S/PV.8915 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At the outset, Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez will make a joint statement on behalf of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004). Following the joint statement, the Council will hear briefings by the Chairs of those Committees. I now give the floor to Ambassador de la Fuente Ramírez.

On behalf of the Chairs of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), I have the honour to brief the Security Council on the work of the three Committees, including the continuing cooperation among them. Despite the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the 1267 Committee and the 1540 Committee continued to cooperate and to coordinate their work, in line with their respective mandates, in order to ensure an effective and efficient approach to counter-terrorism and to combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State Actors. The three Committees are aware that terrorist groups and their affiliates are ready to commit extreme violence on a wide scale and highlight the importance of bearing in mind the potentially catastrophic humanitarian, economic, social and political consequences if nuclear, chemical or biological weapons were to fall into the hands of non-State actors, in particular terrorists. Since its adoption more than 17 years ago, resolution 1540 (2004) has become a vital component of the global non-proliferation architecture and a key instrument in curbing the threat posed by the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, by non-State actors. As mandated under resolution 1977 (2011), the 1540 Committee is conducting a major comprehensive review of its work to promote the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by all Member States. Due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, a number of planned 1540 Committee events were postponed. The comprehensive review will inform negotiations on its future mandate, as part of which the Committee intends to hold open consultations soon with States Members of the United Nations, as well as relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and, where appropriate, civil society. The Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate have maintained a strong partnership and close collaboration and cooperation with the 1267/1989/2253 and 1540 Committees, as well as relevant United Nations entities and international organizations, in addressing the challenges posed by terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In presidential statement S/PRST/2021/1, adopted on 12 January 2021 during the open debate to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (see S/2021/48), the Security Council reiterated the need to enhance the ongoing cooperation among the Committees and their respective groups of experts, noted the importance of their ongoing interaction and dialogue with all Member States and encouraged the Committees to continue to pursue a constructive and transparent approach. Terrorism continues to pose a grave threat to international peace and security. The terrorism landscape continues to evolve and develop significantly. Member States face many complex challenges, including the increase in terrorist attacks and the use of information and communications technologies for terrorist purposes. The COVID-19 pandemic has also created conditions that terrorist groups have exploited. Such threats and challenges can be dealt with successfully only through collective efforts and close cooperation and collaboration among all Member States and all other actors. The 1267 Monitoring Team experts also participated in several open briefings of the Counter-Terrorism Committee to discuss areas of interest and common concern with regard to implementing relevant Security Council resolutions. On 18 November, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee held a joint special meeting to discuss threats and trends related to the financing of terrorism and the implementation of the provisions of resolution 2462 (2019). Relevant regional and international organizations also attended the meeting to discuss challenges and measures taken by Member States to disrupt terrorist financing, the work of the Financial Action Task Force to monitor and combat terrorism financing and coordination mechanisms relating to the technical assistance provided by the United Nations and Global Compact entities to support States’ efforts in that area. The event was an excellent opportunity for participants to highlight national and regional practices. There have also been regular exchanges of information and cooperation within the framework of the relevant Global Compact working groups and through joint projects and activities developed in those working groups through a One United Nations approach. Relevant Security Council resolutions reiterate the need to enhance ongoing cooperation among the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the 1267 and 1540 Committees, including through enhanced information-sharing, coordination on visits to countries, coordination on facilitating and monitoring technical assistance and other cooperative measures to assist Member States in their efforts to comply with their obligations under the relevant resolutions. During the reporting period, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee cooperated closely with the CTC and CTED in the production of mandated reports of the Secretary- General. The reports emphasized that the threat posed by Da’esh continued to raise serious international concern and noted the expansion of ISIL activities in several countries of Africa, as well as Afghanistan, through the group’s regional affiliates, as well as through efforts by Da’esh core focused on regrouping in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic. In areas that experienced lockdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially outside conflict zones, Da’esh has incited attacks that might have been deferred or planned for execution when restrictions eased. The Committees, within their respective mandates, promote effective measures, such as, in the case of the terrorism-related Committees, sanctions, measures countering the financing of terrorism, border management and law enforcement, international judicial cooperation, prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration, countering terrorist narratives and engaging communities, among others. The 1540 Committee has promoted measures related to non-proliferation. The three subsidiary bodies of the Security Council continue to attach great importance to the coordination and cooperation among them. The Committees also continue to raise awareness of Member States’ obligations to effectively implement relevant Security Council resolutions, continue to coordinate activities, hold joint Committee meetings and enhance their cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations, as well as with United Nations bodies, including within the framework of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. Those coordinated activities are very important to strengthen the Committees’ dialogue with Member States and to help to improve the overall understanding among Member States of their distinct, yet complementary, mandates. Despite the travel restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic, the three Committees have ensured business continuity by adapting their working methods to virtual environments. During the reporting period, the Committees stepped up their regular joint consultations. The three Committees and, under their direction, their respective expert bodies will continue to cooperate and coordinate their work, in accordance with their respective mandates, including through joint visits at the invitation of States, with a view to ensuring an effective and efficient approach to counter-terrorism and to the fight against the proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction by non-State Actors. The Committees and their respective expert bodies reaffirm their continued commitment to supporting Member States in those global efforts by providing guidance and direction to their expert groups with a view to strengthening their collaboration and cooperation in accordance with the requirements of relevant Security Council resolutions.

I thank Mr. De la Fuente Ramírez for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Heimerback.

