S/PV.9550 Security Council

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General, Office of Counter-Terrorism; Ms. Natalia Gherman, Executive Director, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate; and Mr. Jürgen Stock, Secretary General of INTERPOL. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2024/117, which contains the eighteenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat. I now give the floor to Mr. Voronkov. Mr. Voronkov: I thank the Security Council for the opportunity to present a briefing on the eighteenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh to international peace and security (S/2024/117) and the United Nations efforts in support of Member States to counter the threat. I am pleased to be joined by Assistant Secretary- General and Executive Director of the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate Natalia Gherman to present this report, which was prepared jointly by our offices and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, led by Mr. Justin Hustwitt, and I look forward to the briefing by the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr. Jürgen Stock. INTERPOL is indeed a key member of our Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. I am very grateful to Mr. Stock for his excellent cooperation. I also take this opportunity to lament the numerous casualties and the human suffering caused by terrorism globally and to offer my sincere condolences to all Governments and peoples affected by such violence. The tragedy, destruction and suffering caused by terrorism should serve as a catalyst to renew the international commitment to not only remedy its horrifying impact but also — and most importantly — to step up efforts to prevent such attacks in the first place. The Office of Counter-Terrorism will continue to work with Member States to that end, including to support survivor- centred, gender-sensitive and human rights-compliant approaches to countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism conducive to terrorism. While providing some additional details on the group’s evolution, the present report reinforces the main trend observed during the past few years, namely, that Da’esh continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security, notably in conflict zones, despite the significant progress achieved by Member States in countering the threat. Such progress has translated into a sizeable reduction in the group’s operational capacities in some regions. The prolonged delay in announcing a new leader after the killing of his predecessor earlier in 2023 is assessed as reflecting internal challenges and difficulties in ensuring the new leader’s security. Moreover, Member States’ efforts to counter the financing of terrorism continue to yield tangible results. Da’esh’s financial reserves are currently estimated at between $10 million and $25 million, down from hundreds of millions a few years ago. Beyond the Da’esh core, important progress has also been achieved on countering the capacities of Da’esh affiliates. In countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, and in Egypt and Mozambique, terrorist activity by those affiliates has been reduced by the effective counter-terrorism efforts of Member States. In Afghanistan, efforts by the de facto authorities have reportedly had an impact on the ability of the Da’esh affiliate to conduct attacks inside the country. Nevertheless, the group maintains an intention to carry out attacks abroad. Despite those important achievements, the risk of a Da’esh resurgence remains. Since November, the Da’esh core has increased its attacks in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, attesting to the core’s resilience and adaptability. With respect to other parts of the world, the threat levels have been raised in several European Member States, while in Southeast Asia, the Philippines has faced increasing terrorist attacks. However, parts of Africa, notably West Africa and the Sahel, remain the most affected by the activity of Da’esh and its affiliates. The situation in that region has deteriorated in the reporting period and is becoming increasingly more complex, as local ethnic and regional disputes are conflated with the agenda and operations of those groups. As previously reported, Da’esh affiliates continues to operate with increasing autonomy from the Da’esh core. Should that trend of greater autonomy persist, the report points to the risk that a vast area of instability could emerge from Mali, reaching the borders of Nigeria. Countering the threat of terrorism in Africa remains a priority for the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. The African counter-terrorism summit, originally planned for April, was designed to be African-led and African-owned. However, as the process could not yet ensure the full inclusion of all African Member States, it had to be postponed. The Office of Counter-Terrorism will continue to strengthen its support to Member States and regional organizations in Africa, including through our programme offices in Nairobi and Rabat. While the trends and developments outlined in the report are concerning, they also call for reflection and action on at least three fronts. First, there are the grave implications of terrorism and sometimes also of counter-terrorism. In addition to immense human suffering, terrorism threatens international peace and security and hampers sustainable development. And time and again we have seen counter-terrorism measures being misused or creating unintended consequences. In order to prevent that, it is crucial to ensure that counter-terrorism measures are grounded in international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law. The dire and deteriorating situation of the individuals, mostly women and children, who are still stranded in camps and other facilities in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic is just one illustration of such unintended consequences. A few countries made important progress in the reporting period in repatriating those individuals. However, as successive reports have highlighted, the pace of repatriation remains too slow. I echo the Secretary-General’s repeated calls for Member States with nationals in such facilities to consider the implications of the current situation and to scale up their efforts to facilitate their citizens’ safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation. The United Nations remains available to support Member States on request through its Global Framework on United Nations Support to Member States on Individuals Returned from the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq. Secondly, there are limits to counter-terrorism operations centred on force. The persistent threat posed by Da’esh, despite its significant losses, should serve as a reminder that more multidimensional approaches are necessary to address terrorism and its drivers. Force alone is not the answer. Comprehensive responses, firmly grounded in political strategies, anchored in international law and based on all-of-Government and all-of-society approaches, are essential. While Member States remain primarily responsible for countering terrorism, there is much to gain from multi-stakeholder engagement in the design and implementation of counter-terrorism responses. The United Nations stands ready to work with Member States in that regard. The Office of Counter-Terrorism continues to provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates entrusted to the Secretary-General across the United Nations system. In addition, our Global Counter- Terrorism Coordination Compact ensures coherence and the coordination of efforts among its 46 entities, maximizing the impact of our capacity-building. And thirdly, there is the need for prevention. Monday, 12 February marked the second time we commemorated the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism, as promulgated by the General Assembly in its resolution 77/243. Preventing terrorism from happening is always more effective than remedying its impact, especially on human lives. It is also more cost-efficient. Particularly in contexts where terrorist groups exploit conflict dynamics, addressing the conflict itself remains our best hope of mitigating the threat posed by Da’esh and other terrorist groups. Further prevention efforts, including through adequate financing, remain indispensable. The United Nations system is adapting its capacity-building support to the evolution of the threat highlighted in the report. Our Countering Terrorist Travel Programme is now supporting 69 Member States, and the new Integrated Border Stability Mechanism for West Africa will provide a coordination platform among United Nations entities and INTERPOL in the region. The Global Fusion Cells Programme provides assistance to more than 20 Member States to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and coordination. We are also increasing our support to address the challenges and leverage the opportunities presented by new technologies, including unmanned aerial systems. In that regard, I call on Member States to favourably consider the Secretary- General’s proposal outlined in his policy brief on a New Agenda for Peace, which is that Member States should develop and adequately invest in national and regional prevention strategies to address all forms of violence, including terrorism. Terrorism is a multifaceted threat, and countering it requires multilateral and decisive efforts. As tensions rise in various parts of the world, we need to see the consensus among Member States against terrorism serve to help find common ground, reduce friction and reaffirm our commitment to multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow. The Office of Counter-Terrorism, including through the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Coordination Compact, will continue to support Member States in their efforts to counter the threat.

