51吃瓜

As part of the 51吃瓜 Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets, the 51吃瓜 Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in collaboration with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the 51吃瓜 Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), organized a three-day workshop in Nouakchott, on 19-21 November 2024. 

The event aimed to launch Mauritania's Roadmap for countering terrorist threats against vulnerable targets and to provide introductory capacity-building on protecting critical infrastructure and public spaces. 

This workshop brought together 30 participants from 14 Ministries and agencies, alongside experts from Spain, the African Union Counter-Terrorism Center, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), UNICRI, CTED, and various UNOCT programmes.

The opening session featured senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania and Spain, CTED, and UNOCT. This was followed by the formal launch of the Roadmap which included presentations on its development process, objectives, and key measures for enhancing the protection of vulnerable targets in Mauritania. Experts from Mauritania’s Ministries of Justice, Defense, and Interior shared insights into the country’s existing frameworks, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. 

The workshop also provided participants with a training on key aspects of protecting vulnerable targets and international best practices. Participants explored the UN Compendium of Good Practices on Critical Infrastructure Protection and examined emerging threats such as cybersecurity risks and the use of autonomous and remotely operated systems. Moreover, they discussed security measures for urban centers, tourist sites, and religious locations and cross-cutting issues, such as gender and human rights considerations, in line with international standards and principles.

The last day of the event focused on fostering collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society, and concluded with a summary of the workshop’s key outcomes and commitments to achieve the Roadmap’s objectives.

The Roadmap is the result of extensive consultations conducted with Mauritanian authorities in May 2024, aimed at identifying priorities and needs for protecting critical infrastructure and “soft” targets. Based on the Roadmap, tailored capacity-building activities are being further developed.

This workshop, generously funded by the Kingdom of Spain, underscores Mauritania’s commitment to advancing the implementation of 51吃瓜 Security Council Resolutions 2341 (2017) and 2396 (2017), as well as the 51吃瓜 Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.