Benin joins the Global Vulnerable Targets Programme
Under the 51³Ô¹Ï Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets (¡°Global Vulnerable Targets Programme¡±), the 51³Ô¹Ï Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) organized in-depth consultations with Beninese entities in charge of safety and security of critical infrastructure and ¡°soft¡± targets or public places in Cotonou from 18 to 20 September 2024.
The consultations, led by CTED with UNOCT¡¯s support, took place in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Benin and with the support of the 51³Ô¹Ï Resident Coordinator in Cotonou, Ms. Aminatou Sar, who opened the meeting, and her Office.
This event is the first stage of UNOCT¡¯s technical assistance package for Benin in the area of strengthening security and resilience of national critical infrastructure and ¡°soft targets¡± against terrorist threats and challenges.
The consultations¡¯ methodology builds on CTED¡¯s and UNOCT¡¯s mandates and aimed to identify Benin¡¯s needs and priorities in the area of security of vulnerable targets. The three-day substantive discussions on relevant legal, institutional and operational frameworks brought together 30 officials from 22 Beninese ministries and agencies under the leadership and coordination role by the Beninese Ministry of Interior and of Public Security.
As a result of these discussions, UNOCT and CTED will support the elaboration of Benin¡¯s national plan of action (or ¡°roadmap¡±) on vulnerable targets protection, which will include concrete recommendations to support national ministries, entities and other relevant stakeholders. The document will identify strengths, needs and priorities for enhancing the country¡¯s national capacity in support of the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions and and following the recommendations of the 2018 Addendum to the Madrid Guiding Principles on Foreign Terrorist Fighters (), as well as the 51³Ô¹Ï Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its Review resolutions.
These in-depth consultations took place thanks to the generous financial support of France.