I thank Mr. Voronkov for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Gherman. Ms. Gherman: I am pleased to be briefing the Security Council on the eighteenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat (S/2024/117). I would also like to thank the Office of Counter-Terrorism, headed by Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, led by Mr. Justin Hustwitt, and all our other United Nations partners for their close collaboration with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) on the report. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of the Secretary-General of INTERPOL, Mr. Jürgen Stock, and to thank him for the close partnership that INTERPOL has maintained with CTED over the years. The transnational and decentralized character of the threat posed by Da’esh and its affiliates continues to demand a nimble international strategy focusing on multilateralism, information-sharing and cooperation across borders. Da’esh and its affiliates are becoming more ingrained in parts of the African continent. They are exploiting political instability and expanding their radius of influence, operations and territorial control in the Sahel, which is creating growing concerns for coastal West Africa. The African continent now accounts for almost half of terrorist acts worldwide, with about 25 per cent of those attacks in the central Sahel. It is a priority of the United Nations counter- terrorism architecture to support African Member States and partners in addressing those trends. Meanwhile, enduring challenges persist in the Middle East and South-East and Central Asia, with indications that Da’esh is attempting a resurgence in those subregions as well. CTED remains committed to supporting all Member States in countering the threat posed by Da’esh and its affiliates, including their attempts to regroup. On behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, CTED assesses and facilitates the delivery of technical assistance for the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions on counter- terrorism. Based on our recommendations and analysis, several initiatives have been implemented by United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to address the threat posed by Da’esh and its affiliates. They include supporting the prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals in a human-rights-compliant, gender- responsive and age-appropriate manner. They also involve developing technical assistance plans in support of Governments’ efforts to prevent and counter terrorism, such as that recently adopted in Benin. United Nations entities are also engaged in strengthening States’ capacity to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons, protect vulnerable targets and disrupt terrorist travel under the Countering Terrorist Travel Programme. In addition, United Nations partners act to prevent terrorism financing and the use by Da’esh of information and communication technologies; develop counter-terrorism narratives; strengthen the resilience of societies and support the reconstruction of cultural-heritage sites. Among all of that important work, I want to highlight two areas that are a priority for CTED. The first is addressing the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. Incidents around the world have demonstrated that terrorists, including Da’esh, are increasingly using uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) for intelligence gathering and attacks. The sophistication of those groups in producing small and inexpensive weaponized UASes is also increasing. To address that growing concern, in December the Counter-Terrorism Committee adopted the Abu Dhabi Guiding Principles (see S/2023/1035). Those non-binding principles are intended to guide Member States in their response to the threats posed by the use of UASes for terrorist purposes, including against critical infrastructure and soft targets. They also provide a framework for United Nations entities to design appropriate capacity-building initiatives. This year the Counter-Terrorism Committee also expects to adopt non-binding guiding principles on preventing, detecting and disrupting the use of new and emerging financial technologies, as well as information and communications technologies, for terrorist purposes. In the light of the rapid technological advances in those fields, public-private partnerships are essential in countering the use of technologies for terrorist purposes. That is a key finding of CTED’s recent analytical brief on establishing effective public- private partnerships to counter the financing of terrorism, which was launched last week. The second area I want to highlight is ensuring accountability and justice. This year will mark 10 years since the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), on the prosecution, reintegration and rehabilitation of foreign terrorist fighters. Bringing terrorists to justice is an important commitment on the part of all United Nations partners who have continued supporting accountability efforts for the crimes committed by Da’esh in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as in the Sahel and the Maghreb and also in Europe. The recommendations and analysis that CTED provides to Member States have also increasingly focused on ensuring accountability and justice for terrorist-related crimes by applying the relevant legal frameworks and prosecuting all acts of violence committed by terrorists. The prosecution rate for crimes of sexual and gender-based violence remains low, despite the fact that such crimes are a recurring tactic of terrorist groups, including Da’esh and its affiliates, as we have seen in Iraq, the Syrian Arab Republic and Nigeria. In November, CTED published a landmark report entitled Towards Meaningful Accountability for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Linked to Terrorism. We are grateful to Switzerland for its support in the completion of that important initiative. As the threat posed by Da’esh and its affiliates evolves and spreads, CTED will continue to cooperate closely with Member States, United Nations entities, international, regional and subregional organizations, civil society and the private sector. I would like to reiterate my Office’s full commitment to actively supporting the Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

I thank Ms. Gherman for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Stock. Mr. Stock: I am honoured to be given the opportunity to address the Security Council once again on behalf of INTERPOL and in support of global law enforcement. I would like to thank Guyana for inviting me to speak and for its promotion of gender equality and inclusivity in working towards international security. I have listened with great interest to the briefings by Under-Secretary- General Voronkov and Executive Director Gherman on the excellent eighteenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh (S/2024/117). The report highlights several developments and trends relating to Da’esh that are of concern and that align with what INTERPOL is witnessing every day through the global police network. The first is the opportunistic exploitation of any weakness or gaps in the security landscape. Where underlying drivers have led to instability and conflict, Da’esh and its associates have been quick to manipulate narratives, expand their presence and gain influence in communities. Young people are particularly vulnerable to recruitment and exploitation and women and girls are subject to sexual and gender-based violence. I have listened with horror to the accounts in previous Security Council meetings of survivors such as Ms. Nadia Murad and Ms. Farida Khalaf as they fight for justice. We know that building skills for specialized police and prosecutors in investigations of sexual and gender- based violence is essential. That is why INTERPOL is committed to bringing a gender perspective to global policing. The second development concern is the improvement in Da’esh’s capabilities, especially through the exploitation of emerging technologies. In that regard, our Innovation Centre has been focusing on the risks of uncrewed aircraft systems for six years. INTERPOL is also working closely with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism on the CT TECH initiative to help law enforcement identify and prevent the exploitation for terrorist purposes of enablers such as encryption services, video distribution tools and new propaganda platforms. A third threat is the alignment with transnational organized crime. In our Project ENACT, INTERPOL builds analytical units in our member countries that collect data, for example, on the trafficking of cocaine through North and West Africa, mostly by sea and along the Sahelian route. Our findings show interactions between terrorist groups and criminal organizations where their interests and areas of operation converge to benefit both sides. The groups operate interdependently, without structural connections, but may share connections with smugglers and financiers who may ultimately help expand their capabilities. Since I first briefed the Security Council on foreign terrorist fighters in 2015 (see S/PV.7453), the international community has made truly monumental efforts in countering the phenomenon and in implementing resolutions 2178 (2014), 2253 (2015) and 2396 (2017). In turn, INTERPOL is fully committed to its role of global information hub, as recognized by the Security Council. As a result, Da’esh has been greatly diminished, but not eradicated. And it is in the darkness that Da’esh is most dangerous. Its ultimate objectives and targets are no less ambitious than before. Its aims go well beyond its current spheres of influence. The world was taken by surprise when Da’esh leveraged the chaos of war to capture and control large areas of Syria and Iraq in 2014. We must not turn our backs and be lulled into a false sense of security. From a law enforcement perspective, it is about detecting, tracking and stopping those who fill the ranks of Da’esh. To achieve that, INTERPOL’s operational support focuses on three axes: biometrics, border security and battlefield information. Our biometrics operation last March in Somalia enabled the capture of data on almost 300 terrorist suspects, using mobile devices. That additional information pays off at border security checks. For example, during an operation in December in West Africa, an individual at a border crossing point matched with the biometrics of an INTERPOL alert for terrorism links with a jihadist group. The alert had been issued during a previous INTERPOL counter- terrorism operation in another African country three years earlier. And battlefield intelligence on bombmakers can lead to arrests across continents. Last April, Chilean authorities informed INTERPOL they had identified an individual subject to a Red Notice for bringing explosive material into Lebanon and its connection to the 2020 explosion in the port of Beirut. He was arrested in Madrid with a view to extradition to Lebanon. Those three elements can be brought together in a single INTERPOL operation  — for example, in November, when 10 countries across Central, South and East Asia coordinated over 1,700 arrests while disrupting the illicit trafficking of arms, weapons, ammunition and precursor materials for improvised explosive devices and intercepting foreign terrorist fighters and criminal fugitives moving across borders. Using those practical actions, INTERPOL will continue to support its 196 member countries and work closely with our United Nations counterparts to disrupt the activities of Da’esh. I urge the international community to do the following. First, it should share information via INTERPOL — following the commitments of resolutions 2178 (2014) and 2396 (2017)  — to build an accurate cross-regional threat picture through our criminal analysis files, our Bioterrorism Prevention Platform and Security Council-INTERPOL special notices. Secondly, it should run systematic screening checks against INTERPOL databases at its borders, to protect its countries and ensure that Da’esh members are tracked and caught. Finally, it should ensure the sustainability of INTERPOL counter-terrorism operations and capacity- building initiatives, particularly in Africa and Central Asia, as high priority theatres targeted by Da’esh resurgence. In that regard, we appreciate the support of the United States in our Gemini project which enables the extension of connectivity to borders in member countries such as Iraq. In a world that sometimes seems overwhelmed with crises, it is understandable that we prioritize what appear to be the most urgent conflicts. But we must not let Da’esh go unchecked as it continues to cause harm among the most vulnerable.

I thank Mr. Stock for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Voronkov, Executive Director Gherman and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team for their preparation of the eighteenth Secretary-General’s report (S/2024/117) on the threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). I thank Secretary General Stock as well for his briefing. We remain particularly focused on the increasing terrorism threat across Africa outlined in the Secretary-General’s report. We share his concern over developments in West Africa and the Sahel where the situation is deteriorating and becoming more complex with the prospect of greater instability. We continue to provide our African partners critical assistance in disrupting and degrading the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) and Al-Qaida affiliates in a manner consistent with international law. We welcome the Integrated Border Stability Mechanism launched by the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and INTERPOL, which should assist West African Governments in strengthening border governance and security cooperation while respecting human rights. Broadly, the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate’s assessments and reports are a critical tool to guide United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities’ provision of technical assistance. The strengthening of monitoring and the evaluation of projects across the Compact will improve the ability to report on impact and results. We also encourage Member States to play an active role in updating and implementing the sanctions stipulated under resolution 1267 (1999) to counter ISIS and Al-Qaida. Turning to Syria and Iraq, an international counter- Da’esh coalition is working with local partners to address threats. Attacks on coalition forces, including more than 170 attacks in recent months on United States’ forces by Iran-aligned militia groups, directly undermine the international community’s ability to prevent ISIS from reconstituting. The United States will continue to work with the Iraqi security forces, including Kurdish Peshmerga forces, to build up their capabilities and prevent an ISIS resurgence. Additionally, repatriation of detained third-country national ISIS fighters and displaced persons in al-Hol and Roj camps in north-east Syria continues to be a top priority for the United States. Repatriation is the most durable solution to the crisis, and it is necessary to prevent ISIS’ resurgence in the region. The situation in those camps, which have more than 45,000 people, two thirds of whom are children, constitutes an urgent humanitarian, human rights and security challenge. We have seen an increase in repatriations over the past six months, especially by the Government of Iraq, and hope it is a sign of more to come. Addressing conflict-related sexual violence is another United States priority. We value the United Nations work in supporting survivor-centred investigations and justice and accountability for conflict-related sexual violence linked to terrorism, particularly in Iraq and Nigeria. Further, we welcome United Nations entities’ designing effective strategies to prevent violent extremism that incorporate context-specific gender perspectives, as noted in the Secretary-General’s report. Addressing the threat posed by ISIS cannot be effectively done if women’s voices and those of marginalized groups are not elevated as part of the process to fight violent extremism. Turning to Afghanistan, we take note of the Secretary-General’s assessment of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K). The Taliban have made efforts to counter ISIL-K, and it is critical they adhere to their counter-terrorism commitments. The Secretary-General’s report rightly recognizes that the fight against terrorism requires efforts beyond security-centred approaches. The international community must continue investing in whole-of- society approaches that respect human rights and the rule of law in order to effectively prevent and counter the spread of ISIS.

First of all, I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Voronkov, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) Gherman and Secretary General of INTERPOL Stock for their briefings. Over the years, the Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), CTED of the Security Council and INTERPOL have done a great deal of productive work as committed champions and facilitators of international counter- terrorism cooperation, which China commends. Today terrorism remains a dire threat to the international community. The two terror attacks that recently rocked Pakistan are a stark reminder that the scourge of terrorism, often insidious, is far from eliminated. China strongly condemns those attacks and stands squarely behind Pakistan’s unflagging effort to eradicate terrorism in the interest of security and stability. According to the Secretary-General’s report (S/2024/117), Da’esh and its affiliates remain very active. Their operations are conflated with ethnic and regional disputes. They have capitalized on the tensions in Gaza to inflame religious intolerance and mobilize lone actors to commit attacks. As the Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues to escalate, its spillover effects have also led to a surge in hate crimes and a greater risk of terror attacks in multiple countries. Our top priority at the moment is to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible in order to prevent the region from slipping into even greater peril. Confronted with this complicated situation, which is bound to be an uphill struggle, the international community has no choice but to show greater solidarity, intensify cooperation and spare no effort to combat terrorism. First, we must show stronger political resolve, which should be combined with the right mindset. Terrorists have a wide-ranging footprint and complex and sophisticated organizational networks, and they move around frequently, which makes it difficult for any individual country to tackle and eradicate them on its own. The international community should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security; support the central coordinating role of the United Nations in international counter-terrorism operations; fully implement the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy; and combat all terrorist groups and individuals listed by the Council. There is no such thing as a good or bad terrorist. We must resolutely reject double standards, oppose selective counter-terrorism and put an end to the politicization and instrumentalization of the counter-terrorism agenda. Secondly, we must focus on key areas and optimize the allocation of resources. According to the Secretary- General’s report, the concentration of terrorist forces in Afghanistan and the collusion between the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and other terrorist groups, including the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, are not only undermining Afghanistan’s own security but threatening regional peace and security as well. The international community must remain highly vigilant in that regard and unite to combat all terrorist forces in order to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a hub for terrorist groups. Africa has long been at the forefront of international counter-terrorism efforts. The terrorist situation in West Africa and the Sahel is grim, and a significant reason for that is the lack of counter-terrorism capacity. The United Nations and the international community at large should take into account the needs of African countries and prioritize resource support in strengthening capacity- building at the legislative, judicial and law-enforcement levels in those countries so that their counter-terrorism efforts are more effective. Thirdly, we must be committed to a holistic approach aimed at eliminating the root causes of terrorism. The Secretary-General’s report repeatedly underscores that terrorism cannot be eradicated through security measures alone. Counter-terrorism efforts must be seen as an integrated, multi-pronged system that encompasses political, economic, judicial, social and other means as a package. It is essential to promote dialogue on an equal footing, mutual learning and appreciation and harmonious coexistence among different civilizations and religions, and to reject the so-called clash-of-civilizations theory. We must maintain our efforts to find political solutions to hotspot issues and prevent terrorist forces from gaining strength and influence by exploiting conflict situations. We must promote sustainable economic and social development and break the vicious cycle in which poverty begets terrorism and terrorism leads to poverty. We should focus on youth, education and employment issues in order to prevent young people from falling prey to the demagoguery of terrorist groups and led astray. Carrying out preventive counter- terrorism and de-radicalization efforts should be at the forefront of our work, with a focus on tackling the misuse of the Internet to spread terrorist and extremist ideologies and on reducing the space for their survival. International counter-terrorism cooperation has always been important to China, and we have been an active player in that regard. Through bilateral and multilateral channels we have helped developing countries, especially African countries, to strengthen anti-terrorism capacity-building. Through the China- United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund, China has provided support for UNOCT and CTED counter-terrorism projects. We recently issued a white paper entitled China’s Legal Framework and Measures for Counter-Terrorism, which provides a systematic overview of China’s practice and experience in enhancing the rule of law in combating terrorism. Looking ahead, we will continue to work hand in hand with the rest of the international community to fully implement the global security initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping to combat terrorism in all its forms and jointly maintain international peace and security.

