Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) - FTF

New CTED Trends Report stresses challenges stemming from returning and relocating foreign terrorist fighters

AKHVEDELID — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 05:55:00 +0000

The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) today issued its latest Trends Report.¹ Titled “The Challenge of Returning and Relocating Foreign Terrorist Fighters: Research Perspectives,” the report outlines a number of issues United Nations Member States are facing related to foreign terrorist fighters.

The current wave of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) shows clear differences compared to previous waves. The present wave is larger, increasingly global, and more diverse in terms of age, gender, and experience in conflict zones. These differences make the potential challenges associated with returnees and relocators significantly greater, but also more complex. One key challenge for Member States is to establish which returning individuals may pose a threat, or act as facilitators for acts of terrorism, in the future.

Despite military progress and enhanced counter-measures by Member States, the fate and location of a large proportion of foreign terrorist fighters is uncertain. Identifying and locating these remaining FTFs remains a critical priority for the international community, and is a major focus of the measures included in Security Council resolution 2396 (2017).

This resolution calls on Member States to develop tailored prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration strategies, including programmes that address radicalization in prisons, or are focused on the needs of children associated with foreign terrorist fighters.

The complete CTED Trends Report is available here

For additional information, please contact Mattias Sundholm, CTED, at this email address, or +1-917-628-3531.

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Major challenges remain, Executive Director of CTED tells Security Council in meeting on foreign terrorist fighters

BMUSONI — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 17:03:00 +0000

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Although Member States have made progress in many areas to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, major challenges still remain, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) told the Security Council in a meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. In her first briefing to the Council, on 28 November 2017, ASG Coninsx provided a number of examples of existing gaps in the implementation of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014). Fewer than 60 States have so far introduced measures requiring airlines to provide advance passenger information (or API) – meaning that for over 100 Member States verifying the possible presence of a foreign terrorist fighter onboard an aircraft is very difficult. Furthermore, many States still require assistance in establishing the necessary connectivity between national databases and border posts.

In terms of the phenomenon of so-called lone actors perpetrating terrorist acts, ASG Coninsx stressed that they often have received support or resources from elsewhere, including via the Internet or social media. Terrorists are also increasingly using new technologies to transfer funds to such individuals.

“If we are to continue to make progress in promoting and implementing […] the resolution, we must continue to strengthen the partnerships between and among Member States, UN agencies, and partner organizations. Or, to put it another way: it takes networks to beat networks,” ASG Coninsx concluded.

Watch ASG Coninsx’ briefing to the Security Council here.

Watch the webcast of the entire meeting here.

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Counter-Terrorism Committee holds briefing on returning foreign terrorist fighters

BMUSONI — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 15:07:00 +0000

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As ISIL (Da’esh) continues to lose territory in the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq, it has moved into a new phase, marked in particular by the geographical dispersal of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), and by the increase in attacks carried out against critical infrastructure and civilian (“soft”) targets. In this regard the Chairman of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Amr Aboulatta, highlighted that the global terrorist threat is evolving in scale and complexity.

This creates additional challenges for law enforcement and judicial officers, including relating to the collection, preservation, and sharing of evidence obtained in conflict and post-conflict settings that is admissible in criminal courts. On 8 November 2017, the CTC held a well-attended informal open briefing that focused on legal issues and emerging challenges relating to the treatment and prosecution of FTFs, including returnees.

In the first session, a CTED expert and Queen’s Counsel Brigadier-General (retired) Kenneth Watkin underscored the importance of a law enforcement and criminal justice approach to countering terrorism, which is based on human rights compliant arrest and detention over the killing of a suspect. The speakers focused on the role of the military in evidence collection for the investigation and prosecution of terrorists who commit terrorist acts in conflict zones.

In the second session, CTED underscored the importance of effective border management, including the so-called 4th digital border of the Internet, including the Dark web. In countering this challenge, INTERPOL emphasized cooperation and preemptive action to ensure access to the right information at the right time, including by making full use of databases and biometrics at the disposal of States.

Thanking the Members of the Committee and UN colleagues for the warm welcome she had received, CTED’s new Executive Director, Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, stressed the need to prevent terrorist acts by fighting impunity and bringing terrorists to justice. She also highlighted the unique nature of CTED’s analytical work which draws on its assessments, broad network of partners, and in-depth knowledge of its experts.

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The XVI meeting of Heads of special services, security agencies, and law-enforcement organizations stresses threat posed by returning foreign terrorist fighters

BMUSONI — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 14:07:00 +0000

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Participants in this major global security forum focused on complex problems related to foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) returning from the conflict zones in Iraq and Syria and posing serious terrorist threat.

