Counter-Terrorism Committee holds second informal meeting on counter-terrorism technical assistance needs for Iraq

BMUSONI — Wed, 31 May 2017 16:13:00 +0000

On 31 May 2017, the Counter-Terrorism Committee held a second informal meeting on the counter-terrorism-related technical assistance needs of the Republic of Iraq. The aim of the meeting was to follow-up with implementing partners and Iraqi officials on progress achieved since the first informal, held in March 2016, which focused on the 16 priority technical assistance needs identified during the Executive Directorate’s (CTED) visit to Iraq on behalf of the Committee.

The meeting gathered Members of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, representatives of Iraq and over a dozen other Member States, as well as UN entities and international and regional organizations, including the 1267 Committee Monitoring Team, ICAO, UNMAS, UNODC, UN Women, the IMF, the World Bank, the European Union, NATO, and the Global Center on Cooperative Security.

Chairman of the Committee, H.E. Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta, highlighted the importance of cooperation in order to achieve tangible results and to counter terrorism in all its forms. “The presence of Da’esh, Al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups continues to test the limits of Iraq’s resources, as the authorities struggle to prevent acts of terrorism; to investigate attacks and prosecute alleged perpetrators; and cooperate with regional and international partners, particularly on matters relating to foreign terrorist fighters. The support of the international community thus remains crucial,” Ambassador Aboulatta said.

In the meeting, all implementing partners voiced their endorsement of the Counter-Terrorism Committee assessment on priority counter-terrorism related technical assistance needs for Iraq, and outlined how they are putting these to good use in the planning and implementation of their assistance.

“I wish to command Iraq for all their efforts in countering the threat posed by Dae’sh and being amongst those in the forefront in fighting this terrorist group. Indeed, Iraq has introduced a number of measures to enhance its legislative and law enforcement framework in line with the international best codes and standards on counter-terrorism. Still, much work remains to be done and Iraq needs our support, stressed the Executive Director of CTED, Mr. Jean-Paul Laborde, in his closing remarks. He further noted that Da’esh has been increasingly resorting to the use of civilians as human shields: “Here, I wish once again to pay my deepest respects to Iraqi citizens who have sacrificed their lives in fighting for a free, united Iraq. Their sacrifice must never be forgotten.”

Front Page Article:

Open briefing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee on #NoWeapons4Terrorists

BMUSONI — Thu, 18 May 2017 17:19:00 +0000

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The Security Council has repeatedly stressed the importance of preventing terrorists from accessing weapons. Its resolution 1373 (2001) requires States to refrain from providing any form of support to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts, including by eliminating the supply of weapons to terrorists.

However, because of the constantly evolving nature of the operational terrorist environment, denying terrorists access to weapons is a complex and multifaceted challenge.

On 17 May 2017, the Counter-Terrorism Committee held an open briefing at which participants discussed current and emerging threats, trends and developments relating to preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons in accordance with the relevant Council resolutions and identified gaps in Member States’ efforts to implement measures to eliminate the supply of weapons to terrorists.

The open briefing consisted of three panel sessions.

The first session, entitled “Addressing the evolution of the threat posed by terrorists’ acquisition of weapons and how to strengthen prevention of such illegal activities”, included presentations by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

The second session, entitled “Updating Member States on the most significant gaps and challenges in protecting military surplus, implementing proper storage, and accountability, as well as on the increasing use of IEDs and associated components”, included presentations by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UNMAS, and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).

The final session, entitled “Highlighting new risks and trends in international arms trafficking through the Internet and across borders, as well as the need to implement proper international arms control standards and use existing tools and resources”, included presentations by RAND Europe’s Defence, Security and Infrastructure Group; the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) Inter-Agency Support Unit; and the Special Representative of the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) to the United Nations.

H.E. Mr. Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta, Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations, urged Member States to incorporate the outcomes of the discussions into their efforts to prevent terrorists, including foreign terrorist fighters, from accessing and using weapons, and to strengthen their judicial and border control capacities and their investigation of arms trafficking networks in order to address the increasing links between cross-border crime and terrorism.

The presentation of Mr. Jean-Philippe Morange, Senior Legal Officer, Counter–Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), is available here.

The remarks of Mr. Ivor Fung, Officer-in-Charge, Conventional Arms Branch, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), is available here.

The presentation of Ms. Simonetta Grassi, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Global Firearms Programme, is available here.

The audio presentation of Mr. Himayu Shiotani, Programme Lead, Conventional Arms Programme, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), is available here.

The presentation of Dr. Giacomo Persi Paoli, Research Leader, RAND Europe’s Defence, Security and Infrastructure Group, is available here.

The presentation of Mr. Patrick Mc Carthy, Ph.D., International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) Inter-Agency Support Unit, is available here.

The presentation of Mr. Emmanuel Roux, Special Representative of INTERPOL to the United Nations, is available here.

The Chair’s summary is available here.

A webcast recording of the entire open briefing can be found here.

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The presentation of Mr. Jean-Philippe Morange, Senior Legal Officer, Counter–Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), is available here.

/securitycouncil/ctc/sites/www.un.org.securitycouncil....

The remarks of Mr. Ivor Fung, Officer-in-Charge, Conventional Arms Branch, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), is available here.

/securitycouncil/ctc/sites/www.un.org.securitycouncil....

The presentation of Ms. Simonetta Grassi, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Global Firearms Programme, is available here.

/securitycouncil/ctc/sites/www.un.org.securitycouncil....

The audio presentation of Mr. Himayu Shiotani, Programme Lead, Conventional Arms Programme, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), is available here.

/securitycouncil/ctc/file/22478

The presentation of Dr. Giacomo Persi Paoli, Research Leader, RAND Europe’s Defence, Security and Infrastructure Group, is available here.

/securitycouncil/ctc/sites/www.un.org.securitycouncil....

The presentation of Mr. Patrick Mc Carthy, Ph.D., International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) Inter-Agency Support Unit, is available here.

/securitycouncil/ctc/sites/www.un.org.securitycouncil....

The presentation of Mr. Emmanuel Roux, Special Representative of INTERPOL to the United Nations, is available here.

/securitycouncil/ctc/sites/www.un.org.securitycouncil....

The Chair’s summary is available here.

/securitycouncil/ctc/sites/www.un.org.securitycouncil....

Front Page Article:

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

Counter-Terrorism Committee holds second informal meeting on counter-terrorism technical assistance needs for Iraq

Open briefing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee on #NoWeapons4Terrorists

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