I thank Under- Secretary-General Voronkov, Executive Director Gherman and the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr. Stock, for their briefings on the eighteenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh (S/2024/117) to international peace and security. As a new member of the Security Council, speaking for the first time on the theme of counter-terrorism, I would like to begin by reaffirming the Republic of Korea’s position that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of motive, and whenever, wherever and by whomever they are committed. With regard to the report of the Secretary-General, we share the concerns about the fact that the threat of Da’esh and its affiliates remains high, particularly in conflict zones, and despite the commendable progress that we have made to counter global terrorism. It is deeply worrisome that Da’esh is exporting terror beyond the region, including through the recent deadly terrorist attacks in Iran and Pakistan for which the group has claimed responsibility. We are also particularly unsettled by the global terrorism landscape. Africa, particularly West Africa and the Sahel region, has become a terror epicentre. In Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, Da’esh has been successfully suppressed in recent years, but the risk of its resurgence remains. In Europe, Da’esh has attempted to tap into and exploit public sentiment using social networking sites, increasing the risk of potential attacks. In addition, we are facing growing threats posed by the use for terrorist purposes of emerging technologies such as social media and artificial intelligence, new financial instruments and unmanned aerial systems. In order to effectively respond to the rapidly evolving nature of terrorist threats, we must take a proactive approach that is more relevant and up to date. Against that backdrop, I would like to share some observations. First, in Africa, fatalities linked to militant Islamist violence claimed more than 23,000 lives in 2023 alone, with about 50 per cent of those deaths in the Sahel. That is a near-triple increase since 2020, when the region’s first unconstitutional change of Government in the recent past occurred. Da’esh and its affiliates have exploited existing conflicts, political chaos and grievances to expand their influence and local roots while using sexual and gender-based violence as a tactic of terrorism to advance their agenda. The expansion of Da’esh and its affiliates in West Africa and the Sahel demonstrates that military action alone cannot solve deeply entrenched problems. In order to address the underlying conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, we should prioritize comprehensive approaches that invest in development and security capacities, strengthen the rule of law and human rights and integrate gender perspectives. For its part, the Republic of Korea has contributed more than $18 million over the past decade to the African Union’s peace and security activities, and has joined the United Nations Joint Appeal for Counter-Terrorism in Africa initiative. We have also launched a multi-year development and peacebuilding project for the Sahel amounting to $20 million between 2022 and 2026. Secondly, we encourage improving the leveraging of United Nations counter-terrorism sanctions in order to prevent terrorists from recruiting, securing funds and trafficking illicit weapons. As we have seen in the case of Al-Qaida, sanctions are effective tools for countering terrorism that disrupt operations and curtail resources. However, the success of sanctions hinges on Member States’ commitment and capacity for implementing them. In that context, the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) plays a crucial role in assessing the gaps in Member States’ counter-terrorism capabilities and providing key technical assistance. Building on this, the Office of Counter-Terrorism should strengthen its strategic coordination role and monitor counter- terrorism efforts within the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. With respect to that, CTED’s visit to Korea last year was a valuable opportunity for us to review counter- terrorism posture. We demonstrated well-established counter-terrorism legislation, modernized border control and strong cybersecurity capabilities, with effective public-private partnership, to prevent online radicalization and the spread of violent extremism. These measures were well received by CTED, and we will work to improve them further. Thirdly, new technologies provide opportunities for terrorism and counter-terrorism alike. As such, we must remain ahead of the curve. We welcome the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s development of a set of non-binding guiding principles on uncrewed aerial systems, information and communications technology and new terrorism financing. The Republic of Korea will actively participate in ongoing discussions on the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s principles and share its best practices and experiences in the field. The Republic of Korea announced its plans last year for an anti-drone system to prevent and disrupt drone terrorist attacks against critical infrastructure. We are also making efforts to update domestic laws to prevent terrorist financing through cryptocurrency. The recent cases of successful interventions to block such attempts in my country have highlighted the importance of global collaboration in addressing the abuse of new financial technologies for terrorism. No one is immune from terrorism. It is particularly alarming that the current global instability, fuelled by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and the overlapping conflicts in the Sahel, is opening new opportunities and expanding dangerous breeding ground for terrorists. The Security Council, as the guardian of international peace and security, must harness its collective efforts to fight terrorism globally in a more effective manner.

