United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called for renewed global action to prevent terrorism by tackling its root causes, warning that rising global instability is creating conditions in which extremist groups can thrive.
Speaking at the Fourth High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies at UN headquarters in New York, Guterres said the world was facing a convergence of armed conflict, climate pressures, economic hardship and displacement that was increasing vulnerabilities.
"We meet at a moment of acute instability," Guterres told delegates.
"These conditions, of want, fragility and mistrust, are ideal circumstances for terror to thrive."
Guterres said affiliates of Al-Qaeda and Islamic State remain active across Africa, South Asia and the Middle East, while xenophobic, racist and other extremist ideologies continue to pose domestic threats in many countries.
He warned that terrorist groups are increasingly using artificial intelligence, digital platforms, criminal financial networks and drones to recruit followers, raise funds and carry out attacks.
At the same time, he said emerging technologies could strengthen counter-terrorism efforts by improving early threat detection and disrupting illicit financial flows.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, Guterres said prevention must remain the top priority, urging governments to address poverty, discrimination, exclusion and human rights abuses.
"These wrongs do not justify terrorism. Nothing can," he said.
"But they can create vulnerabilities that terrorist groups are quick to exploit."
He also stressed that no country could tackle terrorism alone and called for deeper international cooperation, alongside greater involvement from civil society, youth groups, victims and the private sector.
Guterres warned that heavy-handed counter-terrorism measures could backfire by deepening divisions and fuelling further radicalisation.
"Our response must be rooted in the very principles terror seeks to destroy: justice, human dignity and solidarity," he said.
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