Mr. Aleksandr Bortnikov, Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB), reading out a statement on behalf of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that it was premature to expect that international terrorism would be quickly defeated.

“The main danger stems from returning foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) who set up underground terrorist networks upon their return to their countries of origin”, he said.

“In reaction to the military campaigns conducted in Syria and Iraq, terrorists are changing tactics and transferring their main forces to other States and other parts of the world”, he added.

Mr. Bortnikov was addressing the XVI Meeting of Heads of Special Services, Security Agencies and Law-Enforcement Organizations, hosted by the FSB in Krasnodar on 4 and 5 October 2017.

The Meeting was attended by over 330 delegates from 75 States and international organizations, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the European Union.

Mr. Andrei Kovalenko, Head of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)’s Administration and Information Office, who was delivering a statement on behalf of the Chair of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) stressed the vital role played by the Meeting.

“The Meeting plays a vital role in enhancing cooperation among special services, security agencies and law enforcement organizations from around the world in the global fight against terrorism”, he said.

He also recalled that Security Council resolution 2322 (2016), on international law enforcement and judicial cooperation in countering terrorism, was of direct relevance to the Meeting’s work.

He urged participants to raise awareness of the resolution’s provisions on strengthening intelligence cooperation, including by downgrading for official use intelligence threat data on FTFs and individual terrorists and provide such information to frontline screeners.

Mr. Kovalenko also briefed participants on the efforts of the CTC and CTED to strengthen public-private partnerships in preventing terrorist abuse of information and communications technologies (ICT).

The Meeting further dwelt on terrorist threats to international information security; countering radicalization, extremism and terrorist recruitment (including countering the spread of radical religious teachings in prisons and terrorist recruitment of individuals serving imprisonment terms); and security arrangements for major international events.

The participants reaffirmed the Meeting’s commitment to the creation of a united global counter-terrorism alliance of security intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, with the United Nations playing a central coordinating role.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and to the relevant Council resolutions on terrorism.

The sharing of operational intelligence regarding international terrorist organizations and FTFs would be expanded, and steps would be taken to improve cooperation among security intelligence and law enforcement agencies, including through the UN, in preventing terrorist abuse of ICT.

The FSB’s International Counterterrorism Database should be fully utilized to create a universal counter-terrorism information environment.

The participants also issued a joint statement in support of Security Council resolution 2354 (2017) and the Comprehensive International Framework to Counter Terrorist Narratives endorsed by the resolution, as well as Security Council resolution 1624 (2005), on countering incitement to commit terrorist acts.

A Communique of the event can be downloaded here.

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CTED conducts follow-up visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina

BMUSONI — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 06:02:00 +0000

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On behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, CTED conducted a three-day follow-up visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 18 to 20 April 2017, to discuss its progress in implementing Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005) and Council resolution 2178 (2014), on stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs).

The discussions with the Government focused on legislation and judicial practice, counter-financing of terrorism, law enforcement, border control, international cooperation, countering violent extremism that leads to terrorism, the role of women in countering terrorism and violent extremism, and the need for rule-of-law-based responses to terrorism.

The delegation welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Strategy for Preventing and Combating Terrorism (2015-2020), including its Framework Action Plan (adopted by the Council of Ministers in October 2016) and discussed with the Government ways to ensure their effective implementation.

The delegation also visited Sarajevo International Airport to assess border-control and border-management measures, including measures to stem the FTF flow.

The Government noted that its measures had significantly reduced the number of travellers leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina for conflict zones in Syria and Iraq.

Bosnia and Herzegovina reaffirmed its strong commitment to countering terrorism in all its aspects, including FTFs and returnees, the links between terrorism and transnational organized crime (including illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons and human beings), and abuse of the Internet and social media for terrorist purposes.

The delegation was also informed about measures taken to prevent radicalization and strengthen international and regional cooperation.

In addition to CTED experts, the delegation included representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and UN Women.

The delegation also met bilaterally with technical assistance providers and implementing partners.

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Counter-Terrorism Committee briefs Western European States affected by FTF phenomenon

BMUSONI — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:13:00 +0000

The Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee held an informal open briefing on foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) for affected States of Western Europe and the European Union.

“Attacks carried out in Europe over the past two years have shown that no region is safe from the threat and that terrorists have the capacity to circumvent even the most advanced and sophisticated technologies and other counter-terrorism measures,” said H.E. Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta, Chair of the Committee and Permanent Representative of Egypt.