In our last joint Council briefing in November 2020, the prior Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups undertakings and entities, Ambassador Djani, raised the evolving nature of the threat posed by ISIL, Al-Qaida and their affiliates under the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (see S/2020/1143, annex II). Today I would like to briefly outline how the threat from ISIL, Al-Qaida and their affiliates has evolved over the past year and report on the activities of the Committee. This briefing will also satisfy the requirement of resolution 2368 (2017)to report to the Security Council at least once per year on the overall work of the Committee. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team that assists the Committee notes the continuing threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Al-Qaida during the reporting period. Now, nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, in non-conflict zones restrictions imposed to address the pandemic have artificially suppressed the terrorist threat. The relatively low threat in non-conflict zones, however, is expected to increase when those restrictions ease. In conflict zones, the pandemic has more impact on legitimate authorities than on terrorists, and the threat has already increased. The most striking development of the period under review was the emergence of Africa as the region most affected by terrorism and in which the largest numbers of casualties inflicted by groups affiliated with those designated under the 1267 sanctions regime occurred. In some regions, especially in parts of West and East Africa, the affiliates of both groups displayed gains in supporters and territory under threat, as well as growing capabilities in fundraising and weapons. The reporting period was also marked by efforts of ISIL’s core focused on regrouping in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic. In Afghanistan, following the Taliban’s sudden sweep to power in August, no sign of change to the Taliban’s approach to foreign terrorist fighters was reported. Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan retains a presence in the country and remains a concern. For a more detailed analysis of the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida, I would refer Member States to the periodic reports of the Monitoring Team published on the Committee’s website. In that regard, I would like to emphasize that the analysis provided by the Monitoring Team is to a large extent based on field visits. In this reporting period, travel limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in various parts of the globe continued, and many trips previously approved by the Committee could not take place. However, since May, the Monitoring Team has managed to conduct important visits to Central Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, including Iraq, and convened the Vienna regional meeting of intelligence and security services of the Middle East and North Africa. Following months of informal virtual meetings, the Committee resumed in-person meetings in July. In total, in 2021 the Committee held three virtual informal informals and five in-person meetings, including a joint special meeting on terrorism financing threats and trends pursuant to resolution 2462 (2019), organized together with the Counter-Terrorism Committee. The Committee, in partnership with the Secretariat, continues to dedicate significant efforts to making sure that its sanctions list is accurate and promptly updated, as required. In total, there are currently 260 individuals and 89 entities on the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida sanctions list. Since the beginning of the year, the Committee has agreed to add two individuals to its sanctions list and approved amendments to the existing entries of nine individuals. The Committee also approved the removal of three individuals from the list following a review by the Ombudsperson. Currently, four requests for delisting are pending with the Office of the Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson, Mr. Daniel Kipfer Fasciati, resigned and will leave the office by the end of the year. I hope that his replacement will be appointed shortly and will be able to assume her or his duties to ensure continuity. The Committee has recently concluded the 2020 annual review. The names under review included those lacking identifiers necessary to ensure effective implementation of the measures imposed upon them. Individuals who are reportedly deceased, groups, undertakings and entities that are reported or confirmed to have ceased to exist and any other names on the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida sanctions list that have not been reviewed in three or more years. The responsiveness of Member States remains crucial for the successful conduct of these reviews. In that connection, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Member States that have actively participated in the review process by providing updated information. The evolving threat that ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and their affiliates pose to international peace and security requires timely action from Committee members and from the broader United Nations membership. Ensuring the effectiveness of the 1267 sanctions regime remains a shared undertaking. I encourage Member States to actively contribute to keeping the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida sanctions list updated and relevant and to deploy efforts to fully implement the sanctions measures against listed individuals and entities within their jurisdiction. I also urge those Member States that have not done so to submit the implementation reports mandated under the relevant Security Council resolutions. I would like to thank all Member States for their cooperation with the Committee, its Monitoring Team, and Mr. Daniel Kipfer Fasciati and the Office of the Ombudsperson.

I thank Ambassador Heimerback for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Cherif, on behalf of the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001).

On behalf of the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, I have the honour to brief the Council on key aspects of the work of the Committee, supported by the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). The past year saw continued evolution in global terrorism threats and challenges. CTED’s updated global survey of the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant resolutions by Member States and the global survey of the implementation of resolution 1624 (2005) by Member States, respectively, provide a comprehensive overview of the current global situation, broken down by regional and thematic areas. The two surveys were recently issued as documents of the Council. The global threats and challenges were, of course, exacerbated by the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, with the support of CTED, the Committee has continued to engage with Member States, United Nations entities, international and regional organizations, academia and civil society organizations in order to assist Member States to address those threats and challenges in accordance with the relevant Council resolutions on terrorism. In doing so, the Committee has focused on four key areas. First, the Committee assesses the implementation efforts of Member States. Despite the continued challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee has been able to maintain business continuity, in accordance with its updated assessment visit framework document and procedures. Acting on the Committee’s behalf, CTED has conducted the virtual components of 13 hybrid assessment visits this year, bringing the total number of visits conducted since 2005 to 181 and the total number of visited States to 117. The visits have continued to provide an effective vehicle for direct and constructive engagement and dialogue between the Committee, CTED and Member States and remain a critical component of the Committee’s assessment process. Moreover, Member States continue to indicate that they benefit from the visits, which enable them to keep the Committee informed about their implementation progress and challenges. CTED has completed the desk review and assessment of Member States’ implementation progress, thus enabling the Committee and CTED to gain a better understanding of each individual country profile. The Committee also recently launched its enhanced assessment and stock-taking tool, the electronic detailed implementation survey, as well as the revised overview of implementation assessment. These tools are designed to ensure continued thoroughness, consistency, transparency and even-handedness in desk review and stock-taking and will help produce quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform the relevant policy decisions of the Committee and the Council. In that regard, the Committee and CTED and the other Security Council subsidiary bodies and their expert groups have continued to work closely together in accordance with their respective mandates. Secondly, the Committee is working to facilitate the delivery of technical assistance to States in need. In that regard, the Committee and CTED have notably maintained their close partnership and dialogue with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). The Committee receives briefings from UNOCT twice a year and UNOCT observers attend CTED’s briefings to the Committee on country- assessment visits. High-priority technical assistance needs identified during the Committee’s assessment visits, as well as a number of country-visit reports, are posted on the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Coordination Compact portal for access by United Nations implementing partners. CTED, serving as Chair, Co-Chair or Vice-Chair of several Working Groups of the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, has continued to work closely with UNOCT and other United Nations entities in order to ensure a targeted impact on the ground. Thirdly, the Committee promotes the implementation efforts of Member States in an ongoing manner. In that regard, the policy papers and guidelines developed by the Committee and CTED, including the 2015 Madrid Guiding Principles on stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters (FTF), its 2018 addendum on FTF returnees and relocators and the technical guide to the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant resolutions, have continued to serve as useful reference tools to assist States in their implementation of the relevant Council resolutions, which call on States to take measures in an increasingly broad range of areas. Over the past year and as of 19 November, the Committee held six open and closed briefings on regional and thematic topics in order to address the interests and concerns of Member States on counter- terrorism CTED’s analytic products, which are informed by its close cooperation with the member entities of its global research network. Those briefings have helped raise the awareness of the Council, the Committee and Member States concerning emerging terrorism trends and threats. The Committee has also continued to address the human rights and gender aspects of counter- terrorism and countering violent extremism and to remind Member States of the need to ensure that any measures taken to counter terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. Further, the Committee has continued to strengthen its engagement with parliamentarians, civil society organizations, the private sector and academia within the framework of its various activities and events. Fourthly, over the past year, the Committee commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the Council’s adoption of resolution 1373 (2001) and the establishment of the Committee. The Tunisian presidency of the Council launched the process in January with a ministerial debate (see S/2021/48) and the adoption of a presidential statement (S/PRST/2021/1). The Committee held a special meeting on the topic on 4 November, at which an outcome document was adopted that reaffirms the commitment of the Counter- Terrorism Committee to address terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, to work with Member States and other interlocutors and players and to achieve impactful deliverables and results in the effective implementation of the relevant Council resolutions. As the Council is aware, the Committee is currently considering the renewal of CTED’s mandate within the framework of the Council’s review pursuant to resolution 2395 (2017). In that regard, I wish to express my thanks to the CTED Executive Director, Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, for her leadership. I also thank her team as well as the Committee’s Secretary for the support provided to the Chair and to the Committee over the past years. I wish to also convey my deep appreciation to the members of the Committee for their constructive engagement, which enabled us to efficiently lead the work of the Committee in full unity, despite the challenging circumstances imposed by the pandemic. Finally, I wish to thank my team for its constant efforts to manage the day-to-day work of the Chair’s Office over the past two years.

I thank Mr. Cherif for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador de la Fuente Ramírez.

