PH Participates in Conference to Counter Terrorism, Prevention of Extremism Conducive to Terrorism

Philippine Permanent Representative and Ambassador to Kenya Alex G. Chua (front, second from right) delivering the Philippine intervention on 10 July 2019. (Nairobi PE photo)

Nairobi 24 July 2019 – The Philippines highlighted its experience in preventing and countering violent terrorism as it participated as Observer in the African Regional High-level Conference on Counter Terrorism and the Prevention of Extremism Conducive to Terrorism on 10-11 July at the United Nations’ Office in Nairobi, Kenya.

In delivering the Philippine national statement, National Security Council Assistant Director General Renia Corocoto highlighted the country’s experience in preventing and countering violent terrorism, and focused on similar experiences, challenges and strategies of the Philippines and Africa, as well as best practices that can be shared.

Addressing links between transnational organized crime and terrorism, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and Ambassador to Kenya Alex G. Chua likewise shared that there are national, sub-regional and regional plans to counter terrorism.

“The Philippine counter-terrorism efforts are anchored on respecting human rights because a state’s first, foremost and overriding responsibility is to protect the law-abiding against the lawless; and the innocent against those threatening their safety and wellbeing,” Ambassador Chua said.

The Conference focused on four themes: sharing good practices in countering terrorism, and preventing and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism in Africa; building a partnership with youth, women and marginalized communities to prevent and counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism; countering terrorism as part of nation-building in Africa; and enhancing cooperation between Member States, the United Nations and the African Union Peace and Security to strengthen prevention of and resilience to terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

The African Regional Conference is the first regional follow-up to the first High-Level Conference of heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of UN Member States held in June 2018 in New York.  The outcomes of all the regional conferences will be presented during the second High-level Conference in New York in 2021. END

The Philippine delegation composed of the officials of the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi and representatives from the National Security Council. (Nairobi PE photo)

For more information, visit https://ww.nairobipe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinKenya/