In his address to PACE convened 23 June in plenary session in Strasbourg, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon assured Europe of UN support in combating violent extremism and the rise of antisemitism, anti-muslim attacks and related forms of discrimination.

He commended the action of the Council of Europe to address this issue, including how radicalisation leads to terrorism, welcoming the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism adopted by the Council and the creation of the No Hate Parliamentary Alliance.

He announced the launch in November of a United Nations action plan to prevent extremism. To counter the terrorist threat, "security measures and even military action" might be required, he said.

Ban Ki-moon also advocated protection of the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, particularly those crossing the Mediterranean and the Andaman Sea, as well as the Bay of Bengal. He recommended setting up "legal channels" in Europe, such as resettlement, family reunification and work and study visas, to guarantee safe migration.

Adapted from the Council of Europe official website

Photo: Council of Europe