On behalf of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), I am honoured to report on progress made since our last joint briefing, held in November 2020 (see S/2020/1143). We fully endorse the joint statement delivered on behalf of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, as well as the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). While the mandate of the 1540 Committee differs from the other two Committees, there are important areas of complementarity. Resolution 1540 (2004) is a vital component of the global non-proliferation architecture to prevent non-State actors, including those identified by the Security Council and referred to in resolution 1540 (2004), from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction. The devastating and potentially catastrophic consequences that could arise from the use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons by such actors remain a matter of serious concern to the international community. Furthermore, the fact that such actors are ready to use violence in various parts of the world also remains a serious concern. States have made significant progress towards the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Nevertheless, as demonstrated by the updated Committee’s matrices, some gaps remain. As recognized in resolution 2325 (2016), the full and effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) is a long-term task. Resolution 2325 (2016) also reiterates the need to enhance cooperation among the three Committees. The Committee began to conduct a comprehensive review in 2019 on the status of implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Owing to the disruption caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic to the work of the Committee, a number of planned activities, including open consultations, had to be postponed. While the 1540 Committee regards the successful completion of the comprehensive review as a high priority, the scheduling of the activities related to the comprehensive review has been delayed due to the ongoing pandemic-related restrictions at Headquarters. The Committee continues to be in contact with the Secretariat and is considering how best to organize the pending activities. The Committee held three in-person meetings during 2021. Furthermore, the Committee continued to conduct activities to promote the full and effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and to assist States, upon request, in strengthening national capacity. The Committee has to date participated in 19 outreach events organized by States and international, regional and international organizations and relevant civil society actors. To date 184 countries have submitted initial reports to the Committee with information on the measures they have taken, or plan to take, to comply with their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004). The effectiveness of the practical steps taken by States at the national level to implement the resolution is important. One of the measures States can consider in that regard is to develop voluntary national implementation action plans, as encouraged by paragraph 5 of resolution 2325 (2016). The plans help to identify actions to close any gaps and vulnerabilities in regulations and national control frameworks, foster inter-agency cooperation and identify areas where assistance might be required. The total number of States that have submitted such plans to the Committee since 2007 now stands at 35. The Committee plays an important role in facilitating assistance to Member States to fulfil their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004), by matching assistance requests from States with offers of assistance from States or from international, regional or subregional organizations. States have submitted three new requests for assistance to the Committee in 2021, as compared to five in 2020. The Committee received assistance requests from Botswana, Sierra Leone and Tajikistan. In addition to assistance provided by States and international, regional and subregional organizations, the Committee will continue to undertake visits to States, at their invitation, to discuss national reporting, voluntary national implementation action plans, Committee matrices and assistance on implementation measures. The Committee continues to use its website for outreach to the public. The Committee will continue to enhance information sharing, coordination on country visits, technical assistance and other issues of relevance to the 1540 Committee, the 1267 Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee, as appropriate, and will continue to brief the Security Council jointly with these two Committees accordingly every year. In conclusion, I would like to underline that a spirit of cooperation and dialogue with Member States continues to be the basis for the 1540 Committee’s activities.

I thank Ambassador De la Fuente Ramírez for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I thank our colleagues for their briefings today. The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities; the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism; and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) play important and complementary roles in assessing and countering terrorist threats and terrorist activities, and in stopping support for terrorism in general. Over the past year, the global terrorist threat evolved, with increased attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), its affiliates and its supporters. ISIL branches and affiliates have expanded their influence from Iraq and Syria to now reaching across the globe. Yet, despite this increase in attacks and influence, we are disappointed that, since the beginning of the year, the 1267 Committee has designated only two individuals. It is important that the Committee take action to designate ISIL affiliates to keep them from taking up the mantle of a diminished ISIL core. With that in mind, we hope the hold placed on our nominations of Jund Al-Khilafa-Tunisia and its leader, introduced with the support of our Tunisian colleagues, will be lifted soon. The work of the 1267 Committee relies on that of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which takes stock of the threat posed by ISIL and Al-Qaida. We thank the team for its reports. On the 1373 Committee, the upcoming renewal of the Council’s mandate for the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) will further CTED’s role as a key platform for discussions on current and emerging terror threats. We continue to watch closely the untenable situation of approximately 10,000 suspected foreign terrorist fighters and their associated family members who are in displacement camps or detention facilities in Syria and Iraq, without adequate humanitarian assistance or human rights protections. We call on all Member States to repatriate and, as appropriate, investigate, prosecute, rehabilitate and reintegrate their nationals, and to support relevant efforts in that regard, including in the Office of Counter- Terrorism. Another growing threat is racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism, or REMVE. The United States Government uses the term “REMVE” to encompass the potentially unlawful use or threat of force or violence in furtherance of ideological agendas derived from bias, often related to race or ethnicity, held by the actor against others or a given population group. In the Human Rights Council in February, Secretary-General Guterres noted that white supremacy movements, which are a subset of REMVE, are becoming a transnational threat. We have even seen some United States-based domestic terrorists attempt to establish links with like-minded foreign individuals and organizations, which highlights the need for further cooperation among our Governments to identify and put an end to that threat. Areas of cooperation among the 1267, 1373 and 1540 Committees are explicitly encouraged by the Council to advance our broader counter-terrorism efforts. In particular, resolutions 1810 (2008), 1977 (2011) and 2325 (2016) reiterate the need to increase ongoing cooperation between the 1540 Committee and other subsidiary bodies, including through enhanced information-sharing, coordination on visits to countries, within their respective mandates, technical assistance and other issues of relevance to all three Committees. The 1540 Committee is especially important in that regard since it requires States not just to prevent terrorists from acquiring assets related to weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), but also to prevent non-State actors, such as private companies and individuals who might unwittingly or otherwise enable terrorist acquisition, from doing so. During the upcoming 1540 Committee comprehensive review and mandate renewal, the United States will prioritize the full implementation of States’ obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) by improving the functionality and credibility of the Committee, empowering its Group of Experts and enhancing its support to assistance- and outreach-related activities. The upcoming 1540 Committee mandate renewal also provides an opportunity to increase areas of coordination among the three Committees. In particular, we seek to improve the capacity of the 1540 Committee to assist States in responding to the rapid advances in science that would enable non-State actors to acquire, more easily and more rapidly, related emerging technologies for WMD-related purposes. This regular meeting and sharing of information regarding current and emerging non-State proliferation threat trends among the 1267, 1373, and 1540 Committees is extraordinarily important in combating terrorism, including potential terrorist access to WMDs, across the globe. The United States will continue to work closely with our partners on the Council and in the larger United Nations membership to combat and end terrorism in all its forms.

