CTC conducts follow-up visit to Morocco

BMUSONI — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 21:18:00 +0000

On 28 June 2019, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC)/ Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) concluded a second follow-up visit to Morocco. Morocco was the first country assessed by CTED on behalf of the CTC in 2005. Since then, CTED conducted follow-up visits in 2013 and now in 2019. The three-day visit was led by Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of CTED Michèle Coninsx who met with relevant ministers and governmental agencies including the President of the National Human Rights Council, the Secretary General of the General Directorate for Penitentiary Administration and Reintegration and the Attorney General.

Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx and the CTED delegation in Morocco.

With the excellent coordination and participation of Moroccan authorities, the delegation was able to engage on a full range of issues from legal and criminal justice to the financing of terrorism, border security and law enforcement, countering violent extremism, including matters relating to foreign terrorist fighters which gave the opportunity to further discuss the implementation of the Addendum to the Madrid Guiding Principles.

The team benefited from the expertise of representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). The delegation noted considerable progress since the 2013 follow-up visit, as well as identified. Areas where technical assistance would be useful to strengthen responses in compliance with international requirements. Meetings were also held with the international community, civil society and the UN Country Team.

The three-day visit, from 26 to 28 June, included on-site visits to Kénitra Prison, Rabat-Salé International Airport, and the Financial Intelligence Unit. The mission concluded with a debrief at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds Special meeting to revise principles on foreign fighters

AKHVEDELID — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 18:38:00 +0000

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On 13 December 2018, The United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee held a Special meeting in New York on “Security Council resolution 2396 (2017): review of the Madrid Guiding Principles.” Adopted in 2015, the Madrid Guiding Principles consists of 35 practical tools to assist States in stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) to conflict zones.

Since these principles were adopted three years ago, the flow of FTFs to conflict zones has decreased. However, as FTFs are returning to their home countries, relocating to other States, or to different conflict zones, a number of different challenges arise, including former foreign fighters’ possible re-engagement in terrorist activities.

“Some FTFs may be returning or relocating together with family members who accompanied them to conflict zones, with families formed in the conflict zones, or with family members born in the conflict zones,” stated H.E. Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations, and Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

The CTC Special meeting was chaired by H.E. Meza-Cuadra of Peru.

“The flow of FTFs back to their home countries or to other countries is expected to increase in the coming years. The lethality of terrorist attacks has fallen, but the number of unsuccessful attacks has risen,” said Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).

At the meeting, Member States, international and regional organizations, civil society, practitioners, and experts discussed ways in which the Madrid Guiding Principles could be updated to address these and other challenges.

Many foreign terrorist fighters evade detection because some States lack the necessary resources and capacity to track them. Some panelists therefore expressed the need for support to strengthen countries’ border management. Others stressed the importance of increased information-sharing and cooperation between various sectors of society, including military and police, in order to identify, investigate, and prosecute terrorist suspects. Also the need for biometric data to help identify FTFs was highlighted. Several panellists further stressed the need for full compliance with international legal obligations, especially the protection of human rights when collecting evidence and conducting risk assessments or appropriate targeting measures.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres was represented by Assistant Secretary-General Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, Department of Political Affairs, whereas the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) was represented by Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov (via video message).

More photos from the Special meeting can be found at CTED’s Flickr account, available here.

A webcast recording of the first part of the meeting is available here, and of the second part here.

Statements:

Presentations:

Additional statements/presentations will be added shortly.

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

CTC conducts follow-up visit to Morocco

Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds Special meeting to revise principles on foreign fighters

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