UN Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event: Unleashing the Potential of Cities in Localising the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

Publication Date:

26/06/2026

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— 3 minutes reading time

This report provides a summary of discussions during the event and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Strong Cities Network Management Unit, Strong Cities members, event sponsors or participants.

Event Details

Description: The Strong Cities Network convened mayors, local leaders, Member States and United Nations partners for a side event during the 2026 UN Counter-Terrorism Week to explore the role of cities in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (UNGCTS) at the local level. Co-organised by the Strong Cities Network and the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations, in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the side event highlighted the vital role cities can play in turning global counter-terrorism commitments into sustainable local action. Participants explored how – with the right mandate, resources and expertise – cities can strengthen prevention, resilience and whole-of-society approaches that support the long-term implementation of the UNGCTS. The discussion also considered how Member States and the United Nations can recognise, resource and strengthen cities as partners in the implementation of the Strategy as it marks its 20^th anniversary in September 2026.

Where & When: 26 June 2026, New York (New York, United States)

Cities Represented

Burnaby (British Columbia, Canada)
Edmonton (Alberta, Canada)
Halifax Regional Municipality (Nova Scotia, Canada)
New York (New York, United States)
Oslo (Norway)
Tamale (Ghana)

Partners Represented

Co-organisers

Permanent Mission of Morocco to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations
United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism

Key Takeaways

Local leaders must collaborate across all levels of government and across sectors for a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach. Threats emerge in our communities, and we have a shared responsibility to challenge them.
Cities are in a unique position to strengthen trust, prevent radicalisation, promote inclusion and respond to social dynamics that can create fertile ground for hatred, violent extremism or other threats to social cohesion. Local governments and their partners – civil society organisations, schools, faith institutions, law enforcement – are key allies to building lasting and sustainable solutions that are informed by and respond to the needs and vulnerabilities of local communities.
Cities are already implementing and translating global frameworks, including the UNGCTS, into tangible local action. They are investing in community-driven prevention and crisis responses that advance public safety, address youth exclusion and other vulnerabilities, make meaningful use of available technologies and networks for data sharing and trend monitoring that preserves democratic resilience and strength.
Cities cannot accomplish this work alone. Organisations like the Strong Cities Network and the United Nations – with political and other support from Member States committed to the localisation of the Strategy – must continue to invest in international capacity building, learning opportunities and networking that amplify local solutions to hate, extremism and polarisation that also align with human rights frameworks and international law.

Next Steps

Strong Cities will convene its global network of 295+ member cities at our upcoming Global Summit in Rabat (Morocco) in January 2027. National and local governments and UN officials will further discuss the role of cities in implementing the UNGCTS as one of the key themes of this Summit, building on this and other discussions with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and Member States.
Strong Cities will also continue to support municipalities on trends and themes that emerged through this side-event, including youth exclusion and online harms, whole-of-society and community-centred approaches to prevention and data-driven initiatives. These topics feature in many ongoing dialogues and initiatives across our Network, including Prevention Academies in British Columbia, Canada, New South Wales and the United Kingdom; the Transatlantic Dialogue Initiative series; and Global Crises, Local Impacts Initiative.
To stay up to date on upcoming webinars, events and project launches, sign up for Strong Cities Network’s mailing list.

Additional Resources

Ninth Review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, July 2026
Unleashing the Potential of Local Governments in Coastal West Africa in a Whole-of-Society Approach to Rehabilitation and Reintegration, Strong Cities Network, April 2026
The online landscape of subcultures of nihilistic violence, Institute for Strategic Dialogue, February 2026
Sixth Global Summit: Using Education and Municipal Partnerships and Services to Safeguard Youth Online, Strong Cities Network, January 2026
City-Led Youth Engagement in Addressing Hate, Extremism and Polarisation: Ten Recommendations for Cities, Strong Cities Network, January 2025
A Guide For Cities: Preventing Hate, Extremism & Polarisation, Strong Cities Network, April 2025
United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, United Nations, September 2006

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