I welcome the briefings by the Chairs of the three subsidiary bodies and commend them for their excellent leadership. Kenya takes notes of the challenges the Committees have faced throughout the year due to the pandemic and welcomes the measures taken to mitigate its impact to ensure the implementation of the respective mandates. Terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction continue to present a grave threat to international peace and security. We welcome the joint briefings by the three Committees and their acknowledgement of the interlinkages of those threats. We must remain ever-vigilant of the threat of non-State actors acquiring materials that could enable the manufacture of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or their means of delivery. In order to prevent non-State actors, including terrorists, from acquiring such weapons or their means of delivery, it is critical that all States implement their commitments. That includes delivering capacity-building and other support to assist States that need it for implementation. Kenya urges all States to do their utmost to attack the criminal economies and activities that enable terrorist financing. We welcome the successful production of mandated reports of the Secretary-General by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities, done in collaboration with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate. Even as we acknowledge the good work being done by the 1267 Committee, we urge the Council to act to make this and other sanctions regimes fit for purpose. They must be equal to the threat of international peace and security, and they must be predictably consistent. Terrorism remains a growing threat in more countries today than was the case two decades ago. The fact that there are terrorist groups, such as Al-Shabaab, that remain unlisted, even as they wreak mayhem as Al-Qaida affiliates, raises important questions about the continued relevance of the counter-terrorism architecture built by the Council. We acknowledge the concerns of members that certain listings may negatively impact the delivery of humanitarian aid. We do not think counter-terrorism and humanitarian aid are in opposition. If anything, we believe that terrorism remains one of the leading causes of humanitarian emergencies. Left unchallenged by the Council, it may lead to extreme State fragility, and even failure, with catastrophic humanitarian consequences. In conclusion, Kenya is committed to supporting all efforts that fulfil our collective commitments to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as the non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.

International terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continue to pose a serious threat to international peace and security. Since the previous joint briefing (see S/2020/1143), the threats posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have unceasingly evolved, despite the coronavirus disease pandemic. We are concerned about the increased presence of terrorists in the African region, given the existing violence, fragilities and conflicts in the region. The risks of terrorists developing, acquiring, using or trafficking in weapons of mass destruction threaten to cause unprecedented consequences. In that context, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities; the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism; and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) are among the most important tools available to the Security Council in countering terrorism and proliferation. I take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Trine Heimerback of Norway, Mr. Cherif of Tunisia and Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez of Mexico for their exemplary work in their respective Committees. I hail the efforts of the three Committees and their expert bodies in adapting, innovating and maintaining business continuity during the pandemic, including through virtual and in-person meetings, hybrid visits, dialogue and outreach activities with Member States and relevant partners, research and analysis of emerging trends and development of implementation guidelines and innovative monitoring tools, among others. In particular, we acknowledge the contribution of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate to monitoring and delivering technical assistance to Member States in the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) and other resolutions. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee has managed to conduct visits and engage with Member States to provide a clearer, updated picture of the situation on the ground. We would like to pay tribute to the Ombudsperson, Mr. Daniel Kipfer Fasciati, for his dedication and contribution to the work of the 1267 Committee and stress the importance of ensuring the continuity of that work. We also commend the efforts of the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts in coordinating with the 1267 and 1373 Committees and international and technical organizations to support Member States in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). I take this occasion to share the following points. First, there are clear links between the work of the three Committees and the frameworks under the relevant resolutions on combatting terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It is therefore crucial to further strengthen close cooperation and coordination among the Committees so as to effectively respond to threats of terrorism and to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the hands of non-State actors, including terrorist groups. Secondly, as a developing country with limited resources, we attach high importance to the provision to Member States, upon their request, with technical assistance and capacity-building in the full and effective implementation of Council resolutions on counter- terrorism and non-proliferation. We welcome regional and international cooperation through the sharing of intelligence and analyses about terrorists’ movement, imminent attacks, recruitment and financing, as well as emerging trends and developments. We believe that the 1540 Committee should continue its awareness-raising activities to ensure that all States are aware of their obligations under the relevant resolutions and support Member States in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Thirdly, the Security Council will soon start negotiating the renewal of the mandates of the 1267 and 1373 Committees. It is critical to maintain the Council’s effectiveness, efficiency, unity and solidarity in combating the scourge of terrorism, much how we have secured over the past 20 years. My delegation is committed to participating constructively in that process. Fourthly, given the vital role of resolution 1540 (2004) in the global non-proliferation architecture, we regret that the comprehensive review on the status of its implementation has been delayed due to the pandemic. We look forward to a successful review. As Viet Nam prepares to conclude its two-year term on the Security Council, I take this opportunity to reiterate our steadfast commitment to fully implementing the Council resolutions on counter- terrorism and non-proliferation. We stand ready, as always, to support and work closely together with United Nations bodies and all relevant partners in advancing our common fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.

