PROTECT: Project on the Protection of Vulnerable Targets from Terrorist Attacks

Vulnerable targets are at risk across the OSCE area. Critical infrastructure and soft targets continue to be subject to cyber and physical attacks by malicious actors. Building on OSCE decisions including the Consolidated Framework for the Fight Against Terrorism and United Nations commitments, for over a decade the OSCE participating States have focused on addressing this threat in a human rights-compliant manner and signalled a clear role for the Organization in enhancing co-operation and building capacity at a national and regional level.

• “[T]he the Organization will pursue its activities to enhance co-operation and build capacity at the national, regional and subregional levels to prevent and combat terrorism, within a framework based on the rule of law and respect for human rights, in order to: [...] Improve the security of international transportation and of other critical infrastructure.”
  
  -Decision No. 1063 OSCE Consolidated Framework for the Fight Against Terrorism (2012)
• The United Nations (UN) General Assembly “[s]trongly condemns all terrorist acts against critical infrastructure, including critical energy facilities, and against other vulnerable targets, and urges all Member States to take necessary measures to prevent such attacks”.
  
  -UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy’s 8th Review (A/RES/77/298, 2023)

The ongoing activities of terrorists and violent extremists of all forms show a clear threat to the security of infrastructure, places of worship, concert halls and other public spaces. Successful attacks in recent years provide real-world examples of the persistence of this threat and the urgency of mitigating its destructive impacts. Importantly, threats to the security of vulnerable targets come from malicious actors across the ideological spectrum, meaning addressing this challenge is vital for every OSCE participating State.

To enhance the security and prosperity of the OSCE area, ensuring the protection and resilience of vulnerable targets and learning from the experience and expertise of all OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation is crucial.

Project Objective

The objective of Project PROTECT is to enhance national approaches across the OSCE area on the protection of vulnerable targets from terrorist threats and other hazards through the provision of specialized guidance, technical assistance and opportunities for regional co-operation and dialogue on effective security practices.

Project Pillars

• Pillar 1
  
  Consolidating and disseminating specialized guidance and good practices on the protection of critical infrastructure from across the OSCE area.
• Pillar 2
  
  Enhancing national capacity to effectively protect vulnerable targets from terrorist attacks and other hazards through in-country awareness-raising and training
• Pillar 3
  
  Facilitating regional co-operation and dialogue among participating States and other stakeholders on the protection of vulnerable targets.