Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), participated in a series of high-level events organized by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, from 26 to 28 May 2026, within the framework of the Presidency of Monaco of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The events brought together State representatives, policymakers and international partners to discuss terrorism trends and avenues for strengthening international and regional cooperation to prevent and counter terrorism.
On 26 May, ASG Gherman delivered opening remarks at the International Conference ¡°Terrorism and Violent Extremism: The Radicalization of Youth¡±. In her address, she highlighted CTED¡¯s recent publication on the increasing exploitation and recruitment of children and youth by terrorist groups across the ideological spectrum. ASG Gherman noted the growing use of digital platforms, including social media, gaming environments and encrypted messaging applications, by terrorist actors to target minors. Emphasizing that children associated with terrorist groups should be treated first and foremost as victims, she underscored the need for comprehensive responses that combine prevention, child protection, rehabilitation and reintegration, while strengthening cooperation among governments, technology companies and civil society.
On 27 May, during the plenary meeting of the Council of Europe Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT), ASG Gherman provided an overview of the current global terrorism landscape and emerging threats. Referring to recent assessment visits conducted in the Council of Europe region, she highlighted CTED's observations regarding increasingly decentralized terrorist networks, shorter pathways to radicalization, the exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, and the growing complexity of terrorist financing. She underscored the importance of regional cooperation and cross-border exchange of good practices to address these evolving challenges.
On 28 May, ASG Gherman delivered a keynote address to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. She reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between CTED and the Council of Europe, including CTED¡¯s contribution to the implementation of the Council of Europe Counter-Terrorism Strategy 2023¨C2027. ASG Gherman highlighted key trends shaping the terrorist threat environment and emphasized that the increasingly fragmented and transnational nature of terrorism requires integrated responses based on international law and strengthened multilateral collaboration. She further highlighted the importance of comprehensive national and regional counter-terrorism strategies that integrate security, rule of law and prevention measures, while remaining aligned with international standards.