China thanks the Chairs of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities; the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter- terrorism; and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for their briefings. We appreciate the efforts and achievements of the three Committees. Terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction seriously threaten international peace and security, and the current international counter- terrorism situation remains complex and grim. The ongoing and evolving coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a complex impact on international counter-terrorism efforts, both by heightening terrorist threats in the medium- and long-term and amplifying the risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The international community should take the situation seriously and respond effectively with an integrated approach. The 1267 Committee is an important counter- terrorism and sanctions mechanism of the United Nations and the Security Council. Over the past year, the Committee has continued to carry out activities within its mandate and enhanced its cooperation with its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team and the Ombudsperson, playing an important role in assessing terrorist threats and strengthening sanctions. China supports the Committee’s efforts to strengthen its communication with the countries concerned and deepen its cooperation with regional and subregional counter-terrorism mechanisms. We hope that, with regard to such issues as listing, exemptions and delisting, the Committee will uphold the principles of objectivity, impartiality and professionalism, based on solid evidence and broad consensus, so as to maintain the authority and effectiveness of the sanctions regime. China commends the Committee’s Monitoring Team for continuing, during the pandemic, to discharge its mandate to closely follow the global terrorism situation and draft reports, all of which informs the work of the Committee. As noted in the most recent report of the Monitoring Team (S/2021/655), terrorist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Al-Qaida and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement remain active and are attempting to take advantage of the instability in Afghanistan. The Committee should therefore remain vigilant in responding to those developments. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC). Over the past 20 years, the CTC and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) have assisted Member States in implementing the counter-terrorism resolutions of the Council and taken effective measures in combating terrorist financing, facilitating information-sharing and promoting judicial cooperation, among others. Those efforts merit our recognition. China supports the continued efforts of the CTC and CTED in improving counter-terrorism assessment reports, organizing meetings and events and conducting country visits in order to promote the full implementation of the Council’s counter-terrorism resolutions and the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy. We hope that the CTC will focus on helping developing countries, especially African States, and countries on the counter-terrorism frontlines to build up their counter-terrorism capacity and make integrated use of political, economic and judicial means to eliminate the root causes of terrorism. The 1540 Committee is an important part of the international non-proliferation regime. China supports the Committee’s work in comprehensively promoting the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), in strict accordance with its mandate. We hope that the Committee will advance its comprehensive review of that resolution in a substantive manner as soon as possible, conduct an objective assessment of Member States’ implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), and produce feasible recommendations for addressing risks and challenges in the field of non-proliferation. In that process, it is important to maintain a Member States- driven approach, undertake a balanced consideration of the international obligations of States and their national conditions and ensure that the effective voice of all countries, especially developing countries, is heard. This year, the First Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.1/76/L.55 entitled “Promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses in the context of international security”, which calls for measures to achieve a balance between non-proliferation and peaceful uses. The 1540 Committee should also attach importance to that issue and, in particular, the need to effectively address proliferation risks and prevent non-State actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, as well as the need to promote international cooperation and defend the right of all countries, especially developing countries, to peaceful uses. The 1267 Committee, the CTC and the 1540 Committee have different portfolios; however, those bodies also have similarities that warrant closer coordination and cooperation in the gathering, exchange and sharing of information. We hope that, going forward, the three Committees and their respective groups of experts will continue to strengthen communication and coordination among each other, seek continuous improvement and build on their mutual complementarities so as to jointly promote international counter-terrorism cooperation. This month, the Council will discuss the renewal of the mandate of the 1267 Committee’s Monitoring Team, its Ombudsperson and the CTED. China will remain engaged with other members of the Council and actively participate in consultations on the draft resolution, with a view to making the appropriate arrangements for the extension of those mandates. China is committed to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and firmly opposes the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. We will continue to work with the international community to actively promote international counter- terrorism cooperation, improve the international non-proliferation regime and jointly maintain world peace and stability.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the Chairs of the three subsidiary bodies of the Security Council for their briefings and commend their efforts over the past year. As we heard in the Chairs’ briefings, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remain a serious threat to international peace and security, despite our ongoing efforts. In recent years, we have witnessed the ability of terrorist groups, in particular the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Qaida, to adapt despite their military defeat and continue to exploit crises, conflicts, instability and the fragility of individuals and societies in order to spread their terrorist discourse and restore their operational capacities. In that context, the coronavirus disease pandemic is one of the crises that terrorist groups have exploited, especially in conflict zones, and that continues to contribute to prolonging those conflicts and making them deadlier. That means that we share a collective responsibility to combat terrorism through a comprehensive approach that goes beyond the limited security-driven approach and addresses the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, with consideration for settling disputes peacefully, promoting human rights and achieving development. There is no doubt that if non-State entities, including terrorist organizations, were to acquire weapons of mass destruction, especially in the light of scientific and technological developments, it would pose an extremely serious threat. In that regard, I would be remiss if I did not also highlight the briefing, including findings from an initial case brief, delivered to the Council this morning by the Head of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD) (see S/PV.8914). The case brief findings, to be presented in the next UNITAD briefing, confirm, based on clear and tangible evidence, that ISIL seeks to develop chemical and biological weapons and to use them systematically, possibly even against civilians. Combating terrorism has always been a key priority for Tunisia domestically and internationally, particularly in the context of our membership in the Security Council and its relevant subcommittees, including our chairpersonship of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism. Tunisia has also strengthened its international commitments and their implementation, including by submitting a supplementary report on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and designating national focal points. In that context, we stress the need to pursue our international efforts, especially by conducting a comprehensive review of the status of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and renewing the mandate of the Committee, as the continued lack of any tangible progress is likely to weaken the non-proliferation regime. Cooperation among panels and groups of experts is important for consolidating approaches from all United Nations bodies. We reiterate the need for the international community, especially the Security Council and its subcommittees, to advance as shared priorities combating terrorism and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In that regard, we urge the Council to swiftly begin its negotiations on the renewal of the mandates of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups undertakings and entities. That action is important because it constitutes an opportunity to adapt our mechanisms in order to keep pace with new and emerging trends and respond to them in accordance with our international commitments. That requires spending the amount of time necessary to ensure transparent and inclusive discussions for all Member States, on an equal footing, with the aim of preserving the Council’s unity and solidarity in combating terrorism and diverting it from contentious issues that would prevent it from renewing those mandates.

Allow me to first thank each of the Chairs of the three subsidiary bodies for their excellent briefings this afternoon and express Ireland’s thanks for their excellent stewardship of their respective Committees over the past year. The briefings today underline the fact that terrorism remains a grave threat to international peace and security. Recently, we have seen lethal attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan in Afghanistan, as well reports of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on the enduring links between the Taliban and Al-Qaida. Affiliates of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have continued to expand across Africa, and in Western nations we are experiencing the creeping growth of violent right-wing extremism. In such a varied context, the risk that non-State actors, including terrorists, may acquire, develop, traffic in or use nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery remains deeply concerning and poses potentially catastrophic consequences. Those fears have only been reinforced following this morning’s briefing by the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD) (see S/PV.8914), in which the Security Council received an update on an investigation into ISIL’s chemical weapons programme. For Ireland, those developments reaffirm our belief that counter-terrorism responses cannot be solely security-driven. Ireland has consistently called for a comprehensive international response to terrorism that tackles both cause and effect, in full compliance with international law. Effective counter-terrorism responses demand whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approaches, which are grounded in respect for human rights, inclusive of civil society and gender-responsive. Efforts to combat terrorism should never serve as a pretext for human rights violations or for the shrinking of the humanitarian space. The targeting and criminalization of civil society, humanitarian workers and human rights defenders in the name of counter-terrorism are never legitimate. Furthermore, Ireland believes that we must work harder to ensure that counter-terrorism measures do not impede humanitarian action. The Security Council has a crucial role to play in that regard, including by providing for appropriate exemptions and safeguards in counter- terrorism and sanctions regimes, designed to preserve the humanitarian space. The work of each Committee addresses key elements of combatting terrorism at the national, regional and international levels. Those elements range from ensuring that non-State actors, including terrorists, are prevented from acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction to addressing terrorist financing, developing effective criminal justice responses to terrorism, and respecting international law while countering terrorism. Ireland would like to underscore the importance of maintaining and expanding cooperation among all three Committees, as well as their expert groups. Sharing relevant information and discussing issues relating to the threat of terrorism and the risk that non-State actors may acquire, develop, traffic in or use weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is vital if each Committee is to deliver effectively on its respective mandate. That includes enabling the participation in relevant Counter- Terrorism Executive Directorate country visits of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team pursuant to Security Council resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities, and the Group of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). In conclusion, my delegation looks forward to working constructively with all Council members over the coming months to advance the principles and priorities that I have outlined and, in particular, as we turn our attention to the renewal of several important counter-terrorism and sanctions mandates.

