U.N. secretary-general calls for preventive efforts against global terrorism

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the growing fear of terrorism throughout the world at the United Nations' Leaders’ Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama, on Tuesday in New York.

The summit brought together representatives from more than 100 nations, more than 20 multilateral institutions, some 120 civil society groups from around the world and partners from the private sector.

“Violent extremist groups – including Da’esh and Boko Haram – pose a direct threat to international security, mercilessly target women and girls, and undermine universal values of peace, justice and human dignity,” Ki-moon said. “That threat is growing.”

Ki-moon said recent data shows a 70 percent increase in foreign terrorist fighters deployed from over 100 countries to regions in conflict.

“Addressing this challenge goes to the heart of the mission of the United Nations, and it requires a unified response,” he said. “Our objective must be to go beyond countering violent extremism to preventing it in the first place,” Ki-moon said.

The secretary-general stressed the importance of defeating terrorist groups like ISIS.