On 19 August 2021 the Security Council held a briefing on the Secretary-General’s 13th biannual strategic-level report on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) and its affiliates.
In her briefing to the Security Council, Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of CTED, underlined “a comprehensive, coordinated, “One-UN” approach remains crucial to develop and implement effective counter-terrorism measures while also addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and violent extremism.”
ASG Coninsx also highlighted the untenable situation facing hundreds of thousands of individuals – most of whom are children and women – stranded in camps and prisons in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic with limited access to essential services, due process, and fair trial. “The Secretary-General’s report highlights violence in the camps, enforced disappearances and other human rights abuses as serious concerns, in addition to forced returns, the prevention of return and the discriminatory treatment of families with a perceived link to Da’esh.”
Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) noted the importance of “identifying good practices in safeguarding civic space” and recalled the need for coherent and cooperative international measures in efforts to counter and prevent terrorism.
Providing a perspective from civil society, Dr. Davood Moradian highlighted the unfolding catastrophe and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and called for a renewed commitment to a “humanitarian dimension” in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism conducive to terrorism.
Member States noted the need to address the role of gender – including masculinities – in countering terrorism and violent extremism as part of effective, ethical, and sustainable responses to violent extremism, as well as the benefits of a “whole of society approach” that further enhances and strengthens multilateral counter-terrorism efforts towards dismantling the threat of ISIL (Da’esh).
The Secretary-General’s report stated that in non-conflict zones the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) remains suppressed by restrictions imposed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, while in conflict zones, threats have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and may rise further in the coming months. The report warns that the expansion of ISIL (Da’esh) across regions in Africa is concerning and cautioned that, “the growing influence of ISIL (Da’esh) in Africa may have far-reaching implications for the peace, security and stability of the region.”
CTED continues to monitor and evaluate the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) and affiliates and remains committed to strengthening multilateral and regional collaboration in ensuring effective responses to existing and new counter-terrorism challenges posed to international peace and security.
Remarks by Assistant Secretary-General Miche?le Coninsx, Executive Director, CTED. (PDF)
Press statement by the Security Council (PDF)
Presidential Statement of the Security Council, 11 March 2020
You can watch the full briefing .