We welcome the briefings on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities; the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism; and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We thank the Ambassador of Norway, Chair of the 1267 Committee, for her able leadership and readiness to approach issues constructively. We commend the work of the Committee. We believe it is one of the most effective Security Council mechanisms in the area of counter-terrorism. We deem it of primary importance to effectively implement the Security Council resolutions related to the counter-terrorism sanctions regime concerning ISIL and Al-Qaida. The Afghan wing of ISIL is one of the main factors destabilizing the situation in Afghanistan. An additional danger is posed by their expanding ideological propaganda and recruitment activity with the smart use of information and communication technologies. We view the ongoing presence in the country of the group as a threat to States of Central Asia. The increase in the number of terrorist attacks using suicide bombs indicates that the group has the manpower available. We underscore that we need to keep the focus on the problem of foreign terrorist fighters who have been added to anti-terrorist sanctions lists so that to prevent and curb their criminal activity. We support the effective work of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. Its reports are an important part of the work of the Committee. We urge Member States to cooperate closely with its experts. We trust that the reports of the Monitoring Team will be as objective as possible and that they will rely solely on credible sources of information. Country visits by the Monitoring Group constitute another important aspect. We therefore expect that priority will be given to countries in a state of armed confrontation against international terrorism, as well as countries that are severely impacted by the phenomenon of terrorism. We would also like to express our gratitude to the Tunisian chairmanship of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) for their effective leadership of that body. We understand how difficult that was during the coronavirus disease pandemic. The Committee successfully adapted and continued to carry out its important role of assessing the implementation by States of the relevant Security Council resolutions. We thank the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) for preparing the global surveys on the implementation of resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). In the light of the pandemic-related restrictions, temporary procedures are in place for conducting hybrid visits. That means that some meetings are conducted virtually. We trust that there will be a gradual return to the Committee’s normal way of working. We welcome the resumption of CTC in-person meetings. We hope there will be more active involvement by CTED in addressing organizational matters. It would be good in future to avoid frequent postponements of meetings and documents being sent for approval by members of the Committee at the last minute. A good example in terms of organization was the joint special meeting of the CTC and the ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee on terrorism financing that took place on 18 November. We note the high-quality expert support to the Committee provided by CTED, which continues to play a significant role in tackling varied challenges facing the Committee and the entire Security Council in countering terrorism. It is important that CTED maintain its status as a political mission and its exclusive remit to assess efforts of States to combat terrorism. I would like to thank Ms. Michèle Coninsx for her fruitful work as the Executive Director. We are also grateful to the Mexican chairmanship of the 1540 Committee. We are pleased with the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), which remains the only universal international instrument in the area of non-proliferation. Resolution 1540 (2004) obliges all countries to create effective national control systems to prevent weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and associated material from falling into the hands of non-State entities. Achieving that and implementing the resolution fully by all States is our shared aim. The 1540 Committee should play the role of coordinator of global efforts in that area. A priority of its work continues to be to provide technical assistance to countries in implementing the provisions of the resolution when dealing with the relevant requests. We deem it extremely important that resolution 1540 (2004) remain an instrument of cooperation in the area of non-proliferation. Given the gradual return in the United Nations to working in person, we trust that there will be a significant uptick in the Committee’s work in this area, and in particular with respect to soon carrying out the comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004), which was due to take place in 2020.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes today’s joint briefing of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities; the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism; and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). We thank the Chairs of the three Committees for their invaluable and informative briefings. We also especially thank Ambassador Ladeb and his team for their hard work and dedication to the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee over the past two years. The current international security landscape is dominated by transnational challenges, including the scourge of terrorism and the nuclear threat. To successfully confront terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, counter-terrorism efforts must be conducted on a multilateral basis, in partnership with international, regional and subregional organizations, academia and civil society organizations. We must continue to fully utilize international policy instruments and enforcement mechanisms to keep pace with those evolving threats. Our delegation notes that, despite the continued challenges posed by the coronavirus disease pandemic, the three Committees and their respective expert bodies have been able to coordinate and cooperate, in accordance with their respective mandates. To that end, we appreciate the work of the Committees under the stewardship of Mexico, Norway and Tunisia. Moreover, we encourage the Committees to enhance information-sharing through joint briefings like this and to enable their associated expert bodies to further improve their cooperation. The Counter-Terrorism Committee, supported by its Executive Directorate, plays a critical role in promoting the coordination and coherence of all United Nations counter-terrorism efforts. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes the recent launching of the Committee’s updated electronic assessment and analytics tools. We encourage the Committee to further enhance its engagement with the Office of Counter- Terrorism and other United Nations agencies to develop and promote well-informed counter-terrorism responses and to avoid the duplication of effort, and through the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate to continue its engagement with Member States to address outstanding issues of high priority, in particular the provision of technical assistance. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remains deeply concerned about the evolving threat to international peace and security posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates, particularly on the African continent. Those threats require timely action from the members of the 1267 Committee and from the broader United Nations membership. Moreover, we encourage Member States to take action to fully implement the sanctions measures against listed individuals and entities within their respective jurisdictions. We are also concerned about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including in the hands of terrorists. We continue to encourage all Member States to cooperate and engage with international, regional and subregional organizations to support the work of the Committee and its Group of Experts to implement resolution 1540 (2004) effectively. In conclusion, we call upon all Member States to redouble their efforts to combat terrorism and the proliferation of weapons at home and abroad by analysing the threat, sharing that information with partners and integrating all instruments of national power to ensure unity of effort.

I thank my colleagues for their briefings here today. Terrorism is a global phenomenon. Therefore, a multilateral strategy is key to a successful response. The United Nations plays an indispensable role in that regard as the only global forum to strengthen, coordinate, monitor and evaluate our collective efforts. Each component of the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture fulfils a distinct yet complementary function. We must draw upon each entity’s comparative advantage while creating synergies through their cooperation and partnership. That is true also of the Council’s subsidiary bodies. The Counter-Terrorism Committee plays a crucial role in implementation. Its mandate to monitor Member State compliance with the Council’s counter-terrorism resolutions is key to ensuring the fulfilment of our collective obligations. The Committee receives valuable support from the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate in that work, and Norway looks forward to the upcoming renewal of the Directorate’s mandate to further strengthen its efficiency and transparency. Sanctions are an important tool at the disposal of the Council to put its decisions into effect. In the context of the 1267 regime, they are also crucial for depriving affiliates of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Al-Qaida of the means to plan and carry out attacks. To ensure both the efficiency and legitimacy of sanctions measures, it is imperative that they be applied in accordance with due process. In that regard, Norway strongly supports the Office of the Ombudsperson in that regard. The prospect of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their use by non-State actors is a real and continuous concern. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) is a vital component of the global non-proliferation architecture, and the work of the Committee is as important as ever. Norway looks forward to engaging constructively with the Chair and other Committee members for the comprehensive review. We are eager to ensure that the review is conducted in an appropriate and meaningful way. This process is key to ensuring that the 1540 Committee continues to fulfil its obligations and takes stock of progress moving forward. In order to be both effective and sustainable, the work of these three Committees, and the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture as a whole, should be grounded in a holistic perspective — one that recognizes prevention as the most effective counter-terrorism strategy; one that addresses the underlying drivers of radicalization; one that employs a gender-responsive perspective; and one that protects and promotes human rights as an integral part of all successful counter- terrorism measures. In conclusion, Norway values this opportunity to take stock of the work of and cooperation among these three Committees, which form the backbone of the Council’s counter-terrorism efforts. We support efforts towards a more coordinated, coherent and effective counter-terrorism architecture, delivering as one United Nations.

At the outset, I wish to thank the delegations of Norway and Tunisia for their work at the head of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, respectively. The pandemic certainly continues to affect the work of the subsidiary organs of the Security Council. However, it has diminished neither the intentions nor the activities of non-State actors, especially terrorist groups, aimed at perpetrating attacks, while Governments fight to contain the coronavirus disease. Regarding the 1373 Committee, we recognize the progress that has been made in resuming visits to States through hybrid formats, which has allowed the Committee’s work to continue. The Office of the Ombudsperson in the case of the 1267 Committee deserves the same recognition for the continuity of its work. I take this opportunity to thank Ombudsperson Daniel Kipfer Fasciati for his work. We hope that there will be a smooth transition for his replacement, given the great relevance of the role of that Office. We also emphasize the importance of the fact that this month the Council has before it the renewal of the mandates of both the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the 1267 Committee. That will offer an important window of opportunity to make structural improvements to both bodies. We hope to have the draft resolutions as soon as possible to allow time for their careful consideration. As regards the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), and as other delegations have pointed out, we must draw attention to the fact that the threat of non-State actors acquiring weapons of mass destruction has not diminished. The comprehensive review of resolution 1540 (2004) will provide an opportunity for Committee members and the rest of the membership to make proposals on how to strengthen the Committee to meet current challenges and make it more efficient.

