ICCT Celebrates 15 years of Impactful Work in Counter-Terrorism

The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) celebrates this year its 15th anniversary. The think tank was established in 2010 by mandate of the Dutch Parliament, which noted the “pioneering role” of the Netherlands in the fight against international terrorism, and recognised the need for “a more formal and permanent place to come up with concrete proposals to prevent terrorism”. ICCT was officially opened on 31 May 2010, during a high-level conference in the Peace Palace, in presence of the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs and several prominent international speakers.

”Over the last fifteen years, ICCT has inspired and guided thousands of experts and frontline workers to prevent radicalisation and violence”, said Peter Knoope, ICCT’s first Director (2010-2014) and former Dutch career diplomat. “It has become one of the major sources of knowledge in that area. One can rightly claim that ICCT has contributed to a safer world, through improved prevention of terrorism in all its manifestations. We are proud to have delivered on the mission given to us by the Parliament.”

ICCT plays a pivotal role in supporting national and international efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism in a manner that upholds the rule of law and human rights. “Terrorism and Extremism remain key security priorities worldwide”, said ICCT’s current Director Dr. Thomas Renard. “To improve our understanding of a complex and evolving phenomenon, and to support effective and evidence-based policies, an organisation like ICCT is more needed than ever. The next 15 years will be as important, if not more important, than the previous ones”.

More than an organisation, ICCT is a community of expertise. It mobilizes a vast network of Associate Fellows, authors, consultants, donors and other key stakeholders. It serves as a bridge between research, policy, and practice, ensuring that scientific evidence informs decision-making while addressing pressing policy concerns.

Since 2010, ICCT has become one of Europe’s leading think tanks in the field of counter-terrorism (CT) and preventing/countering violent extremism (P/CVE).

• It publishes around 100 articles annually, informing public and scientific debates via its website and its academic journal Perspectives on Terrorism, edited jointly with Leiden University and the University of Saint-Andrews.
   
• ICCT has shaped CT and P/CVE policies worldwide, through its work with various governments and international organisations. This includes for instance ICCT’s work for the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), for NATO, or in the context of the EU’s Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN).
   
• Each year, ICCT works on about 25 different projects, including research work but also training and capacity-building projects. This includes for instance ICCT’s work in Iraq to support the Iraqi government’s efforts to repatriate its foreign fighters detained in Syria, to assess the most pressing needs of the government, or to support local civil society organisations active in the prevention of extremism. It also includes field projects in the Western Balkans, Southeast Asia or in the Sahel, among many other places.
   
• In early 2024, ICCT also launched its Monitoring and Evaluation Centre of Excellence, which offers unique expertise to assess local and global efforts to prevent terrorism. In times of budget austerity and multiplying policy priorities, the ability to evaluate programmes and determine what is working or not appears strategically paramount.

“There is no other place like ICCT, combining this level of expertise and skills”, said Dr. Renard. “Through its work, ICCT is truly having an impact on research, policies and practices in the field of CT and P/CVE. It offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise that is beneficial to the whole society. Looking ahead, ICCT has still much more to offer for the next 15 years”.

ICCT’s website attracts on average 18251 visitors every month, and its newsletters reach out to 14765 subscribers.

On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, and throughout this year, ICCT will use a special logo.