I thank Under-Secretary- General Voronkov, Executive Director of the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate Natalia Gherman and INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock for their briefings. I also thank the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team for its work on the report. Despite continued efforts by Member States and United Nations entities, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) remains a serious threat to international peace and security. Terrorism causes greater instability in already vulnerable regions. Terrorists exploit fragile and unstable local security situations for their own purposes. Japan is deeply alarmed by the deteriorating and complex situations in conflict zones, including, but not limited to, the situations in West Africa and the Sahel. With regard to combating terrorism, let me highlight the following three points. First, we must address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism with a long-term and comprehensive approach. A security-centred approach alone is insufficient to counter this threat. Japan echoes the Secretary-General’s view, expressed in his report (S/2024/117), regarding the necessity of comprehensive, multi-tiered and multi-stakeholder responses that put the primary focus on preventing violent extremism conducive to terrorism. In this connection, we emphasize the importance of a holistic approach through the lens of human security, by promoting the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Japan is committed to supporting capacity-building efforts, in cooperation with Member States and United Nations entities in that regard. The importance of a whole-of-society approach cannot be overstated. Such an approach allows us to address multifaceted challenges from diverse perspectives, ensuring that all stakeholders, including civil society, are engaged in a cohesive and coordinated response. In this vein, we encourage Member States to incorporate the analysis and recommendations of the assessments of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate in their prevention strategies. Secondly, we need to address the challenges of people in vulnerable situations, especially women and youth, whose dignity and human rights must be respected. We are deeply concerned that women and girls are affected by sexual and gender-based violence committed by the ISIL. In that vein, particular emphasis should be put on integrating a gender perspective. Neglecting gender considerations not only undermines the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures but also risks worsening conditions that may foster terrorism and violent extremism. Therefore, it is crucial to integrate women and peace and security considerations into counter-terrorism efforts. This approach not only addresses the immediate impacts of terrorism on women and girls, but also empowers women and girls as pivotal players in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, thereby fostering more sustainable and lasting peace. Finally, Japan supports more effective usage of the sanctions regime under resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), seeking to disrupt financial networks that sustain terrorist operations. It is imperative to cut off the means of financing of terrorism. United Nations sanctions are an important tool under the Charter of the United Nations in the maintenance and restoration of international peace and security. Japan calls on Member States to fully and robustly implement sanctions measures to counter and prevent the threat posed by terrorist acts.

Mozambique wishes to express its gratitude to the presidency of the Security Council for convening this discussion on the challenges posed by terrorist acts to international peace and security. We thank Mr. Voronkov, Under-Secretary- General of the Office of Counter-Terrorism, Executive Director Gherman and Mr. Stock, Secretary General of INTERPOL, for their valuable and important insights. We welcome the Secretary-General’s report on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security (S/2024/117) and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in combating this threat. The persistent threat presented by Da’esh continues to be a legitimate concern for the international community. Despite significant setbacks, including the loss of its leaders and curtailment of its financial networks, Da’esh remains a formidable adversary, capable of inflicting considerable civilian casualties and human suffering. That entity’s degraded military capabilities in Iraq and Syria have not eliminated the risk of its resurgence, nor have they prevented it from projecting a threat beyond the Middle East. To the contrary, we find ourselves at a critical juncture, as the volatility and conflict in the Middle East, and in parts of the African continent, such as West Africa and the Sahel, present opportunities for Da’esh to metastasize further. Da’esh’s ability to intertwine with ongoing conflicts, adapt swiftly, use technology and merge with criminal networks presents a multifaceted challenge that requires a nuanced and robust response. Although the international community has made steadfast progress in countering Da’esh, largely owing to regional and international cooperation, we must not become complacent. The continuous need to adapt to the changing tactics and asymmetric threats posed by terrorist outfits and their kin cannot be overstated. We commend the pivotal role played by the United Nations through such initiatives as the Global Counter- Terrorism Coordination Compact, the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the response mechanisms developed by INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Financial Action Task Force to tackle and eventually defeat international terrorist groups. Those efforts rightly take into account the global nature of the threat and the necessity for a unified response. The use of cryptocurrencies and social media by Da’esh to fundraise and mobilize points to the need for vigilance and innovation in our counter-terrorism strategies. Moreover, the development and implementation of effective counternarratives and strategies to prevent and counter violent extremism are therefore crucial. We need to constantly stay ahead and attuned to the transformed landscape of counter-terrorism and leverage the opportunities offered by context-specific responses around the globe. One size fits all responses have proven to be counterproductive. We look forward to exploring the opportunities offered by resolution 2719 (2023) on financing African-led peace support operations to beef up Africa’s response capabilities with a robust enforcement mandate. We therefore welcome the Secretary-General’s emphasis in the New Agenda for Peace on the need for appropriate expertise to support counter-terrorism operations through the creation of strategic action groups, with support from the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, in support of African Union peace enforcement operations. Africa has proven time and again to be capable of doing its part, given the right tools and proper assistance. It is imperative that we continue to support comprehensive human rights and gender-sensitive programmes to address the challenges in rehabilitating and reintegrating returning nationals. The protection of those most vulnerable, particularly women and girls who have suffered from sexual and gender-based violence at the hands of Da’esh and other terrorist outfits, must remain a priority. We must strengthen our counter-terrorism cooperation, share knowledge and best practices, and remain committed to a multitiered and multi-stakeholder response that respects human rights and the rule of law. In that context, Mozambique is committed to do its fair share in the sustained efforts to combat terrorism with the support of our bilateral, regional and international partners and in collaboration with the United Nations and its counter-terrorism bodies. In our endeavours, we are steadfastly committed to the obligations set forth within the framework of the pertinent instruments of the United Nations, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community. To illustrate, in August 2023, the Government of Mozambique ratified Law No. 14/2023, which establishes the legal framework and measures for the prevention and combatting of money laundering and terrorist financing, and has undertaken a series of security, legal, judicial and administrative actions. As highlighted in the report, the Mozambican Defence Force, in partnership with the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique and the Rwandan Defence Forces, continues its relentless fight against the threat of terrorism, culminating most recently in the elimination of an operational leader in August 2023. In conclusion, we pledge Mozambique’s continuous commitment to supporting international efforts to combat the endemic spread of terrorism by fostering and leveraging synergies resulting from international cooperation. Let us stand united in our resolve to confront these challenges, ensuring a safer and more secure world for all.

