Date: Thursday, 3 November 2011, 14:45 - 18:00
Venue: Nieuwspoort, The Hague
In cooperation with The Netherlands Intelligence Studies Association (NISA), ICCT hosted a Seminar on "Ethical Issues in Counter-Terrorism" to highlight the launch of the edited volume Contraterrorisme en Ethiek (Kowalski & Meeder (eds.), Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Boom, November 2011).
The seminar highlighted a number of dilemmas and concerns related to the effects of intensified counter-terrorism efforts in the last decade. The session was chaired by Mr. Joop van Reijn (NISA). It commenced with an overview of the ethical dilemma’s in counter-terrorism measures and intelligence operations by Mr. Peter Keller (NISA). How has this interaction played out over the last decade? How can an effective and just counter-terrorism regime be ensured? This first lecture featured some of the key points of the publication.
Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Monica den Boer (Professor Comparative Public Administration at VU University Amsterdam) reflected upon the topic from a governmental and security perspective. This presentation put some of the dilemmas of the first presentation into the context of governmental decision making, the intelligence cycle and the political and security environment, exploring various actors and factors that may influence the process.
The third presentation examined the dilemmas in focusing counter-terrorism measures from a societal perspective, in particular when targeted on a specific minority group in society. Mr. Mohammed Cheppih (Advisor at Radar Uitvoering) expanded upon this issue in his presentation, looking at some of the societal consequences of counter-terrorism measures.
Following the three presentations, a Panel discussion and Q&A ensued, after which the first print of the edited volume was presented to Mr. Theo Bot, Deputy National Coordinator for Counterterrorism of The Netherlands.
