OSCE Centre supports conference in Kazakhstan on countering terrorist use of Internet

ASTANA, 25 November 2014 – An OSCE-supported conference on countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes took place today in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The event was co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, the Committee on Religious Affairs of Kazakhstan’s Culture and Sport Ministry and the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President for some 100 government officials, parliamentarians, information technology and information security specialists, academics, theologians and journalists, including international experts and scholars from Austria, Azerbaijan, Germany, Kazakhstan, Italy, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, the US, Uzbekistan as well as representatives from United Nations agencies and the CIS Antiterrorist Centre for Central Asia. Advisers from the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OSCE Transnational Threat Department/Action against Terrorism Unit shared the OSCE best practices.

The conference provided a platform to discuss issues related to terrorist organizations receiving support via Internet technology and assessed the merits of developing practical guidelines on preventing the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, setting a legal framework and enhancing international co-operation to counter the dissemination of violent extremist ideology and illegal content on the Internet and social networks.

“The success in our fight against terrorism mainly depends on the effectiveness of national policies, practices and flexibility in reacting to emerging challenges. By preventing cybercrime in its different manifestations we also avert serious terrorist actions and ensure security for the people and the nation as a whole”, said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “Since 2005, the OSCE has actively and consistently promoted and facilitated the elaboration and implementation of targeted measures in order to thwart the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes with a focus on respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Baglan Asaubayuly Mailybayev, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan said: “By now we have learned that all countries need to co-operate closely to effectively counter terrorism. New efforts are necessary for conceptual and practical work at the international level in combating terrorism. Only by joining efforts, exchanging ideas, opinions and experience can we create a real barrier to propaganda of the cult of violence, terrorism and extremism.”

The event is part of the OSCE’s comprehensive contribution to global efforts against terrorism.