finance terrorism
Implementing partner: The Fourth Freedom Forum
Funding announced: $1,228,057
Timeframe: January 2011 to December 2012
Through a series of training sessions, government finance officials from selected regions, including the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Southeast Asia, will learn how to establish sound regulatory approaches to manage the risk of terrorism financing resulting from abuse of the non-profit sector. As a result of this training, officials will gain a strengthened understanding of best practices and implementation tools for non-profit organizations, for safeguarding the non-profit sector against terrorist abuse.
Strengthening the capacity of Yemeni financial authorities to counter the financing of terrorism
Implementing partner: World Bank
Funding announced: $288,500
Timeframe: August 2012 to March 2014
This project will provide anti-money laundering/combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) training for analysts from financial intelligence units, prosecutors, investigating magistrates, judges, supervisors from banking and non-banking financial institutions, and financial investigators in Yemen. The training will enhance the capacity of Yemeni authorities to implement standardized AML/CFT practices, leading to an increased capacity to monitor suspicious transactions as well as investigate, prosecute and adjudicate money-laundering cases.
Countering the financing of terrorism in Pakistan
Implementing partner: World Bank
Funding announced: $595,200
Timeframe: August 2012 to March 2014
This project will provide training to Pakistani officials on how to identify suspicious money-laundering and terrorist-financing activities. Improving investigative skills for authorities will result in an increased number of prosecutions resulting from financial investigations and increased confiscations of assets. A train-the-trainer approach will facilitate ongoing AML/CFT training. Combatting terrorist financing and illicit flows of money in Pakistan is critical to regional stability and in the fight against terrorism.
