The UNOCT Cybersecurity and New Technologies Programme kicked off its CT TECH+ initiative for Iraq.

The initiative focuses on countering the increasing use of new technologies for terrorist purposes, while ensuring the protection of human rights and the rule of law. Funded by the European Union, CT TECH+ is implemented under the UNOCT Global Counter-Terrorism Programme on Cybersecurity and New Technologies.

The meeting was opened by Dr. Zaidan Khalaf, Deputy National Security Advisor in the Office of the National Security Adviser, who emphasized the relevance of CT TECH+ and expressed full support and commitment to it. Deputy Head of Mission of EUAM-Iraq, Mr. Ralf Schroeder and Head of UNOCT Regional Office in Baghdad, Mr. Zeeshan Amin, emphasized good collaboration between the EU, UN and Iraq and the potential for CT TECH+ to expand this collaboration to new areas. Iraq stressed the timeliness of the proposed support, provided an overview of its plans to update its national counter-terrorism strategy and to develop law enforcement capabilities on new technologies across different agencies. 

The CT TECH+ initiative, in close coordination with UNOCT Regional Office in Baghdad will continue assisting the Government of Iraq to respond to the increasing use of new technologies for terrorist purposes while upholding human rights in the following areas:

Strengthening Iraq's national counter-terrorism policies or strategies to include comprehensive approaches to countering the use of new technologies for terrorist purposes. This includes national trainings on threat assessments and policy development, and awareness raising on Artificial Intelligence. 

Enhancing the national technological capabilities of Iraq's law enforcement agencies to counter terrorism. This includes national consultations with Iraq to review their law enforcement capabilities for new technologies and identify areas of improvement, but also trainings on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), artificial intelligence as well as darknet and virtual assets investigations. 

Improving Iraq's international co-operation and public-private partnerships to use new and emerging technologies to counter terrorism. This includes organizing and running a CT TECH+ operation towards the end of the initiative and table-top exercises on public-private partnerships.