RATS – Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure

About RATS

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure was established by the member states to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.
• RATS was established in 2004 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure operates in accordance with the SCO Charter, the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, the Agreement among the SCO member states on the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, as well as documents and decisions adopted in the SCO framework.
• The Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is the permanent body of the SCO RATS based in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan
• Functions:
  1. Maintaining working relations with competent institutions of the member states and international organisations tackling issues of fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism;
  2. Assistance in interaction among the member states in preparation and staging of counter-terrorism exercises at the request of concerned member states, preparation and conduct of search operations and other activities in the field of fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism;
  3. Joint drafting of international legal documents concerning the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism;
  4. Gathering and analysis of information coming to the RATS from the member states, formation and filling of RATS data bank;
  5. Joint formation of a system of effective response to global challenges and threats
  6. Preparation and holding of scientific conferences and workshops, assistance in sharing experience in the field of fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism.
• Between 2011 and 2015, under RATS coordination, the authorities of SCO member States managed to prevent 20 terrorist attacks while still in the planning stages, averted 650 crimes of terrorist and extremist nature, and neutralized 440 terrorist training camps and 1,700 members of international terrorist organizations