New York, 26 June 2026 ¨C ¡°Integrating gender perspectives into counter-terrorism is not an optional add-on. It is not symbolic. It is strategic.¡± With those words, Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), set the tone for a discussion on the critical role of women¡¯s leadership in counter-terrorism during the side event Beyond Tokenism: Women Leading Prevention, Justice and Policy in Counter-Terrorism, convened on the margins of the United Nations counter-terrorism week.
The side event was co-organized by CTED, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT), Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Women and co-sponsored by Canada, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the European Union and the CSO Coalition on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism. The event brought together policymakers, practitioners, and civil society leaders to examine how women¡¯s participation strengthens efforts to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.
In her opening remarks, ASG Gherman emphasized that women are not only affected by terrorism and violent extremism, but are also leading responses as policymakers, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges and civil society actors. She underscored CTED¡¯s commitment to integrating gender as a cross-cutting issue across its work, in line with Security Council resolution , which mandates CTED to incorporate gender perspectives throughout its activities.
Drawing on CTED¡¯s engagement with Member States worldwide, ASG Gherman highlighted examples of women police officers advancing community-oriented policing approaches, women judicial professionals leading complex terrorism-related cases, and women-led civil society organizations supporting survivors of terrorism-related violence and promoting prevention at the community level.
The first panel, ¡°From Policy to Practice: Advancing Women¡¯s Leadership in Counter-Terrorism,¡± explored how women are shaping counter-terrorism institutions and security policy. Speakers from Kenya, the European Union and Jordan shared experiences in expanding women¡¯s participation and leadership within security and law enforcement structures, highlighting the positive impact of inclusive leadership on trust, effectiveness and accountability. The discussion emphasized the need to address structural barriers that continue to limit women¡¯s recruitment, retention and advancement in the security and justice sectors.
The second panel, ¡°Women-led Civil Society on the Frontlines,¡± focused on the indispensable role of women-led civil society organizations in prevention, resilience-building and access to justice. Civil society representatives highlighted the value of community-based approaches, local knowledge and trusted relationships in addressing conditions conducive to terrorism and supporting those affected by terrorism and violence.
Participants also discussed the challenges faced by many women-led organizations, including funding constraints, security risks and shrinking civic space, stressing the importance of ensuring an enabling environment for their work.
Throughout the event, speakers reaffirmed that advancing women¡¯s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation is essential to developing counter-terrorism responses that are inclusive, effective and grounded in human rights.
Closing the event, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda called for continued collaboration among governments, the United Nations and civil society to translate commitments on women¡¯s leadership into lasting action.
The side event¡¯s central message was clear: when women participate fully in the design and implementation of counter-terrorism policies and programmes, responses are more legitimate, more effective and more sustainable.
Resources
The concept note and agenda for the side event are available here.
You can watch the event .
Photos from the side event are available .
Remarks and presentations shared by the participants:
For more information about CTED¡¯s other events at 2026 Counter-Terrorism Week, please visit this page.