I join others in thanking the Chairs of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, for their briefings. At the outset, I would like in particular to commend Tunisia’s action at the head of the Counter- Terrorism Committee. Over the past two years the Tunisian chairmanship has succeeded in carrying out the programme of work despite the well-known sanitary emergency, while also giving rise to several major reflections on the future of the counter-terrorism architecture. I am referring in particular to the anniversary meeting concerning resolution 1373 (2001) and the meeting on the implementation of resolution 2462 (2019), which was jointly prepared by the 1267 and Counter-Terrorism Committees. In that regard, I reiterate the importance of coordination among the Committees. The Counter- Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED), whose mandate we will renew at the end of the month, as my Mexican colleague has just pointed out, makes it possible to assess the implementation of Council resolutions by States. That work must be done in concert with the work of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. Beyond the regular schedule of visits, the Directorate must thus be able to respond to the evolution of this threat as assessed by the Monitoring Team, which means going where it will be most useful. I am thinking in particular now of the terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan and across the world from Al-Qaida affiliates that feel empowered by the victory of the Taliban. CTED must be able to help the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan to assess their capacities to respond to the threat and recommend the areas for necessary improvement within the framework of its current mandate and in line with the resolutions adopted by the Security Council. All the tools are at our disposal, and we must use them as efficiently as possible. That is the case with the 1267 sanctions regime, which we will be renewing this month as well. Sanctions are an essential tool of the Security Council. These sanctions have proven their effectiveness and should be maintained. In so doing, we must ensure that the procedures respect human rights. As we consider the mandate of the 1267 Committee Ombudsperson, I would like to reiterate France’s commitment to this mandate. Finally, we wise to reiterate that resolution 1540 (2004) remains a pillar of the non-proliferation architecture and of our collective security system. There is a high risk of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems falling into the hands of terrorists. The channels and financing of proliferation are expanding. The role of the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts, to which we must give increased autonomy, is essential. France fully supports the comprehensive review process for resolution 1540 (2004) currently under way. We hope that the review can be completed quickly and in a constructive spirit.

Estonia thanks the Ambassadors of Tunisia, Norway and Mexico for their briefings and for their excellent chairmanship of their respective Committees. Their leadership has been crucial in guiding the work of the Committees through the difficulties posed by the pandemic, as well as by austerity measures. We would also like to commend the good and critically important work of the expert groups: the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Group of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). Together, the Committees and their expert bodies remain essential components of counter- terrorism and non-proliferation efforts. The global terrorist threats persist and evolve and continue to spread violence. The robust implementation of sanctions measures is one of the key elements in combating terrorism. In that regard, standards of due process and human rights need to be respected for sanctions regimes to remain effective. We reiterate our firm position that all counter-terrorism measures must be carried out in accordance with international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Counter-terrorism measures cannot be used as a justification for human rights violations. Estonia reiterates its full support for the work of the Ombudsperson and regrets the difficult decision he made to resign. Estonia hopes that a new Ombudsperson will be appointed shortly and that the status and conditions of service of his Office will be reviewed to guarantee its independence and full functioning. We welcome that the Council has recognized the different impacts of terrorism on the human rights of women and girls and their frequent targeting by terrorist groups. That includes sexual and gender-based violence used as a tactic of terrorism. The recognition of the importance of women’s leadership and participation is key to developing counter-terrorism strategies. The past year saw the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Council’s adoption of resolution 1373 (2001) and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter- terrorism. The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) held a special meeting and adopted an outcome document wherein all the Security Council members reaffirmed their commitment to addressing terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and to work in an open manner with all stakeholders to achieve effective results in implementing Security Council resolutions. As we are in the process of negotiating the renewal of the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, we hope that we can keep that commitment and consensus in mind. We appreciate that, despite the roadblocks set by the coronavirus disease pandemic, the CTC has managed to find consensus on the working methods pro tempore, which enable it to undertake hybrid visits to Member States. As of today, there have been 13 virtual visits in total, including to Estonia. From our point of view, virtual dialogues could be here to stay, and we encourage keeping them in the CTC’s toolbox in post-pandemic times as well. They enable the Security Council and the Committee to be more flexible and efficient in their work. Resolution 1540 (2004) remains one of the key instruments in addressing the emerging threats from weapons of mass destruction. The use of chemical weapons in recent years in a number of different countries shows that those threats have been growing and remain acute. We fully support the 1540 Committee’s assistance and outreach efforts to ensure that States have put in place appropriate measures to prevent nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological weapons from falling into the hands of non-State actors, including terrorists. We welcome the active cooperation with regional and international organizations, the private sector and civil society that the Committee and its Group of Experts have shown. We hope that the 1540 Committee can finalize its comprehensive review soon and that, in renewing its mandate, it will also take into account the threats posed by the malicious use of new technologies. In conclusion, we welcome the Council’s efforts to enhance cooperation among the 1540 Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. Multilateral and multi-stakeholder engagement is essential in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.

I thank the Committee Chairs for their excellent briefings today. Many thanks also go to Tunisia, Mexico and Norway for the leadership they have shown in the Committees this year. Let me begin my remarks on the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). The goals of resolution 1540 (2004) are clear and unarguable. Preventing the proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons is essential work for all of us. It is therefore critical that the Committee be able to carry out its work unhindered. We must ensure that the architecture established by resolution 1540 (2004) promotes its full implementation. We have been pleased to play our role in upholding that goal through our chairing of the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. This year, we also conducted our first national risk assessment of proliferation financing, which we will use, working with the private sector, to bolster national efforts to counter proliferation financing. We would be pleased to work with partners to tackle that risk internationally and would welcome more focus on the issue in the context of the 1540 Committee. We also welcome the work of 1540 Committee on a comprehensive review of the resolution under which it operates, despite the constraints posed by the coronavirus disease pandemic. That review is a key opportunity to raise Member States’ awareness of their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004), which we urge Member States to fulfil. We extend particular thanks to the 1540 Committee Group of Experts and especially value their detailed assessment of how States are implementing that resolution. Turning to the important work of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), and resolution 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism, the United Kingdom reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms. But despite our global efforts, there remains a serious threat in many parts of the world, as we have heard. We must remain agile in responding to emerging trends such as terrorist misuse of technology and the rise of terrorism in new geographies, such as in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. We must also ensure that counter- terrorism measures comply with international human rights obligations and engage, wherever possible, with civil society partners. In that context, United Kingdom strongly supports the work of the 1267/1989/2253 Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team and of the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). In particular, we welcome the work of CTED on the interrelationship between counter-terrorism and international humanitarian law and the valuable insights of its global implementation survey. In conclusion, the continued range of threats that we face means that the work of all of these Committees remains vital. Terrorism and proliferation are global issues, and we need a united, global response to them.

I would like to begin by thanking Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, Mr. Ali Cherif and Ambassador Trine Heimerback for their briefings. The three Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004), respectively, are the pillars of the Security Council’s counter-terrorism architecture. In the past two decades, the Council has taken several measures to counter the threat of terrorism, including by adopting landmark resolutions — such as resolution 1373 (2001), 2178 (2014), 2462 (2019) and 2482 (2019) — as well as resolution 2593 (2021), during India’s presidency of the Council in August this year, to ensure that Afghan territory is not used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts. However, despite those efforts, the threat of terrorism continues unabated. The biannual reports of the Secretary-General and by the Analytical Support Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee this year continue to report the expansion of terrorist groups in several countries of Africa. Recently, that concern increased in our own neighbourhood of South Asia. India strongly condemns the attacks at Kabul, Kunduz, Kandahar, Nangarhar and in various other provinces of Afghanistan. Such acts of terrorism cannot be tolerated. Those reports also highlight misuse of new and emerging technologies, such as social media and cryptocurrencies, by terrorist groups for propaganda, recruiting cadres and raising and transferring funds. The recent global survey of the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001), adopted by the Counter- Terrorism Committee (CTC) on 4 November, also paints a mixed picture. In South Asia, for example, the 1373 global survey mentions that the overall threat level remains high, with several States having suffered terrorist attacks since the previous global survey in 2016. Terrorist groups affiliated with Al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant — such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harakat ul-Mujahidin — remain active in the subregion and have been launching cross-border terrorist attacks on India. The global survey also notes that listed terrorist entities continue to raise funds to finance terrorism through front organizations, including through the misuse of non-profit organizations through a variety of means, such as charities, donations and crowd-funding. We can no longer afford such gross neglect of international obligations by certain Member States — and they need to be held accountable for their actions. It is appalling that the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks continue to be at large to date and enjoy State hospitality. The international community must collectively call out and hold accountable such States that are clearly guilty of not just double-speak but also of aiding and supporting terrorism and wilfully providing financial assistance and safe havens. There should be zero tolerance against such selective approaches. We appreciate the role of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) in assessing and finding gaps in the implementation of the Council’s counter-terrorism resolutions by Member States and facilitating technical assistance to those that need it. We look forward to assuming the chairpersonship of the CTC next year and will contribute constructively towards the effective implementation of the mandate of the Committee. The United Nations sanctions regimes, including the one established by resolution 1267 (1999), are pivotal to the international efforts in preventing terror financing, terrorist travel and access to arms by terrorist organizations. However, the implementation of those measures remains challenging. The recent report of the Monitoring Team regarding asset freeze exemptions procedures pursuant to resolution 2560 (2020) points to the lack of such measures by Member States, partly due to deficiencies in the existing guidelines of the Committee. We hope that the upcoming mandate renewal will address those deficiencies. It is critical that all sanctions regimes established by the Council ensure due process in their working procedures and decision-making. The decision-making process and listing and delisting measures should be swift, credible, evidence-based and transparent. Besides, the Monitoring Team should examine the trans-border threat posed by Al-Qaida affiliates such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harakat ul-Mujahidin and the linkages between those organizations and other listed terror networks, objectively, and highlight them in their periodic reports. The threat of terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction is no longer in the theoretical realm, as shown by the recent report of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD). Preventing terrorists from acquiring those weapons should therefore continue to be among the key priorities of the international community. It was also reflected in the consensus of the First Committee of the General Assembly in its adoption of draft resolution A/C.1/76/L.8, put forth by India, entitled “Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction”. Let me reaffirm that my delegation accords high importance to resolution 1540 (2004) and the work of the 1540 Committee, including its ongoing review. We would like to encourage all steps towards the timely completion of the comprehensive review by the 1540 Committee. We also recognize the role of the Committee in facilitating assistance to Member States in implementing their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004). I would like to conclude by reiterating our full support to the three committees in their collective pursuit to address the threat posed by terrorism and the illegal possible proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the Niger. I would like to thank the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities; 1373 (2001), concerning counter-terrorism; and 1540 (2004), concerning the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, for their briefings. I would also like to congratulate the members of the expert groups of those three Committees for all the progress they have made in carrying out their mandates under particularly difficult working conditions over the past two years due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. My delegation is pleased with all the innovation and adaptation efforts made by the expert groups to conform to the health environment imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to ensure the continuation of their activities and the strengthening of the capacities of the Member States. The three Committees, whose briefings we just heard, constitute the most important mechanism that the United Nations has in the fight against terrorism. They provide a framework of reference and guidance for national strategies to prevent and deter the planning of any acts of terrorism on the territories of States, cut off sources of financing for terrorists, prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and bring terrorists to justice. Those Committees have clearly enabled many challenges to be met and successes achieved in the fight against terrorism. However, we also see the doggedness of terrorists who continue to massacre and kill innocent groups of people in several parts of the world, namely, in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, particularly in the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin. That therefore means, regrettably, that the results of our work seem to fall very short of the legitimate expectations placed in us by the millions of people around the world who are exposed every day to the atrocities of this scourge. At a time when we cannot reach agreement on the reasons for listing or delisting individuals or entities from the 1267 sanctions Committee, and while we have seen draft counter-terrorism texts be abandoned by their initiators because they could not satisfy or reconcile diametrically opposed points of view, terrorists nevertheless do not concern themselves with debates and formalities. Rather, they continue to carry out murderous attacks against civilian populations and even military groups. In very little time, ISIL has managed to export its atrocities to Africa despite having been defeated militarily in Syria and Iraq. The countries of the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin region have now become the epicentre of global terrorist activity. That rapid export of the terrorist threat from the Middle East to the African continent is proof enough of global ISIL’s resilience and adaptability as it continues to pursue its goal of conquering and sweeping away territory from which it aims to reconstitute its operational capacity for possible large-scale terrorist acts. It also bears mentioning that, in that process of rapid expansion, ISIL has taken advantage of the weakness of defence systems. There are several other factors that increase the vulnerability of the countries on the African continent, including poverty, famine, insecurity, lack of knowledge and youth unemployment, to name but a few. Winning the fight against terrorism will also entail the implementation of development programmes and the creation of opportunities for young people, so as to eliminate possibilities of recruiting new fighters. It cannot be said often enough: terrorists recruit from among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged segments of the population. As it has been said several times in this Chamber, the fight against terrorism requires a global approach that takes into account the social, economic and political reasons for the shift towards extremism and radicalization. Only that global approach will enable us to effectively combat ISIL, Al-Qaida and their ideologies. I would like to conclude my remarks by reaffirming my delegation’s conviction that, just as ISIL has been defeated in Iraq and Syria, it could also be defeated in the Sahel. For that to happen, however, there must be the same commitment and mobilization on the part of the international community. For its part, my country, the Niger, which will conclude its term on the Security Council in a few days, will continue to work with Council members with the same commitment and determination in fighting to eradicate the terrorist threat in Africa and everywhere else in the world. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.