We thank Under-Secretary-General Voronkov and the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED), Ms. Gherman, for their briefings on the activities of their United Nations counter-terrorism bodies. We highly value the efforts of the Office of Counter-Terrorism and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. We will continue to provide comprehensive support for their work. We also listened with interest to the statement by Mr. Stock. We have carefully studied the report of the Secretary-General (S/2024/117) on the threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), and we agree with many of the assessments contained therein. However, the document could benefit from reflecting several essential aspects. We regularly recall the need to address the root causes of the threat of terrorism and to strengthen genuine international cooperation in combating it. We are convinced that it will not be possible to eradicate this global problem as long as terrorists and extremists are used by a number of Western States to overthrow regimes that have fallen out of favour, via proxy wars or in other ways to achieve their geopolitical goals. Take for example the current map of the terrorist threat emanating from ISIL, Al-Qaida and affiliated groups. It clearly shows the persistence and growth of tensions in the Middle East, certain parts of Africa and Afghanistan — in other words, in those regions where significant foreign interference in the internal affairs of States has occurred or continues to occur, including under the pretext of counter-terrorism operations. Such disregard for sovereignty invariably leads to the destruction of statehood, rampant crime, terrorism, extremism and mass deaths of civilians. The collective West’s games of “war on terror” and attempts to overthrow leaders who have fallen out of favour, with varying degrees of success, have left an indelible bloody mark on those regions, which is clearly visible in the reports of the Secretary-General. But the matter is not limited to just a threat. There are a number of quite tangible and real related problems that have traditionally received very little attention in the Secretary-General’s reports. For example, the Secretary-General noted that when fleeing Afghanistan, the United States and other NATO allies abandoned a huge quantity of weapons there, which ended up in the hands of ISIL, Al-Qaida and other terrorists. No one was ever held accountable for that. It is worth noting that the experience of Afghanistan has taught nothing to those who supply weapons to Ukraine. We know for a fact that a significant number of these weapons are stolen and end up in the hands of terrorist groups and transnational criminal organizations in Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. That hardly brings stability to already troubled regions. The Kyiv regime is a black hole of corruption. The weapons sent there are fuelling terrorists, transnational offenders and other criminal elements around the world. Every State that accepts America’s offer to participate in fuelling the fire in Ukraine by supplying weapons should remember that this evil could very quickly return to their own home. It is particularly dangerous and extremely short-sighted for countries to try to join such reckless efforts when they already have major issues with implementing their own counter-terrorism obligations and addressing outbreaks of crime on their territory. That includes the case of Ecuador, for example. We understand that the United States promises Ecuador a king’s ransom. However, as experience shows, all those shipments bring is loss of life — and not only in Ukraine by far. When listening yet again to the all-too-familiar statements by Western countries regarding the importance of protecting human rights in the implementation of counter-terrorism measures and the need to respect international law, it is important to remember the grave violations of human rights committed during the West’s operations under the pretext of counter-terrorism in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria, as well as during the many years of French military presence in the Sahel. The head of the Niger’s Military Council recently spoke in detail about France’s role in the region, saying among other things that French intelligence services were working actively with local terrorist groups to destabilize the situation in his country. The sudden concerns of the representatives of the collective West about human rights stand in stark contrast to the term “collateral damage”, which they habitually use to cover up the numerous civilian casualties that have resulted from the indiscriminate bombing of cities and the allegedly high-precision attacks on terrorists carried out by these so-called advocates of human rights themselves. We all remember the Central Intelligence Agency’s secret prisons, including those in the European Union, and the inhumane conditions and torture in prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan, which Western soldiers recorded on their mobile phones in order to brag about them to friends and relatives. Neither should we forget that the so- called special detention facility in Guantanamo Bay is still open. Has anyone been held accountable for that? To conclude, I would like to touch on a few more points. The Secretary-General’s report notes the allegedly successful efforts of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD) — an investigative team designed to assist Iraq in ensuring accountability for crimes committed by ISIL. In that regard, we note that when establishing UNITAD, the Security Council designated as its main objective the collection and transfer of evidence to Iraq in order to ensure fair trials, hold terrorists to account and provide justice for the victims. There are still problems with the key component of UNITAD’s mission. No evidence has been handed over to Iraq. Local law-enforcement officials have yet to receive anything at all from UNITAD that could be used in criminal proceedings. The artificial delay in UNITAD’s implementation of its core mandate has led to the postponement of the trials of ISIL fighters for years now. As a result, many of them have meanwhile managed to flee Iraq and hide out in other countries. The continued failure to fulfil the key component of its mandate from the Council cannot be justified on the grounds of allegedly imperfect Iraqi legislation. UNITAD has an obligation to hand over evidence to Iraq, and it must do so before the end of its mandate, which the Security Council has renewed for the last time. UNITAD has less than nine months to ensure that a key part of its mission does not come to nothing — in other words, that it has been a total failure. In conclusion, we would like to specifically underscore that we attach great importance to the harm that unilateral coercive measures do to States’ capacity to fight terrorism. A number of developing countries are facing that serious challenge on a daily basis. In that connection, on 20 February Russia will convene an Arria Formula meeting of Council members to discuss the crucial issue of the impact of unilateral coercive measures on counter-terrorism efforts, and we invite everyone to take part.

I thank Under-Secretary- General Voronkov and Executive Director Gherman for their briefings. I also thank the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr. Jürgen Stock, for his contribution. The information in the Secretary-General’s latest report on Da’esh (S/2024/117) is deeply concerning. Da’esh and its allies remain a serious threat, especially in areas of conflict in Africa and the Middle East. Although its ability to launch attacks outside its strongholds seems reduced, Da’esh could easily become resurgent in Iraq and Syria if we reduce our effort to counter it. Additionally, Da’esh affiliates are growing in Africa and taking advantage of existing conflicts. It is vital to remember that terrorism thrives in areas of political instability, underdevelopment and injustice. Successful long-term strategies against terrorism must absolutely address those root causes. We cannot fight terrorism with military or police force alone. We need to prioritize peacebuilding, diplomacy, development, education, communication and social media if we are to resolve the conflicts that give those groups a foothold. To defeat groups such as Da’esh, we need global cooperation. Collaboration with Governments, regional institutions and United Nations counter-terrorism organizations is crucial. Against that backdrop, I would like to highlight some elements that we feel are of great interest in the fight against terrorism. First, we must synergize counter-terrorism efforts in a collective approach that is centred on the coordinating role of the United Nations. Greater transparency and engagement are needed in listing processes to ensure objective consideration of evidence submitted by Member States. Secondly, we need to address the root causes, including lack of development, poverty and unresolved regional conflicts, that continue to provide fertile ground for terrorism. Political settlements — alongside investments in education, employment and good governance — are vital. Thirdly, we are deeply worried about terrorists’ exploitation of emerging technologies for communication, recruitment and financing. Similarly, links with organized crime require a coordinated response. As the current Chair of the Counter- Terrorism Committee, Algeria continues to build on the foundations laid down by our predecessors and on their achievements, including for the proposed guiding principles on information technology and digital payment. We also champion actions targeting all sources of financing, including ransoms and the connections between terrorism and transnational organized crime, particularly drug trafficking. Finally, we will actively support counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance for vulnerable countries and continue our efforts to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

I would like to express our appreciation for the Secretary- General’s report (S/2024/117) and to thank the three briefers today for their presentations. The Security Council must remain aware of the threat that Da’esh continues to pose to international peace and security. We are particularly alarmed by the evolution of that threat in conflict zones and on the African continent in particular. The convergence of armed conflicts and terrorism and the complexity of the actors’ profiles, motives and objectives make it all the more difficult to develop appropriate and sustainable responses. I would like to highlight three aspects that we find particularly important in that context. First, purely security-based approaches have often proved ineffective. Government action, accompanied by human rights violations, can trigger, fuel and accelerate recruitment by terrorist groups. That is particularly true in contexts that are already marked by conflict and a lack of participation and governance. It is therefore important to adopt holistic and inclusive strategies to address the underlying factors of terrorism and of violent extremism that can lead to terrorism. Secondly, preventing and combating terrorism are primary responsibilities of States. That also includes the responsibility to fully respect all obligations under international law, in particular international humanitarian law and human rights law. It means ensuring accountability, including for sexual and gender-based violence linked to terrorism. Above all, it is important to guard against any new grievances that could then be exploited by terrorist actors. It is crucial that we break that vicious cycle. Thirdly, we must build trust between security actors and the public, thereby bridging a gap that is often exploited by terrorist groups and violent extremists. That requires an inclusive, gender- sensitive approach and a strong partnership with civil society. Switzerland’s national approach is based on interdisciplinary collaboration at every level of Government and with civil society actors. In order to keep pace with developments, Switzerland regularly evaluates its national action plan to prevent and counter radicalization and violent extremism. The latest edition, which came into force in 2023, focuses on young people and on responsible use of the Internet. As the Secretary-General noted, responding to the threat posed by Da’esh and affiliated entities requires comprehensive, multilevel and multi-stakeholder responses, with an emphasis on prevention. Let us make prevention a political priority, as is called for in the New Agenda for Peace, including in the fight against terrorism.

