U.S. Counter-Terrorism and Asia The United States and Gender, National Security, and Counter-Terrorism Asia Workshop S

1. U.S. Counter-Terrorism and Asia The United States and Gender, National Security, and Counter-Terrorism Asia Workshop September 13-14 2010

2. Core U.S. Counter-Terrorism Policy Areas Development and countering violent extremism (CVE) Defense and counter-terrorism Anti-terrorism financing Rendition, secret detention and torture Border security Women as fighters and peacemakers

3. 2010 National Security Strategy Reinforced importance of South and Southeast Asia as a front on the �war on terrorism�. Emphasized increasing security cooperation with Asian countries on issues like violent extremism. Highlighted alliances with Australia, Philippines, and Thailand as �the bedrock of security in Asia�. Stressed the importance of strategic partnerships with leaders in the region, such as India and Indonesia. U.S. counter-terrorism strategy in Asia reflects the three Ds of the 2010 National Security Strategy: diplomacy, development and defense.

4. Core U.S. Initiatives Regional: Department of State Counterterrorism Regional Strategy Initiative Department of State Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Asia Department of Defense U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM)

5. Counterterrorism Regional Strategic Initiative (RSI) Operated by: DOS; DOS Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism is responsible for the RSI program which is the principal means by which the U.S. Government�s activities are coordinated in the war on terror and the President�s National Security Strategy is implemented. As such it has strong interagency support and participation. Created in: 2006 Countries covered: 8 theaters of operation including South Asia and South East Asia. Aims: To build capacity and political will of key countries including Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, to address counter-terrorism and border security. Political Will:�The Counter-Terrorism Regional Strategy Initiative will support activities to enhance regional and cross-border understanding of the terrorist and extremist threats and to support mainstream Muslim views.�

6. Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program Operated by: Department of State Office of�Antiterrorism Assistance Created in: 1983 Countries covered: �Most ATA program recipients are developing nations lacking human and other resources needed to maintain an effective antiterrorism program and infrastructure.� Top twenty country recipients include Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, India, and Nepal. Mission: �The ATA program trains civilian security and law enforcement personnel from friendly governments in police procedures that deal with terrorism.� Activities: �ATA training seeks to address deficiencies noted in the ability to perform the following areas: Protecting national borders; Protecting critical infrastructure; Protecting national leadership; Responding to and resolving terrorist incidents; Managing critical terrorists incidents having national-level implications.�

7. USAID Asia Area of Operation: operates in 25 countries in Asia including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Thailand. � � Counter-Terrorism Related Goals: Protecting U.S. regional interests by strengthening ties with allies and building upon successful counterterrorism programs. Promoting democracy and governance to bolster democratic institutions which mitigate the appeal of extremism. Expanding trade and investment by fostering development where reducing poverty is key to peace and security. Counter-Terrorism Activities include: Providing skills training to former combatants to help reintegrate them into their communities. Promoting female political participation.

8. PACOM Background Operated by: Department of Defense Mission:�USPACOM protects and defends, in concert with other U.S. Government agencies, the territory of the United States, its people, and its interests. � With allies and partners, USPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Asia-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression, and, when necessary, fighting to win.� This approach is based on partnership, presence, and military readiness.�� Area of Operation: �stretching from the waters off the west coast of the U.S. to the western border of India, and from Antarctica to the North Pole.� Covering 36 countries (including Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, and Sri Lanka) PACOM is the largest U.S. Command. Created in: 1947. It is the oldest U.S. Command.

9. PACOM Counter-Terrorism Activities Military training and capacity building: deigned to improve local and U.S. combat readiness and joint/combined interoperability. Humanitarian relief: participation in disaster relief and other humanitarian operations is seen as an essential component of regional stability and PACOM�s strategy (e.g. Pacific Partnership 2010).

10. Core U.S. Initiatives cont�d Country-level: Countering Violent Extremism Anti-terrorism financing designation of entities as FTOs or SDGTs (DOS/Department of the Treasury) and U.S. pressure to pass terror financing laws Intelligence co-operation rendition, secret detention, and information sharing Training law-enforcement and counter-terrorism officers Investigatory and prosecutorial assistance to foreign governments to respond to terrorism Enhancing border security

11. Gender and Stages of Programming Gender in strategic assessment of problems/programs needed e.g. USAID: profile of �at-risk populations� and the drivers of VE (socio-economic, political and cultural) Gender and program development and implementation Gender and assessment of outputs and outcomes e.g. the use of agency-by-agency indicators for outputs of activities but not achievement of overall goals