OSCE workshop in Vienna focuses on networking mechanisms to counter terrorist kidnapping and hostage-taking

VIENNA, 10 December 2015 – Establishing an international network of national contact points to co-operate on addressing cases of kidnapping and hostage–taking by terrorists is the focus of a two-day meeting starting in Vienna today and organized by the Transnational Threats Department of the OSCE.

More than 80 experts from 35 OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation as well as international and regional organizations will share practical experiences and knowledge, recognizing that co-operation between States and other stakeholders is a key factor in securing the safe and unharmed release of victims without ransom payments.

Recommendations from this workshop will pave the way for the launch of an International Expert Network on Countering Kidnapping and Hostage-Taking committed by terrorist groups.

It is crucial to engage and empower youth in order to prevent terrorism, said Serbian Secretary of State Aleksandar Nikolić in his opening remarks. He said this was a long-term investment that will prevent our future generations of being enticed into violent extremism, and it will protect our societies from terrorist kidnapping and hostage-taking.

Swiss Ambassador to the OSCE Claude Wild said that raising international co-operation in the area of countering terrorist kidnapping and setting up a network of international experts to facilitate direct contacts and the exchange of information, would contribute to successfully solving terrorist kidnapping cases.

This workshop follows previous OSCE efforts in this area that led in 2014 to the adoption of a Declaration on OSCE Role in Countering Kidnapping and Hostage-taking Committed by Terrorist Groups in the Context of the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2133. This Declaration encouraged participating States to network among all relevant actors, such as through national contact points during incidents of kidnapping and hostage-taking committed by terrorist groups; and it mandated the OSCE to support networking opportunities for experts with a view to preventing, managing, investigating and prosecuting those cases.

Thomas Wuchte, Head of the OSCE Action Against Terrorism Unit at the Transnational Threats Department said that this workshop will contribute to increasing the level of co-operation between states and intensify bilateral and multilateral exchanges in this field.