The briefing, held on 27 March, was the fourth in a series of informal regional briefings for Security Council and non-Security Council States.

The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) shared its primary findings on the situation in the region, based on the Council’s second and third reports on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014) by Western European States affected by FTFs (S/2015/683 and S/2015/975) and recent developments.

CTED noted that the assessed Western European States had made great progress, but that persistent challenges remained.

Western European Member States and the European Union expressed their support for the work of the Committee and CTED.

The participating States highlighted concrete measures taken at the national and regional levels in implementing resolution 2178 (2014) in response to the FTF threat, focussing on good practices and concrete challenges, including in relation to FTFs returning to their States of origin.

They also stressed the importance of timely bilateral, regional, international and cross-regional information-sharing and cooperation in countering violent extremism, as well as the need to address the FTF phenomenon through a comprehensive approach that engaged a wide range of relevant stakeholders within the framework of a human rights and rule-of-law based approach.

“We look forward to conducting further assessment visits to Member States of Western Europe, on behalf of the Committee, in order to share our findings with practitioners and gather their good practices in countering terrorism”, said CTED Deputy Executive Director Mr. Weixiong Chen.

“CTED provides a vital hub for the dissemination of good practices to States that may not have established bilateral cooperation with the States concerned”, he added.

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CTED conducts regional high-level visit to four Lake Chad Basin States

BMUSONI — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 10:18:00 +0000

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The visiting delegation in a meeting with H.E. Prime Minister of Niger Brigi Rafini (in white).

The UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), accompanied by the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), conducted a regional high-level visit to the four States of the Lake Chad Basin from 13 to 17 February 2017. The main objectives of the visit were to discuss current threats; listen to the concerns of the Governments of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; identify shared challenges; discuss how the international community could support their national and regional counter-terrorism efforts; and discuss regional counter-terrorism cooperation.

The delegation met with high-level officials of the four States, as well as with representatives of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and its Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF). Members of the delegation included Executive Director Jean-Paul Laborde of CTED, as well as the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Mohamed Ibn Chambas and Central Africa (UNOCA) François Loncény Fall (Acting SRSG), respectively.

Even though Boko Haram has suffered significant military setbacks at the hands of the MNJTF, it has been able to adapt its operations and remains a potent force. During December 2016 and January 2017, it carried out 128 attacks, resulting in the deaths of 139 civilians. In Nigeria, where it remains most active, it continues to be subject to significant air and ground military pressure, particularly in Borno State. The humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad Basin region remains a serious concern, with a growing number of people suffering from food insecurity.

In accordance with Security Council resolution 2178 (2014), the Committee has been working closely with Member States to identity challenges relating to foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). One of the main concerns for States is to determine how to deal with returning FTFs, including how to develop and implement prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration strategies for returning foreign terrorist fighters. The Counter-Terrorism Committee’s Madrid Guiding Principles address some of the main questions and issues involved, and CTED continues to assist the four Lake Chad Basin States and other Member States to translate these principles into practice.

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[PRESS RELEASE] United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate visits the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

BMUSONI — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 20:55:00 +0000

n its resolve to support Afghanistan’s efforts to counter terrorism and the threat posed by terrorist groups, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), acting on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, conducted an assessment visit to Afghanistan on 31 January and 1 February 2017.

The visit had three main objectives: to assess Afghanistan’s compliance with the obligations set forth in Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), including measures aimed at implementing Security Council resolution 2178 (2014) on foreign terrorist fighters; to formulate recommendations on measures to be adopted by Afghanistan to fully implement resolution 1373 (2001); and to identify areas in which the country would benefit from receiving technical assistance in order to fully implement resolution 1373 (2001).*

Led by Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde, Assistant Secretary-General and CTED Executive Director, the delegation engaged with high-level Afghan officials in order to convey key United Nations messages and learn about recent developments in the country. Mr. Laborde met with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Justice, the Interior, Defence, Counter-Narcotics, and Hajj and Religious Affairs, as well as with the Head of the National Security Directorate, the Attorney-General, and the Chief Justice.

During his meetings in Kabul, Mr. Laborde discussed the complex security situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the fight against terrorism. The Executive Director expressed CTED’s solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in their daily struggle against terrorism and paid tribute to all the victims of terrorist acts in the country (most recently exemplified by the 7 February suicide attack against the country’s Supreme Court). The Executive Director also echoed the call by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for peaceful negotiations to resolve conflicts through political processes, reiterating that terrorism would not be defeated by military force or law enforcement measures alone, but rather through an all-inclusive approach that ensured the rule of law; the engagement of all social sectors; and compliance with the obligations imposed by international law, including human rights law, humanitarian law, and refugee law.

