SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure

The SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is a permanent body of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It coordinates cooperation among member states against terrorism, separatism and extremism, collectively described by the SCO as the “three evils.”

Core mandate

RATS provides an institutional framework through which the competent authorities of SCO members exchange information and coordinate measures against the three evils.

• It collects and analyses information supplied by member states and maintains relevant databases on terrorist organisations, individuals and threats.
• It assists member states in identifying and locating persons suspected of terrorism, separatism or extremism.
• It facilitates cooperation against terrorist financing, recruitment and other supporting networks.
• It helps prepare and coordinate joint counter-terrorism exercises conducted by the competent national authorities.
• It contributes to drafting legal and policy instruments for cooperation in its mandated fields.

Legal and institutional framework

Its work is rooted in the 2001 Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism and the agreement governing RATS. The structure consists principally of the RATS Council, which provides direction, and the Executive Committee, which performs continuing administrative, analytical and coordination functions.

Nature of its role

RATS is primarily a coordination and information-sharing mechanism, not a supranational police or military force. Investigation, arrest, prosecution and operational enforcement remain with the competent authorities of individual member states under their domestic laws.