I would like to join others in thanking Under-Secretary-General Voronkov, Executive Director Gherman of the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and INTERPOL Secretary-General Stock for their briefings today. I also want to express our gratitude to the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team for their contribution to the Secretary-General’s report (S/2024/117). The reports about Da’esh’s activities in West Africa, the Sahel and Afghanistan, despite its reduced leadership and financial resources, are cause for serious concern. Its adaptability underscores that the group is a persistent threat. The spread of Islamic State across the Middle East showed how easily Da’esh expanded by filling the void left by the absence of State governance. At the same time, we see how Da’esh is exploiting the situation in Gaza with public communications aimed at exacerbating religious intolerance and encouraging lone actors to commit attacks globally. That is extremely dangerous. It is worth noting these groups’ relatively easy access to weapons. The possibility that terrorist groups may obtain modern weapons such as armed uncrewed aircraft is particularly worrisome. The financing of terrorism and the nexus between terrorism and organized crime also require our continued attention and cooperation. I want to highlight, however, that we are particularly concerned about the widespread use of sexual and gender-based violence as a strategy and tactic in terrorist contexts. Such violence must be addressed with the same sense of urgency as conventional forms of terrorism. That includes ensuring accountability as well as support for survivors in their recovery, and we commend CTED’s efforts to focus on that issue in the recommendations. In considering counter-terrorism approaches, I would like to share the following. First, all counter-terrorism efforts must accord with the obligations of States in armed conflict zones under international law, especially international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The same principles apply to prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration processes. They must be undertaken through comprehensive, human-rights-compliant and gender-sensitive programmes. Secondly, that necessitates a whole-of-society approach with significant participation by civil society. To make the results sustainable, conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and drivers of radicalization must be addressed. That includes the dire situation of youth, women and especially children in camps in north-eastern Syria, to cite just one area. Thirdly, preventing impunity and ensuring accountability are essential, and national jurisdictions must develop appropriate frameworks and judiciously process the available evidence, including from the battlefield. In that regard, we would like to express our support for the work and mandate of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. We also call for the strict implementation of adopted sanctions. Slovenia condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations, no matter the pretext or justification. The terrorist threat is evolving, and terrorist groups and their narratives are adjusting swiftly to the new realities. The international community must therefore also act quickly. In conclusion, we recognize the need for a proactive and multifaceted international response. That includes the protection of human rights and the implementation of inclusive socioeconomic strategies to build community resilience. International cooperation is key, and Slovenia will continue to contribute at the regional and global levels.

I thank you, Madam President, for convening this briefing. Let me also thank the briefers, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under- Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism and head of the Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), Ms. Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), and Mr. Jürgen Stock, Secretary-General of INTERPOL, for their valuable briefings and contributions. Let me start by expressing our appreciation to the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions  1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities, as well as to CTED and UNOCT, for preparing the eighteenth report of the Secretary- General (S/2024/117), in close collaboration with other United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities. I would like to highlight the following areas in expressing both our commendation and our concerns. They include Africa, Afghanistan and Syria, as well as the issues of counter-terrorism and of robust measures aimed at preventing radicalization and recruitment. We note from the report that while it continues to face leadership attrition and financial setbacks, Da’esh and its affiliates have retained their capacity to conduct terrorist attacks and project a threat beyond their areas of operations. We also note that a risk of the group’s resurgence remains in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, and the activity of its affiliates has contributed to a deterioration of the situation in parts of West Africa and the Sahel. On the African front, Sierra Leone is concerned about the evolution of the threat in conflict zones in Africa. Despite United Nations-coordinated efforts in fighting terrorism, Da’esh is spreading its activity — particularly in West Africa and the Sahel, where existing ethnic and regional disputes and local grievances fuel terrorism. We note with serious concern the three broad tactical trends employed by Da’esh as identified by the Secretary-General in his report. We are particularly worried that those developing trends will allow terrorist groups to allocate more resources to other targets. More concerning for us is that those developing trends may form part of a strategy to win the hearts and minds of populations in areas where those groups are active without actually reducing their operations. It goes without saying that these trends need to be urgently countered and addressed to avoid a significant rise in terrorist activities, especially in the Sahel region. The unconstitutional changes of Government and current breakdown in engagement between the Economic Community of West African States and the central Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and the Niger will make the fight against terrorism in the Sahel complex and more challenging, as it will lead to a significant deficit in counter-terrorism capabilities. We look forward to an opportunity to explore transcontinental approaches to address security responses and preventive measures in countering terrorism. In Afghanistan, Sierra Leone notes a decrease in attacks by ISIL-Khorasan and commends the Taliban for the impact of counter-terrorism efforts and the change in strategy directed by the group’s leader. However, Sierra Leone is concerned about reports that the recruitment of Afghans to ISIL-K has been substantial, with Afghans often being used for operations. That is deeply worrisome not only for Afghanistan, but also neighbouring countries. We call on the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate to assist Afghanistan in employing a whole-of-society approach to counter-terrorism in compliance with human rights and aligned with international law. We urge the authorities in Afghanistan to adhere to their commitments in that regard. On the Syrian front, while Sierra Leone commends the significant progress observed as regards the number of repatriations by a few Member States, we remain concerned by the overall slow pace of repatriation efforts from camps in the north-eastern Syrian Arab Republic. Sierra Leone deplores the holding of tens of thousands of people — mostly women and children — with alleged links to Da’esh and other terrorist groups in detention facilities with dire humanitarian conditions in north-east Syria. We urge the States concerned to take measures to alleviate the serious humanitarian conditions that persist in detention centres to prevent conditions that are conducive for Da’esh to recruit from those camps. In additon, we call on Member States to repatriate their nationals for prosecution, accountability, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in their home countries. Sierra Leone underscores the importance of preventing terrorist exploitation and the radicalization and recruitment efforts of Da’esh. We reiterate that the underlying root causes of conflict  — such as non-inclusion, religious intolerance, poverty and grievances, et cetera  — fuel terrorist recruitment. Those issues are clearly capitalized on through the use of the Internet and social media platforms to spread propaganda, exploit grievances, manipulate vulnerable individuals and radicalize and recruit individuals by Da’esh and other affiliated groups. We call on Member States to address the root causes of violence and extremism, promote education, empower communities, engage in deradicalization programmes, promote religious tolerance and foster social inclusion to counter the toxic ideologies propagated by Da’esh. Sierra Leone joins the Secretary-General in calling on all Member States to engage in dialogue with civil society and youth, including through the Connect & Learn platform, which hosts more than 5,900 users from Member States, international organizations and civil society, to prevent vulnerable individuals from falling prey to Da’esh propaganda and the spread of terrorism. Sierra Leone emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to address the multidimensional nature of the threat posed by Da’esh. That includes robust counter- terrorism measures, enhanced intelligence-sharing and cooperation among Member States to degrade the group’s combat capability, dismantle its networks and disrupt its financing. In that vein, we welcome the adoption of the first set of non-binding guiding principles for Member States on threats posed by the use of uncrewed aircraft systems for terrorist purposes, known as the Abu Dhabi Guiding Principles (see S/2023/1035). To tackle the transnational nature of terrorism, we commend the efforts focused on promoting multilateral cooperation, in particular to address terrorist and other crimes, supporting prosecution efforts and repatriating individuals still stranded in the north- eastern Syrian Arab Republic. We urge all Member States, in their efforts to combat Da’esh, to respect human rights and international humanitarian law. The perpetrators of human rights abuses must be held accountable and then put through rehabilitation and reintegration programmes. In conclusion, Sierra Leone acknowledges the critical role of the United Nations, including through the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, and its continued support to Member States in reinforcing their capacity to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, including by addressing challenges stemming from terrorist groups exploiting conflict dynamics.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Voronkov, Executive Director Gherman and Secretary General Stock for their briefings. The eighteenth report of the Secretary-General (S/2024/117) clearly underscores that, while Da’esh was effectively suppressed in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, it remained a serious concern and continues to wage asymmetric attacks, which unfortunately have increased since November last year. Moreover, we are alarmed by Da’esh’s efforts to exploit differences involving local populations. As the report highlights, Da’esh’s public communications in response to the events in Israel and Gaza since 7 October were aimed at exacerbating religious intolerance. That negatively affects the Security Council’s efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region. Increasing terrorist activities in the regions of the Sahel, Lake Chad and the Horn of Africa remind us of the complex interplay among terrorism, armed conflict, climate change aggravating food and water insecurities and the lack of socioeconomic opportunities, as well as weakened national counter- terrorism capacities. The risks of radicalization and recruitment by Al-Shabaab in Somalia are one such key example of that interplay, as well as the spread of terrorism from the Central Sahel to coastal States in the Gulf of Guinea, which is increasing the risks of maritime insecurity. Malta is also worried by the continued report of high concentration of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and by the proliferation of weapons in circulation from stockpiles left there. While expressing our condolences to the Afghan people, who are the primary victims of terrorist acts in the country, we commend the mandate given to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to support regional and international efforts to tackle the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons from and into the country. Although there has been a decrease in the number of attacks perpetrated by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan, the group presents the greatest threat within Afghanistan, with the ability to project a threat into the region and beyond. Access to weapons and financing will continue to sustain terrorist acts. The report clearly emphasizes the vital sources of existence for Da’esh and its affiliates, which need to be interrupted. Among them are cryptocurrencies, which are the predominant means for the financing of Da’esh. Malta therefore strongly advocates for enhanced law enforcement cooperation in the financial crime and cybersecurity domains and calls for virtual asset service providers to align with the international standards to counter terrorism financing. We also call for regulations that ensure the traceability of crypto-asset transfers. Addressing the terrorist threat requires a comprehensive, multi-tiered and multi-stakeholder response anchored in human rights and the rule of law. We therefore advocate for meaningful engagement with civil society, local communities, women and youth across all efforts to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism. We also reiterate the call to ensure that responses to terrorism are fully consistent with international human rights standards and fundamental freedoms. In that regard, we call for strengthening child protection elements in counter-terrorism policies in line with their special status. In particular, we call for all parties to treat children who have been recruited by terrorist groups primarily as victims and, if they face prosecution for committing crimes, for juvenile justice standards to be upheld. We continue to be appalled by the sexual and gender- based crimes committed by terrorist organizations. Gender equality and women’s empowerment must continue to guide the United Nations and Member States’ prevention strategies. That must include the mainstreaming of gender perspectives, investing in gender-sensitive research and data collection, and strengthening the capacity of women and their civil society groups on the front lines of prevention. In that regard, we welcome the recommendations of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute on integrating context-specific gender perspectives in designing prevention initiatives in the Sahel and investing in women-led organizations. In conclusion, preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism is a priority we share. Malta remains fully committed to mitigating that scourge.