The visit was organized in close cooperation with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Members of the delegation included counter-terrorism experts from CTED, who assessed Afghanistan’s efforts in the areas of legislation, law enforcement, human rights, and countering violent extremism.

*: Adopted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and therefore binding on all Member States, Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) addresses threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts; resolution 1624 (2005) calls on States to enhance dialogue and take all necessary measures to counter incitement of terrorist acts motivated by extremism and intolerance; and resolution 2178 (2014) aims to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters.

For additional information, please contact Mattias Sundholm of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) at sundholm[at] un.org.

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Third report of the Secretary-General states that the threat posed by Da’esh is still significant

BMUSONI — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 09:18:00 +0000

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“The threat posed by ISIL continues to be significant and to diversify,” according to the United Nations Secretary-General’s third report on the threat posed by Da’esh/ISIL to international peace and security, and on the efforts of the UN in support of its Member States to counter this threat. The report (S/2016/830), presented to the Security Council on 13 October 2016, follows resolution 2253 (2015), which requests the Secretary-General to provide strategic-level reports every four months demonstrating the gravity of the threat posed to international peace and security by Da’esh/ISIL and associated individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities.

The report includes an assessment of the threat of foreign terrorist fighters, and the sources of financing of these groups through illicit trade in oil, antiquities, and other natural resources, as well as their planning and facilitation of attacks, and reflects the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering this threat.

“Increasingly complex and nearly simultaneous attacks in different countries – committed through large-scale operations and individual or small terrorist cells, either directed or inspired by ISIL – have a significant impact and present particular problems to UN Member States in terms of the security response,” Mr. Feltman told Security Council members.

The report considers the presence and influence of Da’esh/ISIL outside Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, including in Yemen, East Africa, and South and South-East Asia. Taking a regional approach, the report highlights the efforts and progress of Member States of South and South-East Asia to implement counter-terrorism measures in a number of thematic areas. It also considers how Member States are dealing with the issue of foreign terrorist fighters who return to their home States. The use of information and communications technology by Da’esh/ISIL, the issue of conflict-related sexual violence, and the range of technical assistance and capacity-building efforts undertaken by the United Nations and its partners are also addressed.

S/2016/830 was prepared with the input of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) in close collaboration with the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team assisting the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), and 2253 (2015), as well as other relevant United Nations actors.

The Secretary-General’s reports are an important tool for Member States and United Nations bodies in their efforts to address the threat posed by Da’esh/ISIL and associated entities to international peace and security. The past two reports were dated 29 January 2016 and 31 May 2016.

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Open briefing underscores need for timely national efforts in countering foreign fighters

BMUSONI — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:11:00 +0000

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On 22 July 2016, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) organized an open briefing on Member States’ implementation of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014), on stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters (FTF).

The open briefing was attended by representatives of Member States, international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Experts of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) briefed Member States on the three regionally focused dialogues on States affected by FTFs, held by the Committee in June and July.

The discussions also focused on States’ efforts to implement the Committee’s recommendations.

Issues of particular concern include the potential threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters who return to their countries of origin or to other States, and drivers of FTFs. Also good practices on how to address the FTF phenomenon were discussed.

The Chair of CTC stressed that “we urgently need to enhance our cooperation and coordination, readapt and revitalise our strategies, and mobilise the resources needed to prevent terrorists from disrupting our way of life and our freedoms.”

CTED Executive Director Jean-Paul Laborde also indicated that “those individuals often return with battlefield skills, training in the use of explosives, and with an understanding of the practices of police and security agencies. Member States must therefore continue to strengthen their responses through effective detection, prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration strategies.”

CTED experts recommended that Member States use the Madrid Guiding Principles on the implementation of resolution 2178 (2014), which aim to facilitate a holistic, forward-looking approach to the implementation of flexible prosecution strategies, combined with appropriate alternatives to prosecution.

Those alternatives can include administrative measures and reintegration and rehabilitation programmes, provided that they are used in a manner compliant with international human rights law and are subject to effective review.

Director of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) Office Jehangir Khan briefed the audience on the capacity-building projects within the CTITF framework. A number of participating delegations also provided an update of their national efforts to tackle the FTFs.

CTED will continue to work with its partners to identify good practices and develop further guidance and assistance for Member States affected by the FTF phenomenon.

CTED also encourages Member States to update the Committee on current practices and measures employed to tackle the FTF threat.

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