The Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations (UN), in cooperation with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs has launched an event series on ‘Networked Multilateralism – Strengthening Partnerships: A Rule of Law and Human Rights-Based Approach to Counter-Terrorism in support of Peacebuilding’. This aims to promote intergovernmental cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism and peacekeeping.

Following a first dialogue in New York, the second informal dialogue took place on 4 and 5 June 2025 at the Parkhotel Schönbrunn in Vienna. Our scientific director and professor of fundamental and human rights at the University of Vienna, Michael Lysander Fremuth, was invited to talk about the topic of ‘Exploring Rule of Law at the Intersection of Counter-Terrorism and Peacebuilding’. In his speech, Fremuth emphasised the multifaceted dimensions at the intersection of human rights and counter terrorism. He spoke, among other things, about the role of politics and religion, the essential importance of education in countering radicalisation, the responsibilities of social media platforms, victim protection as well as about technological opportunities and challenges. Fremuth reminded the audience that combating terrorism is itself a tool for protecting human rights, as terrorism implies a flagrant disregard for them.

You can read Michael Lysander Fremuth’s entire speech in the download area.