This report by the Global Center on Cooperative Security and Rights & Security International is based on the consultations with nearly 200 peacebuilding and P/CVE implementers, human rights defenders, activists, lawyers, journalists, researchers, community leaders, and scholar-practitioners from around the world, assisted by an advisory committee of 15 diverse civil society representatives.
The research explores civil society's understanding of and engagement with UN entities involved in counter-terrorism and P/CVE, focusing on the relevance of these entities to human rights issues faced by civil society. It examines whether civil society groups see value in engaging with the UN and the perceived benefits of such engagement. The study also identifies concerns and necessary preconditions for greater participation, noting that existing entry points to the UN’s counterterrorism framework are limited and often inaccessible, especially for groups in conflict-affected regions. While civil society acknowledges potential benefits from engaging with the UN, substantial barriers and risks, particularly in the Global South, hinder meaningful participation.