International Centre for Counter-Terrorism
The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism is an independent think tank providing multidisciplinary policy advice and practical support focused on prevention and the rule of law, two important parts of effective counter-terrorism work. ICCT's work focuses on themes at the intersection of countering violent extremism and criminal justice sector responses, as well as human rights related aspects of counter-terrorism. The major project areas concern countering violent extremism, rule of law, foreign fighters, country and regional analysis, rehabilitation, civil society engagement and victims’ voices.
Functioning as a nucleus within the international counter-terrorism network, ICCT connects experts, policymakers, civil society actors and practitioners from different fields by providing a platform for productive collaboration, practical analysis, and exchange of experiences and expertise, with the ultimate aim of identifying innovative and comprehensive approaches to preventing and countering terrorism.
History
ICCT was established at The Hague in 2010 after an initiative originating in the Netherlands' parliament with a motion by Dutch Member of Parliament Coskun Çörüz in April 2008). ICCT is supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is implemented by three institutions based in The Hague: the T.M.C. Asser Institute, a foundation for scientific research and education in international and European law; the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael, a diplomatic academy studying international relations; and the Institute for Security and Global Affairs at Leiden University College The Hague.Staff
The current director of ICCT is Renske van der Veer. She previously served as coordinating senior policy advisor and deputy head of unit in the Counter-Terrorism Department of the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism, part of the Ministry of Justice and Security.ICCT's staff includes a number of scholars and practitioners with expertise in the fields of counter-terrorism and international diplomacy. Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker is a research fellow at ICCT and is also professor of counter-terrorism studies at the Institute of Public Administration at Leiden University.
Dr. Alex P. Schmid is a visiting research fellow at ICCT and director of the Terrorism Research Initiative, an international network of scholars working to enhance international security through collaborative research, and he was formerly Officer-in-Charge of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations. Prior to his role as research fellow at ICCT, Dr. Alastair Reed held positions was an assistant professor at Utrecht University, where he completed his doctorate on research focused on understanding the processes of escalation and de-escalation in Ethnic Separatist conflicts in India and the Philippines. His main areas of interest are Terrorism and Insurgency, Conflict Analysis, Conflict Resolution, Military and Political Strategy, and International Relations, in particular with a regional focus on South Asia and South-East Asia. His current research projects address the foreign-fighter phenomenon, focusing on motivation and the use of strategic communications.
Max Boon is currently an Associate Fellow at ICCT and has previously worked at Dutch Foreign Ministry where he was responsible for the co-ordination and organization of the Dutch Chairmanship of the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. The work of ICCT has been featured in numerous international media.
Research and publications
ICCT research is structured around five key topics – Countering Violent Extremism, Counter-Terrorism Strategic Communications, Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism, Foreign Fighters, Rehabilitation & Reintegration.Activities
ICCT collaborates with a range of partners, including various agencies of the United Nations such as the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate ; the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute ; the European Commission; the Global Counterterrorism Forum ; the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ; and with various non-governmental organisations, international think tanks and government departments around the world.ICCT convenes forums and workshops on topics such as radicalization, foreign fighters and the legal boundaries of the battlefield. The centre also frequently conducts training programs, provides technical assistance to missions and carries out country-specific analyses of terrorism and its effects.
Board of Advisors
ICCT's Board of Advisors includes a number of international experts on terrorism, international law and human rights. Its members include:- Mr. Richard Barrett CMG OBE is a Senior VP at the Soufan Group, and former UK overseas counter-terrorism chief and coordinator of the UN 1267 Monitoring Team.
- Prof. M. Cherif Bassiouni is Emeritus Professor of Law at DePaul University.
- Prof. Rohan Gunaratna is head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
- Prof. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer currently holds the Pieter Kooijmans chair in peace, justice and security at Leiden University, previously he was 11th NATO Secretary General from 2004 to 2009.
- Ms. Joanne Mariner is Human Rights Program Director at Hunter College, City University of New York.
- Prof. Martin Scheinin is a Finnish professor of International Law and Human Rights at the European University Institute and former UN Special Reporter on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism.
- Mr. Mike Smith was until July 2013 Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate.