S/PV.9201 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At the outset, Ambassador Trine Heimerback will make a joint statement on behalf of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 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 Trine Heimerback.

On behalf of the Chairs of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 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. Over the past year, while the coronavirus disease pandemic continued to affect the work of the Committees and the experts, especially with regard to travel, the three subsidiary bodies continued to cooperate and coordinate their work, in line with their respective mandates under the relevant Security Council resolutions, in order to ensure an effective and efficient approach to counter-terrorism and to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery by non-State actors. In February, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) held an open briefing on the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) with Member States from South and South- East Asia pursuant to resolution 2395 (2017), with the participation of experts from the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee. The open briefing also called for input from Member States from those regions so as to highlight their efforts in implementing the counter-terrorism measures mandated by the Security Council. In April, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, supported by CTED and the Monitoring Team, held a joint open briefing, entitled “ISIL in Africa: nature of threat and responses”. The briefing was attended by Member States, analysts, policymakers, civil society organizations and researchers. The discussions served as an opportunity to highlight the evolution of the threat posed by ISIL in Africa. The meeting also focused on Member States’ responses to the emerging threats, progress achieved and persistent challenges. The Monitoring Team and CTED further cooperated during an informal working lunch held for the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of eight African States on the theme of “Transitional justice and the terrorist threat in the context of the Lake Chad basin: exploring the opportunities and possible challenges of applying transitional justice approaches to address the impact of terrorism in the region”. They also participated in a workshop on terrorism in the Great Lakes region of Africa, in which CTED and the Monitoring Team explained the contours of the international counter-terrorism framework. The Chair of the CTC also attended and opened the event. CTED and the Monitoring Team also interacted during an informal working lunch held for the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of the countries of the Pacific region, aimed at discussing challenges that Member States, in particular small island developing States, face in the region. During the reporting period, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate continued to cooperate closely in the preparation of mandated reports of the Secretary-General on the global terrorist threat. Those reports emphasized that the threat posed by ISIL and its affiliates continued to rise and remained high in conflict-affected areas, with potential spillover to non-conflict areas. ISIL and its affiliates continued to exploit security gaps in order to recruit, organize and execute complex attacks, despite the group’s recent leadership losses. The reports further noted that the potential impact of global food insecurity might exacerbate existing conditions conducive to terrorism and increase the current threat posed by ISIL. Throughout the year, the Acting Executive Director of CTED, the Coordinators of the 1540 Group of Experts and the Monitoring Team held periodic trilateral consultations. Members of the three Groups of Experts also attended the 1267 Coordinator’s quarterly briefings to CTED. The Monitoring Team and CTED continued to interact with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), including its global network of FATF-style regional bodies. CTED and the Monitoring Team attended plenaries and working group meetings of the FATF, as well as the bodies for the Eurasian, Latin American and Middle East and North African regions to discuss the efforts deployed by Member States to monitor and take action against terrorist financing, in alignment with FATF recommendations, and contributed to the relevant FATF projects, including the update on ISIL/ Al-Qaida financing. In 2022, the Monitoring Team participated in CTC on-site assessment visits to Estonia, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania and Malaysia and will participate in the upcoming CTC assessment visit to Uzbekistan in late November. Those visits play a key role in evaluating the terrorist threat scenario at the national level, identifying progress, strength and legal gaps and defining tailor- made capacity-building priorities for Member States, as well as useful experience and effective practices to address new and emerging trends and challenges. On 28 and 29 October, in Mumbai, India, and New Delhi, the CTC convened a special meeting on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. Both the soft opening and the main meeting were attended at the ministerial level by member States of the CTC, including India, as well as high-ranking officials from United Nations Member States, United Nations entities, international and regional organizations, the private sector, CTED’s global research network and civil society organizations. The CTC adopted the Delhi declaration outcome document as a key output from the special meeting and will continue to both prioritize and emphasize its work on the issues of counter-terrorism in relation to new and emerging technologies, with the support of CTED and in collaboration with the Monitoring Team. The 1540 Group of Experts has continued to assist the Committee in carrying out its mandate under relevant resolutions, which, inter alia, address the threat that non-State actors may develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons for terrorist purposes; calls upon Member States to establish appropriate domestic controls over related materials; and reaffirms the need to continue to enhance ongoing cooperation with the CTC and the 1267 Committee in that regard. The Monitoring Team also joined CTED to lead awareness-raising efforts with Member States regarding the enhanced implementation of travel ban measures, including the effective usage of the consolidated list. The three Committees will continue to cooperate and coordinate their work under their respective mandates, including through joint visits at the invitation of States, to ensure an effective and efficient approach to counter-terrorism and to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery by non-State actors. The three Groups of Experts will also continue to work under the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact working groups aimed at achieving the objectives of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Furthermore, the Committees reaffirm their continued commitment to supporting Member States in those global efforts by providing guidance and direction to their Groups of Experts to strengthen their collaboration and cooperation in accordance with the requirements of relevant Security Council resolutions. I shall now provide a briefing in my capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. I would like to begin by briefly outlining how the threat from ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and their affiliates has evolved over the past year. I will then report on the activities of the Committee. This briefing will also satisfy the requirement set out in resolution 2610 (2021) to report to the Security Council at least once per year on the overall work of the Committee. Since my previous briefing to the Security Council in December 2021 (see S/PV.8915), the United Nations, Member States and international and regional organizations have continued to implement sanctions measures to prevent ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and their affiliates from undermining the prospects for international peace and security. In that regard, to further promote awareness of the use of the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida sanctions framework, on 17 December 2021, the Security Council adopted resolution 2610 (2021). The new resolution reaffirmed the assets freeze, the travel ban and the arms embargo measures imposed against all designated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities on the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida sanctions list and extended the mandates of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team and the Ombudsperson for 30 months until June 2024. I welcome that development and would like to take this opportunity to emphasize that the Monitoring Team and the Ombudsperson play a critical role in the effective implementation of the 1267 sanctions regime. It is crucial that Member States engage with and provide updated information to the Committee and the Monitoring Team on the evolving nature of the terrorist threat, listed individuals and entities, and the status of the implementation of the sanctions measures at the national level. I would like to draw the attention of Member States to the requirement of the new resolution to submit updated reports on assets freezes and exemptions thereto. The Secretariat, in cooperation with the Monitoring Team, developed a format for reporting, which is available online. Pursuant to resolution 2610 (2021) and as per the note verbale dated 23 September, Member States were called upon to report to the Committee by 1 November. Nevertheless, Member States who still have not submitted their reporting are encouraged to do so. During the reporting period, the Monitoring Team has continued to provide regular updates to the Committee on the global terrorist threat. In particular, the Team noted that the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida remains moderate in non-conflict zones, but is much higher in areas directly affected by conflict. The situation in Africa, in particular in Southern and West Africa, has further deteriorated during the reporting period. Central and South Asia and the Levant, all of which include the active presence of both ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida, as well as the implications of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, continue to represent a major concern for Member States. The phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters remains a serious problem, and the international community must continue to do more to address that threat. The situation in prison and detention facilities in north-eastern Syria is also a constant concern. The attack by ISIL (Da’esh) on Al-Sina’a prison in Al-Hasakah in January led to the escape of between 100 and 300 fighters. Member States consider that more jailbreak attempts are likely. Despite the losses of some senior figures, most notably the ISIL (Da’esh) leader Amir Muhammad Sa’id Abdal-Rahman Al-Salbi and Al-Qaida’s leader, Aiman Al-Zawahiri, reportedly killed in Kabul, ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida continue to take advantage of conflicts and governance failures to recruit new followers and attract resources. The global economic slowdown may increase the potential for a further spread of terrorist activities by ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida. For a more detailed analysis, I would refer Member States to the periodic reports of the Monitoring Team published on the Committee’s website. The analysis provided by the Monitoring Team is, to a large extent, based on field visits. Although travel limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in various parts of the globe have eased, traveling remains a challenge. Nevertheless, I would like to highlight that the Monitoring Team managed to conduct important visits to Africa, Europe, Central and South Asia and the Middle East, including Iraq, and convened the Vienna regional meeting of intelligence and security services of the Middle East and North Africa. During the reporting period, the Committee continued its mandated activities and held nine in-person meetings, including a joint open briefing with the Counter-Terrorism Committee on ISIL in Africa, the nature of the threat and responses. The Committee, in partnership with the Secretariat, maintains its sanctions list and ensures that the list is accurate and promptly updated. In total, there are currently 255 listed individuals and 88 entities. Since the beginning of the year, the Committee has agreed to add one entity to its sanctions list and approved amendments to the existing entries of seven individuals and one entity. The Committee also approved the delisting of three individuals following a review by the Ombudsperson, as well as the delisting of five individuals and three entities following the 2020 annual review. Proposals to list one entity and 17 individuals remain on hold. Following the resignation of Mr. Daniel Kipfer Fasciati, Mr. Richard Malanjum was appointed as the new Ombudsperson and effectively assumed his duties. Currently, seven requests for delisting are pending with the Office of the Ombudsperson. Mindful of the ongoing global terrorist threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and their affiliates, evolving trends and emerging challenges, I would like to stress the need to ensure that the 1267 sanctions regime remain a high priority on the global counter- terrorism agenda. I would like to take this opportunity to call upon Member States to continue their proactive engagement with the Committee and the Monitoring Team as that is essential for keeping the sanctions list up to date and ensuring the effective operation of the sanctions regime. As Chair, please allow me to conclude by thanking all Member States for their cooperation with the Committee, its Monitoring Team and the Office of the Ombudsperson.

I thank Ambassador Heimerback for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Kamboj.

As Chair of the Counter- Terrorism Committee (CTC) established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, I have the honour to brief the Council on the key aspects of the work undertaken by the Counter-Terrorism Committee since the beginning of this year, supported by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). Over the past year, the Committee held several open and closed meetings with the support of CTED, addressing a variety of regional and thematic topics that are relevant to the implementation of Security Council resolutions. As the terrorist threat continues to persist and grow, particularly in the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia and several parts of Africa, the Counter- Terrorism Committee has placed particular focus on those regions. The Committee has also focused on other thematic areas, such as countering terrorist narratives and preventing and countering the use of the Internet and new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, inviting the participation of civil society in the briefings and open meetings of the CTC. That underscores the importance of protecting human rights, while countering terrorism, as well as incorporating the full, equal and meaningful participation of women into counter-terrorism responses over the past year. As mentioned earlier by the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, the CTC organized an open briefing on 14 February, focusing on the terrorist threat in South and South-East Asia, and the work of CTED with the Member States in the regions, pursuant to resolution 2395 (2017). The meeting also highlighted the serious global security concerns due to recent developments in Afghanistan and the possibility of it becoming a safe haven for Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. The Security Council demanded unequivocally that Afghan territory not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts and called for concerted action against all terrorist groups. While participating in the high-level international conference on counter-terrorism in Central Asia, on 3 March, the Chair of the CTC underlined the high terrorist threat in Central Asia due to returning foreign terrorist fighters and developments in Afghanistan, and that the ties between the Taliban, largely through Haqqanis, Al-Qaida and foreign terrorist fighters, remained close. Since the terrorist threat in the region remains high, the Committee is scheduled to organize an open briefing on Central Asia next month. The Committee, along with the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, organized a joint open briefing on 7 April, in which the representatives of several Member States, as well as civil society organizations from Africa, expressed their views on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida affiliates, particularly underlining that terrorist groups in Africa aim to destabilize existing governance structures, including democratic institutions, and take advantage of intercommunal conflict to recruit fighters and secure resources. The Committee underlined the need to differentiate political ideologies in a constitutional framework from the violent, radical ideologies of terrorist groups. On thematic issues, the Committee organized an open meeting on 23 March, in which participants highlighted the need to counter terrorist narratives and the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes through innovative means. Taking a step further, the Committee organized a special meeting on the overarching theme of countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, held in Mumbai, India, and New Delhi on 28 and 29 October, with the generous support of the Government of India. The discussions were focused on the increased threat posed by the use for terrorist purposes of three significant technologies  — first, the Internet and social media; secondly, new payment technologies and fundraising methods; and, thirdly, unmanned aerial systems, including drones. The Committee members also paid tribute to all victims of terrorism, including the victims of the Mumbai terrorist attacks that took place in India on 26 November 2008. As an outcome of the special meeting, the Committee adopted the Delhi declaration on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. The declaration is a pioneer document, aimed at enhancing the Council’s approach to addressing that threat in a comprehensive and holistic manner. Among the items listed in the declaration is the decision to continue to work on recommendations on the three themes of the special meeting and the intention to develop a set of non-binding guiding principles to further assist Member States in the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. As part of its commitment to both prioritize and emphasize its work on those issues, the Committee plans to organize an open briefing on the outcome of the special meeting early next month, during which it will highlight its achievements. Regarding other thematic issues, the Committee paid attention to further enhancing and promoting its engagement with a broad range of civil society actors, including women’s organizations, throughout its activities. The Committee also made efforts to invite civil society organizations, including from Africa and Asia, to its meetings, thereby ensuring diversity and inclusivity of civil society representation. Similarly, the Committee and CTED continue to ensure that gender is integrated as a cross-cutting issue through CTED activities. The Committee ensured greater participation of women in the special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, held in Mumbai and New Delhi. Forty per cent — I repeat 40 per cent — of the speakers at the special meeting were women. The information and communications technology panel had seven women out of a total of 11 speakers. The Committee also intends to organize a closed briefing on integrating gender into counter-terrorism responses next month. The Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee participated in the Malaga Conference, held on 11 May, highlighting that the protection of human rights should be an important aspect of the global fight against terrorism and that States therefore have a responsibility to protect their nationals and others against the threat of terrorist acts by taking positive measures consistent with international law, including human rights law, and bringing the perpetrators of such acts to justice. The Committee’s core mandate includes monitoring and assessing the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, with the assistance of CTED, and facilitating the delivery of technical assistance for capacity-building, while paying full attention to relevant issues in States’ international human rights obligations. Acting on behalf of the Committee, CTED resumed on-site assessment visits in April this year, amid the lingering challenge of the pandemic. During the year, 10 assessment visits were conducted in Africa, the Americas, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific and South-East Asia. CTED, in line with its mandate, continued to engage with experts in civil society, academia, think tanks and the private sector to support the efforts of the CTC to advance the implementation of various Security Council resolutions. The Committee, with the support of CTED, also continued to facilitate the delivery of technical assistance to Member States. In that regard, the Committee and CTED have continued to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and other implementing partners within the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact and with international and regional organizations. The online platform of the Compact now consists of 27 visit reports, including more than 800 recommendations for technical assistance needs. CTED is also a key partner in UNOCT’s global programmes, contributing to the direction of the programmes and the design of technical assistance and integrating the Committee’s key recommendations and analyses. The Committee and CTED continued to raise awareness of new and emerging terrorism trends and challenges and to promote the policies of the Council and the guidelines of the Committee, as well as international best practices, with a view to assisting Member States’ implementation efforts. CTED, in accordance with its mandate and working with the Global Research Network, also proactively identified and published new analytical products on those terrorism trends and challenges. Together with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre of the UNOCT, CTED launched, under the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Coordination Compact’s Working Group on border management and law enforcement, the technical guidelines to facilitate the implementation of resolution 2370 (2017) and related international standards and good practices on preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons. Finally, I wish to convey my deep thanks and appreciation to the members of the Committee, CTED, the Committee secretariat and my team for their commitment and dedicated support, which allowed the Committee to continue to successfully deliver on its mandate.

I thank Ambassador Kamboj for her 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 have the honour to report on the progress achieved since our last joint briefing on 2 December 2021 (see S/PV.8915). With regard to our mandate, we fully endorse the joint statement made on behalf of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 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, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, and the 1540 Committee. Resolution 1540 (2004) remains a vital component of the international non-proliferation architecture to prevent non-State actors from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction, particularly those identified on the United Nations list established and updated by the 1267 Committee and those to which resolution 1373 (2001) applies. The devastating and potentially catastrophic consequences that could result from the use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons by such actors remain of grave concern to the international community. States have made significant progress towards the full implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Much remains to be done, however, for the full and effective implementation of the resolution, which is therefore a long-term task. Although the mandate of the 1540 Committee differs from that of the other two Committees, there are important areas of complementarity. Resolution 2325 (2016) reiterates the need for enhanced cooperation between the three Committees. In that regard, the 1540 Committee has continued to exchange information, coordinate visits to States, provide technical assistance and address other issues of interest to all three Committees, which have reported jointly to the Security Council each year, as is the case for today’s meeting. While the Committee had to postpone a number of activities planned in 2021 in connection with the comprehensive review of the status of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) as a result of the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Committee continued with the comprehensive review in 2022, including by holding open consultations from 31 May to 2 June. In keeping with the inclusive nature of the comprehensive review process, Member States, as well as international and regional organizations, participated in the Committee’s open consultations. Participants from non-governmental organizations, academia, professional associations and industry also made statements in an informal segment. Following the renewal of the Committee’s mandate in February, through resolution 2622 (2022), the 1540 Committee continued to undertake activities to promote the full and effective implementation of the resolution and to assist States — upon request — with strengthening their national capacities. In that regard, the Committee has participated in 19 outreach activities organized by States and international, regional and subregional organizations, as well as civil society. As of today, 185 countries have submitted to the Committee their initial report with details on the measures taken, or planned to be taken, to implement resolution 1540 (2004). It is important to take into account the effectiveness of the practical measures taken by States to implement the resolution. One of the measures that States may consider is the voluntary development of national implementation action plans, as encouraged in resolution 2325 (2016). Those plans help to identify actions to be taken in relation to national regulatory and control frameworks, foster inter-agency cooperation and identify areas in which assistance may be required. Since 2007, 38 States have submitted a total of 46 such plans to the Committee. The Committee plays an important role in facilitating assistance to Member States in fulfilling their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) by connecting States requesting assistance with those offering it, be they States or international, regional or subregional organisations. In addition to facilitating requests for assistance, the Committee continued to work with States  — at their invitation  — to discuss national reporting, national action plans, the Committee’s matrices and assistance in implementing the resolution. The Committee continues to use its website as a means of public outreach. I would like to underline that the 1540 Committee’s cooperative approach and dialogue with Member States are the cornerstones of its activities. In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone, without exception, for their efforts in support of the Committee’s work.

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 Ambassadors Heimerback, Kamboj and De la Fuente Ramírez for their briefings and leadership in drawing attention to these pressing and vitally important issues that demand action. The Security Council Committee established 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 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 support for terrorism. Given the diverse global threat terrorists pose today, it is more important than ever that those three Committees coordinate their efforts in mutually reinforcing ways, while avoiding duplication. We should all be very concerned that a permanent member of the Council would seek to obstruct the prospect of cooperation by the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts, with the 1267 Committee and its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team and the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, despite their clear mandates for that kind of collaboration. Over the past year, the global terrorist threat has evolved to include, notably, an uptick in attacks by terrorists worldwide. We urge the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the 1267 Monitoring Team to continue to closely monitor the threat. Likewise, we urge the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts to continue to support Member States in their efforts to control weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery in order to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks. We can contribute to peace and security in Africa and internationally by supporting United Nations listings of Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham and Al-Qaida affiliates of their supporters that continue to pose serious threats to peace and stability in the region, and indeed, globally. Unfortunately, the 1267 Committee has only agreed to designate one entity since the beginning of this year. The important work of that Committee must remain free from politicization, which only benefits the terrorists. Turning to the Counter-Terrorism Committee and CTED, we highlight the critical work of CTED in assessing Member States’ implementation of their counter-terrorism obligations. The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities use those assessments to prioritize capacity- building in order to make the greatest impact and avoid duplication. The Council has explicitly encouraged cooperation among the 1267, 1373 and 1540 Committees in order to advance broad counter-terrorism initiatives. In particular, resolutions 1810 (2008), 1977 (2011) and 2325 (2016) reiterate the need to enhance 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. Increased cooperation, including through more regular meetings, more frequent joint visits and sharing of information regarding current and emerging non-State proliferation trends will help all three Committees more effectively assess and address those threats. However, knowledge of those trends should not be exclusive to current Committee members. The 1540 Committee, in particular, should make such information available to all members through briefings to interested Member States and through the 1540 Committee’s website and other forms of outreach.

China thanks the Chairs of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 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) for their briefings and thanks Norway, India and Mexico for their extensive work as Chairs of the three Committees. In the light of the briefings, I would like to make the following points. First, the 1267 Committee is an important counter- terrorism sanctions mechanism of the United Nations and the Security Council. Over the past year, the Committee has carried out its work in accordance with the mandate of resolution 2610 (2021), maintained communication with Member States, strengthened communication with regional and subregional counter- terrorism mechanisms, regularly reviewed its sanctions lists, selected a new Ombudsperson and achieved positive results. The Committee’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team closely tracks terrorist threats and issues reports that provide important references for the Committee’s work and support for global counter-terrorism cooperation, which China commends. China highly values the work of the Committee on listing, exemptions and delisting and believes that such relevant work should be based on solid facts and broad consensus in order to maintain the authority and effectiveness of the sanctions regime. Committee members should abide by the principle of confidentiality and prevent the leaking of internal information that would interfere with the Committee’s work. Secondly, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) continues to help Member States implement counter- terrorism resolutions of the Security Council through various means, including country visits, seminars and exchanges and, in the light of global counter-terrorism trends and developments, it is stepping up information exchanges on cyberterrorism and the misuse of emerging technologies in terrorism. India, as Chair of the CTC, hosted a special session in October and adopted the Delhi declaration, thereby giving impetus to Member States efforts to better tackle the new counter-terrorism challenges. The CTC now has a broader mandate, but it should not deviate from its core mandate of combating and preventing terrorism. The CTC should optimize the allocation of resources focused on key issues and direct its efforts and resources towards supporting Africa and developing countries in strengthening capacity- building. The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate should also provide support to the CTC in those key areas. Thirdly, resolution 1540 (2004) was the first Security Council resolution devoted to non-proliferation and is an important pillar of international non-proliferation efforts. China firmly opposes the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, has always fulfilled in good faith its international non-proliferation obligations and is continuously improving its non-proliferation export control mechanism and capacity-building. China is deeply involved in the comprehensive review of that resolution and supports using it as an opportunity to improve and strengthen its implementation mechanism. China believes that the Committee should continue to uphold the leadership role of Member States, support developing countries in strengthening non-proliferation capacity-building, enhance the relevance and effectiveness of assistance programmes, promote communication and cooperation with the relevant agencies and organizations, and improve the transparency of the implementation of the resolution and the work of the Committee. Last month, the First Committee of the General Assembly adopted a draft resolution on promoting international cooperation on peaceful uses in the context of international security (A/C.1/77/L.56), which clearly states that the use of science and technology for peaceful purposes and international cooperation are inalienable rights for all countries, and that countries should strike a balance between non-proliferation and peaceful uses. That draft resolution provides an important reference for the work of the 1540 Committee. We hope that, at the next stage, the three Committees and their subsidiary expert bodies will continue to step up efforts n information collection, exchanges and sharing in order to form synergy. Together with members of the Council, China will continue to actively participate in the work of the three Committees, promote international counter-terrorism cooperation, improve the international non-proliferation system and make ongoing contributions to the maintenance of world peace and stability.

We note the timely nature of the convening of today’s joint briefing by the three important subsidiary bodies. First of all, we would like to express our gratitude to the Norwegian chairpersonship of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 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, and to thank Ambassador Trine Heimeback personally for her skilful leadership over the past two years and her willingness to responsibly and constructively address the various issues. We note the work of the 1267 Committee and consider it one of the Council’s most effective mechanisms in counter-terrorism. The relevance and importance of the work of the 1267 Committee has never been in doubt, especially given the threats we are currently seeing from ISIL, Al-Qaida and other associated terrorist groups in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Central and South-East Asia and the African continent. We note the growing competition between Al-Qaida and ISIL for sources of funding, supplies of weapons, media resources and new recruits, including experts in cutting-edge technologies. The struggle for leadership has been accompanied by mergers, the absorption of some groups by others and the emergence of new groups drawn to one or another international terrorist organization. Taken together, that has led to increased terrorist activity and revisions to its tactics, means and methods of organization. We are ready to continue to work constructively with all our colleagues on the Committee on a broad range of issues around this agenda. We consider it vital to ensure the effective implementation of Security Council resolutions on the counter-terrorism sanctions regime against ISIL and Al-Qaida. Given the continued active presence of ISIL in Afghanistan and the prospect of the further expansion of jihadists in the States of Central Asia, it should still be a priority to expand the Security Council’s counter- terrorism sanctions regime to persons and organizations belonging to and directly linked to the Afghan branch of ISIL. We believe it is essential to keep a sharp focus on foreign terrorist fighters on counter-terrorism sanctions lists who are actively moving from Syria and Iraq to their States of origin or third countries if we are to prevent and suppress their criminal activity. We support the effective work of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the 1267 Committee. We have repeatedly pointed out that its reports contain detailed, up-to-date information on current global terrorist threats posed by ISIL, Al-Qaida and other associated groups, and they are useful for the work of the Committee. We urge Member States to work closely with its experts. At the same time, we expect the Monitoring Team’s reports to be as objective as possible and based only on reliable sources of information. We would also like to note the importance of country visits by the Monitoring Group, especially to areas in crisis. We understand that against the background of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of visits has fallen over the past two years. We hope that in 2023 the Group will be able to visit countries that are engaged in armed confrontations with international terrorists and States that are experiencing terrorism first-hand. We would also like to express our deep appreciation to Mrs. Kamboj, the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, for her highly professional leadership of its work. This year India has had to address issues that accumulated during the pandemic. All those accounts have been settled, and we are glad that the Committee has returned to its normal working arrangements. Above all, the Committee managed to continue its vital function of assessing States’ compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions. We thank the Government of India and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) for preparing and successfully holding a special Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting in New Delhi on 29 October, on combating new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. The event was exemplary in terms of its organization. We note the quality of CTED’s expert support to the Committee. The role of the Executive Directorate in ensuring that the Committee and the Security Council as a whole can meet the multifaceted challenges of counter-terrorism remains extremely important. We would like to thank Mr. Weixiong Chen for his work as Acting Executive Director. We note the extensive range of tasks to be addressed this year by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and its Chair, Mr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez. Resolution 1540 (2004) remains the only universal international instrument in the area of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) requiring all States to establish effective national systems of control to prevent WMDs and their means of delivery from falling into the hands of non-State actors. Achieving the fundamental goal of the document — the successful implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) by all States and in full — unquestionably requires maintaining the spirit of cooperation and interaction that is inherent in the resolution. As a sponsor of the resolution, we are generally satisfied with its implementation. We value the continuing recognition by the international community of its importance, which has been consistently reinforced by practical steps taken by Member States in implementing the resolution. As for the activities of the 1540 Committee, its priorities should continue to be monitoring the implementation of the resolution and global coordination in providing technical assistance to countries in implementing the resolution’s provisions when they request it. It is important to remember that although the 1540 Committee operates under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, its tasks do not include coercion or the imposition of its services on Member States. Attempts to do so can only undermine the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Ensuring the resolution’s successful implementation demands coordinated efforts on the part of all Member States. We believe that is key, given the importance of the goals set out in the resolution. We would especially like to emphasize the importance of this particular moment for the Committee, whose mandate expires on 30 November. Russia would like to see that goal reached without any glitches or setbacks. We urge our partners to focus on finding solutions as soon as possible to ensure the Committee’s effective functioning after that date. We are open to constructive discussions aimed at advancing the non-proliferation agenda.

I would now like to make a very brief statement in my national capacity. With respect to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, we note the renewal of the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) through resolution 2617 (2021), which reiterates that CTED should integrate gender issues as a cross-cutting issue throughout its activities. In that regard, my delegation welcomes the publication by the Executive Directorate, together with the International Peace Institute, of a report on masculinities and violent extremism, which we will be presenting jointly on 30 November. We also welcome the fact that there will be a joint briefing of the 1373 Committee with the Office of Counter-Terrorism on gender next month, and we reiterate our position that such meetings should be open. We acknowledge the work of the Chair of the Committee, as well as the holding of a special meeting in India at the end of last month. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities, we thank the Chair for the conduct of the Committee’s work and regret that agreements have not yet been reached on updating the guidelines for the work of the Committee in the light of the renewal of its mandate through resolution 2611 (2021). We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Richard Malanjum on his appointment this year as Ombudsperson to the 1267 Committee. We reiterate our support for his work, which is critical to providing standards of due process when removing individuals from the sanctions list. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), it must be said that the threat of non-State actors acquiring weapons of mass destruction has not diminished, and that the international community should consider the fact that new technologies have provided innovative ways for non-State actors to acquire and use such weapons. The comprehensive review of resolution 1540 (2004) provided an opportunity for members of the Committee and the rest of Member States to put forward proposals that would better equip the Committee to confront current challenges and do it more effectively. We hope that the mandate renewal of the Committee in the next few days will reflect those concerns and proposals.

I would like to begin by thanking Ambassadors de la Fuente Ramírez, Kamboj and Heimerback for enhancing the transparency of the work of their respective Committees through today’s briefing. The United Arab Emirates commends the three Chairs for their admirable work in supporting the Security Council’s mandate to address threats to international peace and security, including terrorism. Let me also express our sincere gratitude to India, current Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001), for ensuring the Committee’s engagement on a wide range of regional and thematic issues, including evolving threats. Last month the Government of India hosted the CTC for a special meeting that was focused on the urgent challenges posed by new and emerging technology falling into the hands of terrorists and the new possibilities for combating terrorism offered by technological innovation. As a result, the CTC adopted the Delhi declaration, which is a crucial contribution to our collective response to the threats discussed during the special meeting, including terrorists’ deployment of unmanned aerial systems. As the incoming Chair of the CTC, the United Arab Emirates will build on those vital efforts. We are committed to working constructively with all Committee members to ensure the implementation of the Delhi declaration and to assist Member States in preventing and countering the terrorist use of new and emerging technologies. By ensuring the full implementation of sanctions measures, 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, works actively and diligently to assist Member States in preventing and countering terrorist acts. However, that effort must be complemented by a strengthened focus on confronting the root causes of terrorism and extremism to ensure the enduring eradication of the threat. That necessarily includes addressing the development deficits and weak governance that fuel grievances and marginalization. The international community must also avoid inadvertently lending credibility to terrorist narratives that exploit religion to justify their heinous crimes. For example, the United Arab Emirates has been vocal in urging Member States and the United Nations system to use “Da’esh” instead of “Islamic State”, “ISIL”, or “ISIS”, as there is nothing Islamic about terrorism. We should also remember that Da’esh is nothing more than a depraved and nihilistic terrorist group. It is neither a State nor a province, and we should not validate its pretensions. As the Security Council considers the mandate renewal of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and its Group of Experts, which is due next week, the United Arab Emirates reaffirms the crucial role that its regime plays in the global non-proliferation architecture. The most recent comprehensive review of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) demonstrates that Member States remain committed to the resolution’s goals, which is evident in the significant progress that has been made in its implementation. We commend that progress, but we also recognize that the full and effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) remains a long-term task. In the forthcoming renewal, the 1540 Committee should be mandated to enhance its engagement with Member States and provide further assistance with the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Given the evolving nature of the threats posed by non-State actors, including terrorists, the future mandate should also include a provision for an inclusive review process on the resolution’s implementation status. The 1540 Committee should continue to work closely with the Da’esh and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and the CTC, particularly considering the risk of terrorists exploiting weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. While they each have different mandates, the work of the Committees should be complementary and central to the Council’s overall objective of countering and eliminating terrorism.

I offer my sincere thanks to the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1373 (2001), respectively, for their briefings today. Since terrorism is a global threat, a multilateral strategy is key to a successful response. As the only global forum to coordinate, monitor and evaluate our collective efforts, the United Nations plays an indispensable role in this regard. Each component of the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture is meant to fulfil a distinct yet complementary function in this work. We should purposefully leverage each entity’s comparative advantage to create synergies, while avoiding a duplication of efforts. The goal is a coordinated “One United Nations” approach to counter- terrorism that forms part of a broader political strategy, one that is conflict-sensitive, pursues the Sustainable Development Goals and protects and promotes human rights. In that regard, I would like to highlight one particular issue that illustrates both the importance and the value of cohesion across the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture: the unintended impact of counter-terrorism measures on humanitarian activities. Earlier this year, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate published a report on this issue, finding that counter-terrorism measures have a significant impact on humanitarian activities in conflicts where designated terrorist organizations are present. Norway strongly supports the establishment of a standing humanitarian exemption for all United Nations sanctions regimes. In order for it to be effective, such an exemption, we believe, must apply to all regimes, including those authorized by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), and we believe that clarifying the scope of the 1267 regime to address a pressing issue substantiated by data would serve as an example of the coherence we call for in United Nations counter-terrorism efforts. We also support the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) as a vital component of the global non-proliferation architecture. The work of the Committee remains as important as ever, as advances in science, technology and international commerce affect the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors. Norway looks forward to concluding the Committee’s work on the comprehensive review process in a way that also reflects the inputs of Member States expressed during the open consultations. This process is key to ensuring that the 1540 Committee continues to fulfil its obligations and takes stock of progress moving forward. Norway will continue to engage constructively in the negotiations for the Committee’s new mandate. Norway values the opportunity to review the effectiveness and coherence of the Council’s counter- terrorism architecture, and it supports all efforts aimed at creating a more coordinated and coherent architecture, delivering as One United Nations, in pursuit of peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.

At the outset, I wish to thank the delegations of Norway and Mexico for their work as the Chairs of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2001) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, and the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction, respectively, and their briefings to the Council. These Committees, along with the Counter-Terrorism Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) (CTC), are the pillars of the Security Council’s counter-terrorism architecture. In the past two decades, this counter-terrorism architecture has contributed to curbing the activities of terrorist groups and individuals by limiting their access to funds and weapons, disrupting their movements and putting in place a monitoring mechanism to ensure that Member States implement the decisions of the Security Council aimed at countering terrorism. The Council has adopted several landmark counter-terrorism- related resolutions, such as resolutions 2178 (2014), 2462 (2019) and 2482 (2019), as well as resolution 2593 (2021), during India’s presidency of the Council in August last year, to ensure that Afghan territory is not used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts. However, and as we all know, terrorism continues to pose a grave threat to international peace and security, as terrorist groups affiliated with and inspired by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Al-Qaida, particularly in Asia and Africa, continue to operate, targeting civilians and security forces. Lest we forget, in November 2008, 10 terrorists entered the city of Mumbai by sea from Pakistan, ravaging the city for four days, killing 166 people, including 26 foreign nationals. Our efforts to sanction the perpetrators and facilitators of these terror attacks were blocked in the past for political reasons. These actors continue to walk free and have been organizing further cross-border attacks against my country. The work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) relies on that of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which in its recent report to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) highlighted the continued threat posed by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. We thank the Team for its reports and hope that the Team will continue to report on the activities of these groups, including in its periodic reports to 1267 Committee. While these entities were listed under the 1267 sanctions regime more than a decade back, we must keep monitoring their activities as they have been allowed to operate under various aliases and with State- sponsored hospitality. In that context, I would like to draw the Council’s attention to the clarion call of our External Affairs Minister to the Security Council last year, whose eight- point action plan highlighted the need for reform of the working methods of the Security Council sanctions committees in order to ensure greater transparency, accountability and effectiveness in the workings of these Committees (see S/2021/48). He called for ending the practice of placing blocks and holds on listing requests without any rhyme or reason and ensuring that the listing and delisting of individuals and entities under the United Nations sanctions regimes is done objectively, based on evidence and not on political considerations. The Council needs to pay attention to these action points; otherwise, the credibility of these committees and our collective faith in them will only be gradually eroded. As the Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee for 2022, India has made every effort to ensure that the Committee is able to deliver on its mandate effectively. I have highlighted the activities and the achievements of the CTC in the past one year in my statements as the Chair in briefings before the Security Council. In the past year, the CTC was able to underscore the risk posed by the existing and expanding terrorist threats in Asia and Africa, and the need for providing capacity-building assistance to risk-prone Member States. It has also been able to ensure effective actions by Member States to curb the activities of terrorist groups operating from the territories under their control. It is important that terror-risk-prone jurisdictions bring their frameworks for combating the financing of terrorism and for anti-money-laundering to par with the international standards, including those set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). We commend the CTC and Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate for their efforts to involve FATF and other such international financial watchdogs in their activities. I would add that the Government of India had the honour to host a special meeting of the CTC in Mumbai and New Delhi last month. In Mumbai, CTC members paid tribute to the victims of terrorist attacks, including the Mumbai terror attacks, and had the opportunity to listen to the victims’ experiences of the attacks, stories of their resilience and their expectations from the international community, including from the Security Council. The meeting in Delhi highlighted the threat posed by terrorist groups’ use of new and emerging technologies, such as social media, encryption messaging services, virtual currencies, blockchain technologies, mobile money wallets, drones and so on, and the urgent need for the Council to address this threat in a comprehensive and holistic manner. The Delhi declaration embodies the Council’s collective determination to pay attention to that threat and further develop guidance for Member States to address it. We are confident that the United Arab Emirates, as the incoming Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, will continue to build on those initiatives. I would like to thank the CTED team for its cooperation and contribution in the substantive work of the Committee and in facilitating the effective functioning of the Chair. Turning to the 1540 Committee, this is an important component of the global non-proliferation architecture, aimed at curbing the threat posed by the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, and related materials, equipment and technology by non-State actors, including terrorist groups. The Committee should also take into account the rapid evolution of proliferation risks due to new and emerging technologies, increasing the risks of access to weapons of mass destruction by terrorist groups and other non-State actors. Let me reaffirm that my delegation accords high importance to resolution 1540 (2004), the work of the 1540 Committee and its ongoing negotiations for the renewal of the mandate of the Committee. I would like to conclude by reiterating our fullest support for the work of the three Committees in their collective pursuit to address the threat posed by terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as their means of delivery.

Let me start by emphatically 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 1373 (2001), concerning counter- terrorism; and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) for their comprehensive and informative briefings. We commend the ongoing cooperation among those Committees, which play an important role in the broad counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations. I also congratulate India on the successful organization of the special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) on the pressing topic of the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. The 1267 sanctions regime can target individuals or groups anywhere in the world. Listing criteria are necessary to limit an otherwise entirely discretionary power. It is of the utmost importance that we ensure that those criteria are applied using evidence-based standards. When listing requests are submitted to the 1267 Committee, they are presented only with allegations that any given individual or entity fulfils the criteria of association with Da’esh or Al-Qaida, not with proper evidence. Except for the backchannel of bilateral interagency communications between select partners, there is no sharing with the Committee of the actual evidence justifying or supporting the allegations. As we continue to discuss ways to improve our working methods, Brazil reiterates that listing requests should be submitted together with the evidence that supports them so that all Committee members are in a position to judge every request on its own merit. That would also help to prevent the politization of listing requests. We also emphasize the importance of aligning listing standards with those applied by the Ombudsperson for the purposes of the listing. It is our view that the Ombudsperson should recommend the retention of listings only in the case that there is proper evidence to substantiate allegations of association with Da’esh or Al-Qaida. Given the persistence of due process concerns relating to the delisting process, the Ombudsperson should not take for granted previous allegations, statements or narratives associated with existing listings simply because the Committee had previously approved the respective entries. The Counter-Terrorism Committee was established to ensure the implementation by Member States of Security Council resolutions on the matter. The establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) in 2004 and the renewal of its mandate last year were important steps taken to provide the CTC with the means to fulfil its mandate. The discussions on CTED’s interim review by the end of next year will give us an opportunity to further streamline its work. That process should not be decoupled from the lessons to be learned during the eighth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in mid-2023. Without prejudice to the broad scope of resolution 2617 (1999) and other Security Council resolutions, the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy is, and should remain, the main guidance for the international community in its fight against terrorism. The Strategy emanates from the most representative organ of the United Nations, the General Assembly, thereby encompassing a wider range of views and needs. Capacity-building features prominently in the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and must be a priority for the United Nations in its support to Member States. The country visits and assessments by CTED and the implementation of demand-driven technical assistance by the Office of Counter-Terrorism and other bodies of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact bring a significant contribution to the strengthening of national institutions, which are the mainstay for resilience against terrorism. Brazil also reiterates its view that the lack of an internationally agreed definition of international terrorism affects our ability to counter it in a coherent manner, and it may lead to the perception of double standards when the Security Council sets its priorities and takes actions against it. The 1540 Committee remains a relevant mechanism for the international disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. Through a sui generis cooperative approach, it assists States in preventing the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery by non-State actors, while preserving international cooperation in materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes. Brazil recognizes Mexico’s crucial role in chairing the 1540 Committee during its comprehensive review process and supports the renewal of its mandate. Brazil is working closely with the Chair and other Committee members to adopt a substantive draft resolution that strengthens the role of the Committee in addressing old and new challenges. Member States must bear in mind that, in order to be truly effective, the implementation of sanctions and counter-terrorism measures must be consistent with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international refugee law. Brazil encourages the Council to continue its work to adjust the sanctions framework so that they effectively minimize the suffering of the civilian population. Sanctions can be legitimate and effective when they are multilaterally agreed, strategically targeted and designed to have a minimal impact on the civilian population. In that regard, we commend the initiative of the United States and Ireland to uphold the right to humanitarian assistance by promoting negotiations on a future Security Council draft resolution concerning a much-needed cross-cutting humanitarian carveout. It has the potential to bring forth a more predictable legal environment for neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian providers to undertake their essential activities under all circumstances, including in areas where designated terrorist individuals and entities operate. Brazil has enshrined in its Constitution the repudiation of terrorism as a guiding principle for the conduction of its internal relations, and in its legislation, the direct and immediate applicability of Security Council sanctions. However, we are aware that the maintenance of international peace and security needs more than sanctions. Although sanctions are important tools, the fight against terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism can succeed only if the international community tackles its drivers. In our struggle for a safer world, we must therefore not neglect the importance of advocating for economic development and opportunities for youth; of adopting balanced multilateral sanctions regimes that do not exacerbate social exclusion, food insecurity and the situation of vulnerable populations; and of combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, which fuel resentment and radicalization.

I would like to thank 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)  — Ms. Trine Heimerback of Norway, Mrs. Ruchira Kamboj of India and Mr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez of Mexico, respectively — for their very useful briefings. This joint meeting shows us the importance of maintaining a global and concerted approach in the fight against these scourges. Gabon reaffirms its support for all the Security Council Committees against terrorism and nuclear proliferation and appreciates the work done throughout the year within those three Committees. Whether in the working lunches, the meetings among the Monitoring Teams, stakeholders and Member States or the thematic meetings that we believe are an essential framework for the exchange of information, the sustained commitment of all has been equal to the existential threat. All those joint efforts demonstrate the importance of cooperation in strengthening our action in the face of the serious threats of terrorism and nuclear proliferation. Gabon is pleased to have made a modest contribution to those efforts, which will enable us to overcome this threat. With regard to the 1267 Committee, we appreciate the work done by Norway as Chair of the Committee. Furthermore, we would like to stress that, in view of the global terrorist threat posed by Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates, including through support for organizations or individuals who commit terrorist acts, it is important to ensure that the 1267 sanctions regime remains a key element of the Security Council’s agenda. We therefore welcome the extension, through resolution 2610 (2021), of the mandates of the Monitoring Team and the Office of the Ombudsperson, which plays a key role in the implementation of the 1267 sanctions regime. With regard to the 1373 Committee, we would like to stress the importance of establishing, in the forthcoming evaluation, a substantial follow-up on the threat posed by the use of emerging technologies and the Internet for terrorist purposes. The final declaration adopted in New Delhi in October, which allowed us to identify the recent dangers of this threat, must continue. We would like to reiterate our appreciation to Mrs. Ruchira Kamboj, Chair of the 1373 Committee, for the work her country has conducted in efforts to respond to the terrorist threat. With regard to the 1540 Committee, we would like to reiterate the need for the concerns of developing countries to be taken into account in the activities of the Committee. We support the relevant approach of the Chair of the Committee, from her country of Mexico, to promote the full involvement of women experts in the awareness and implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Let me conclude by saying that our joint action against terrorism and nuclear proliferation must be in line with our commitment to respect human rights and combat poverty.

I would like to join others in thanking Norway, India and Mexico for their chairmanships, respectively, 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). I would like to briefly touch upon the activities of each of those Committees. First, I would like to say a few words about the 1267 Committee, which has a key role in our fight against jihadism. The terrorism of Al-Qaida, Da’esh and their affiliates remains the most acute terrorist threat. Unfortunately, that threat continues to evolve and expand, particularly in Africa, reaching the Gulf of Guinea, but also in the Levant region, in Afghanistan, in Europe, as well as in South Asia and the Pacific. France attaches great importance to the 1267 Committee continuing to fulfil its essential missions of threat analysis and the rigorous implementation and monitoring of the sanctions list. We also highly value the independent and impartial work of the Ombudsman. As members of the Council, we must make full use of the sanctions provided for in the 1267 regime and must preserve their integrity and effectiveness. Secondly, the 1373 Committee, also known as the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), performs essential functions and, after the years of the pandemic, has been particularly active this year. France would like to pay tribute to the thorough work of the Counter- Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED), which is a valuable source of expertise for all institutions responsible for tackling counter-terrorism. CTED must continue to have access to all countries and all actors, including civil society, and must be able to continue to carry out all its tasks, which help consolidate the rigorous framework established for respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in the fight against terrorism. We hope that CTED can quickly return to normal operations. The CTC allows us to reflect on the evolving terrorist threat. As Chair, India organized a special meeting in New Delhi, to great success. We once again congratulate India for that meeting, which gave us an opportunity to reflect collectively on the new methods of financing terrorism, a priority subject for France, particularly since the adoption of resolution 2462 (2019) and the adoption of the Paris Agenda in 2018 on the occasion of the No Money for Terror Conference, the latest session of which was held in India last week. We were also pleased to discuss together in New Delhi the challenges of combating online terrorist propaganda, a subject that we are also promoting, with many partners, through the Christchurch Call. The CTC’s exchanges with all digital actors, particularly private ones, were particularly productive and helpful. Finally, let us recall that resolution 1540 (2004) is a pillar of our collective security system. The risk of radiological, biological, chemical and nuclear materials and delivery systems falling into the hands of terrorists remains high, and proliferation channels are becoming more diverse. We need to do more in the area of assistance, whether in terms of securing sensitive materials and goods, strengthening border controls or establishing export-control mechanisms. The 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts play an essential role that we believe deserves to be better defined, and we hope that will be the case in the context of the negotiations under way for the renewal of its mandate by the end of the month.

I thank the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015); 1373 (2001); and 1540 (2004) for their comprehensive briefings and for their able leadership of the Committees. Although each of the Committees has a distinct mandate, they share a common purpose — tackling the threat to international peace and security posed by terrorist groups and non-State actors. The United Kingdom encourages their closer cooperation, as in this meeting today. I thank the Chair of the 1540 Committee for his hard work in support of the comprehensive review, including the successful open-ended consultations held this year. That important process raises Member States’ awareness of obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) and informs the Committee’s deliberations on its future. The United Kingdom has continued its advocacy of addressing the issue of proliferation finance. We hope that the 1540 Committee will do more to support Member States in addressing that challenge in future and we look forward to adopting a forward-looking mandate for the Committee in the coming days. Let me underscore my country’s commitment to preventing the proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and their means of delivery. If non-State actors used those weapons, the consequences could be devastating, with global effects. We therefore call on all States to implement their obligations under resolution 1540 (2004) in full. The United Kingdom appreciates the focus of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) on emerging technologies, including at the recent CTC meeting in New Delhi, where the Committee benefited from a wide range of briefers. For our work to be effective, the perspectives of technical experts, civil society, human rights defenders, the private sector and academia are invaluable. We commend the work of the 1267 Committee. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team’s analysis of the evolving threat and the effectiveness of sanctions remains a crucial resource for Member States, and we welcome the work by the Chair, the Secretariat and the Ombudsperson to uphold transparency and due process. Terrorism remains a significant threat to international peace and security. Only through the effective and coordinated implementation of the mandates of the three Committees can it be meaningfully addressed.

At the outset, I want to thank the Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015); 1373 (2001); and 1540 (2004) for their informative briefings this morning, and to express Ireland’s sincere gratitude to all three Chairs for their excellent stewardship of their respective Committees in 2022. Today’s briefings underline the unfortunate reality that terrorism remains a grave threat to international peace and security. Terrorist groups  — in particular Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Qaida and their affiliates — are growing in strength throughout Africa. ISIL-Khorasan continues to pose a severe threat in Afghanistan, while Al-Qaida is finding safe haven there under Taliban rule. ISIL also retains the capacity to mount high-profile attacks in Syria and Iraq. For Ireland, those negative developments highlight the need to correct our course and readjust our counter- terrorism responses. The Council must place a greater focus on tackling the underlying drivers of terrorism and violent extremism. Instead of focusing solely on containing terrorism, the Council must seek ways to prevent it. Doing that effectively requires whole-of- society approaches that are inclusive of civil society and are gender-responsive. Throughout Ireland’s Council tenure, we have consistently stressed the importance of placing human rights at the heart of all counter-terrorism responses. Too often, however, human rights are either sidelined or actively undermined. In that regard, we recently hosted an event that spotlighted the ways in which counter-terrorism financing measures are misused to target civil society, humanitarian actors and human rights defenders. Such measures are counterproductive where efforts to counter terrorism are concerned and can constitute violations of international human rights law. That is why Ireland believes that the Council must work harder to ensure that counter-terrorism measures, including sanctions, do not impede humanitarian action. In that regard, Ireland, together with our colleagues from the United States, has introduced a draft resolution providing for a humanitarian exemption across all sanctions regimes. We urge all Council members to support that initiative, thereby allowing aid to reach populations at risk. In a challenging global security environment, 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. Nor are we dealing in hypotheticals. The investigative work of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) reveals evidence of chemical-weapon attacks by ISIL in Iraq and the incentivization of the use of such weapons by ISIL’s senior leadership. UNITAD’s work reaffirms the importance of maintaining and expanding cooperation between the 1540, 1267 and 1373 Committees, as well as their expert groups. Such cooperation includes regular meetings, the sharing of relevant information and engagement on issues of mutual concern. Ireland also underscores the importance and value of joint visits, including the participation of the 1267 Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team and 1540 Group of Experts on relevant Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate country visits. We would also like to take this opportunity to commend the Chair of the 1540 Committee for the conduct of the comprehensive review, which has provided an important opportunity to review the work of the Committee, including with the broader United Nations membership, on a key part of the non-proliferation architecture. In conclusion, Ireland looks forward to the renewal of the mandate of the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts later this month.

Let me begin by expressing my delegation’s appreciation for the briefings delivered by the outgoing Chairs of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015); 1373 (2001); and 1540 (2004) and thanking them for the work done in their respective Committees. The joint briefing demonstrates the ways in which the Council can become more transparent about the work it does before the entire membership, and we strongly support the expansion of that practice to other areas, because we believe transparency is critical to increasing the Council’s credibility and effectiveness. The outgoing Chairs provided us with rich information about the work that has been done and remains to be completed. We commend Mexico for its good stewardship of the 1540 Committee and appreciate the inclusion of various stakeholders in consultations, including civil society. In our opinion, that is something we should build on and further strengthen. Likewise, we congratulate Norway on its chairship of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015). We strongly support the sanctions regime until basic, internationally guaranteed rights are respected by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan. We condemn terrorist violence and ideology in the strongest terms and support all efforts to hold their perpetrators to account. In the same vein, we appreciate the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee under India’s stewardship and support efforts to expose terrorist ties and hold those responsible to account. We remain deeply concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Al-Hol and other camps, which provide fertile ground for recruitment by Da’esh, Al-Qaida and other groups. We call on all in positions of power to help protect the most vulnerable, especially women and children. That includes their dignified repatriation to their countries of citizenship and their reintegration into them.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Ghana. I thank Ambassador Trine Heimerback for the joint statement delivered on behalf of the Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004), as well as for her important work as Chair of the 1267 Committee and her briefing on the work of that Committee. I also thank the Permanent Representatives of India and Mexico, Ambassadors Kamboj and De la Fuente Ramírez, for their leadership of their respective Committees and for their briefings. Since the beginning of the year, and as was noted in the briefings we have had today, there have been many encouraging global initiatives and developments to counter terrorism. Through concerted efforts, we have demonstrated a willingness to work together and improve our ability to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Terrorist groups cannot be allowed to triumph. We must therefore deepen the coordinated work of the three Committees and the collaboration among their experts if we are to stop terrorists from purveying their untold misery to humankind, destroying nations, societies and economies and extinguishing the lives of many innocent people. We therefore hope that within the context of the 1267 Committee, the stalled review of the Committee’s work and guidelines will be overcome and a consensus will be found. We also hope to see a renewal of the travel-ban exemption for an additional 90 days for listed individuals and entities under the sanctions regime. We urge flexibility and constructive engagement in that regard. The 1373 Committee continues to be an important counter-terrorism platform. Ghana endorses the further engagement of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate in addressing the growing threats of terrorism in the Middle East, Central and South Asia and parts of Africa. We thank the Chair of the Committee and the Government of India for hosting the Committee’s special meeting in October, with a focus on countering new and emerging technologies used for terrorist purposes. We welcome the adoption of the forward-looking Delhi declaration and appreciate that it will serve as a non-binding benchmark for countering the new narratives of terrorists. With respect to the 1540 Committee, we acknowledge the hard work of its Chair and the open and inclusive manner in which he has carried out consultations and negotiations on the entire review process. Ghana recognizes resolution 1540 (2004) as an essential component of the global non-proliferation architecture for preventing non-State actors from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction. We believe that given the resolution’s preventive nature, it is vital that Member States accept and implement it. While we are encouraged by the progress being made by States towards the full implementation of the resolution, its effective implementation, as has been indicated here before, remains a daunting task, especially given the evolving nature of the activities of non-State actors, as well as advances in science and technology. In that regard, we believe that the Committee should maintain and further deepen its engagement with Member States through its outreach events in order to encourage States and civil-society actors to continue to fulfil their obligations under the resolution. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that as Member States, we should always endeavour to stay a step ahead of terrorists and their nefarious agendas. Reacting to the threat they pose may be too late. It is in that regard that we continue to work with all other regional and international actors to deepen the implementation of the Accra Initiative as a preventive mechanism against the threat posed by terrorist groups to the Initiative’s participating countries in West Africa and the Sahel. The transnational links of terror groups must be broken, and all of us as Member States can play a useful role in that regard. We are grateful for the reports of the three Committees and encourage their further efforts. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.