143.      An effective approach by the UN system to conflict prevention, peace-building and protecting the vulnerable must fully encompass and, indeed, have a sharp, strong focus on countering terrorism. The system’s work in this area is guided by a large number of international conventions negotiated within the United Nations. It covers a wide spectrum of interventions aimed at:

•  Assessing the longer-term implications and broad policy dimensions of terrorism for the United Nations;

•  Advising Member States on legislating and implementing antiterrorism measures;

•  Auditing States’ aviation security systems to ensure compliance with international standards and to spur the development of new safeguards, including the development of standards and biometrics for international travel documents;

•  Fighting piracy in the context of international agreements to prevent and suppress terrorist acts against ships at sea and in port, and improving overall ship and port security;

•  Reviewing nuclear facilities in Member States, to identify necessary security upgrades and the financial requirements to carry them out;

•  Strengthening Member States’ abilities to detect radioactive material at their borders and to respond to illicit trafficking;

•  Combatting the financing of terrorism through the monitoring of postal services; and

•  Raising awareness and preparedness at the national and international levels to deal with the accidental release or deliberate use of biological and chemical agents or radionuclear materials.

144.      The work of the organizations of the UN system complements that of the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), which monitors compliance with the provisions of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001). CTC also considers ways in which States can be assisted and explore the promotion of best practices; the availability of existing technical, financial, in particular to regulatory and legislative programmes; and synergies among assistance programmes within international, regional and sub-regional organizations.

145.      In addition, the UN has established a Policy Working Group which meets periodically to identify the longer-term implications and broad policy dimensions of terrorism and to formulate recommendations on steps to address it.