I would like to thank the briefers for their statements. I would like to emphasize two points. First, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. Terrorist acts are a threat to us all. Our response therefore must be strong and united. All continents are concerned. Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates are proving resilient in the Levant, Africa, Afghanistan and Central Asia. They represent a growing threat in the Sahel and around the Gulf of Guinea. Since all terrorist groups thrive on a multitude of factors — human rights violations, the exclusion of women, economic fragility, climate crisis and environmental crime — our response must be multifaceted. It must be a security and military response — and France is playing its full part in that regard — but it must also address the underlying humanitarian, political and economic causes. It must respect the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms. In that respect, it is the antithesis of the actions of the Wagner Group and its offshoots, which make mass atrocities and economic predation the core principles of their actions and serve only to strengthen terrorism wherever they operate. Given that situation, we are pursuing our efforts in three areas. The first is to unambiguously combat terrorist groups. France remains committed, both in military and civilian terms, to the international counter-Da’esh coalition, together with its partners. That mobilization goes hand in hand with an ongoing commitment to protecting civilians, stabilizing the situation and providing humanitarian assistance in Iraq and Syria. In the name of children’s best interests, France has carried out numerous repatriation operations for the benefit of French minors, as well as their mothers, when that was a condition for the children’s return. The second area is international cooperation. We need to make full use of international tools, starting with Council sanctions. Combating the financing of terrorism is a priority. The groundwork for an international response was laid in resolution 2462 (2019). Faced with evolving practices and the use of new technologies by terrorist groups, we are adapting our tools. Cooperation on border security is also essential. INTERPOL’s creation of the Integrated Border Stability Mechanism is a positive step in that regard. We also call for continued full cooperation between INTERPOL and United Nations counter-terrorism bodies. And we must continue to combat terrorist propaganda online. Finally, we will continue our fight against terrorism within a partnership framework. That is the goal of the Abidjan International Counter-Terrorism Academy. The third area is combating impunity for crimes committed by terrorist groups, in particular sexual violence. France remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice. We support the work of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. We have not forgotten the women of the Yazidi community who, for 20 years, have suffered the barbarity of Da’esh and the terrorist groups that founded it. France is committed to investigating crimes committed against the Yazidi community. We have created a specialized jurisdiction, the national counter-terrorism prosecutor’s office. France will continue to contribute to the Global Fund for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and to support efforts to combat impunity.

I thank INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock, Under-Secretary-General Voronkov and Executive Director Gherman for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant to international peace and security (S/2024/117). As the report notes, despite its reduced operational capabilities and its losses of leadership, Da’esh and its affiliated groups continue to pose a threat to international peace and security. That has been demonstrated by the deadly attacks in West Africa, the Sahel and the Middle East. Conflict zones are particularly vulnerable to the activities of Da’esh and its affiliated groups, where the lack of institutions and the absence of the rule of law allow them greater operational, financial and logistical autonomy. In that regard, the report warns of the risk of the establishment of a zone of instability which could extend from Mali to the border areas of Nigeria. That risk underscores the importance of continuing to join forces to counter Da’esh and strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation. For Ecuador, the perpetration of sexual violence as a terror tactic is to be condemned. It deserves to be rejected by the entire international community. Combating the financing of terrorism must be an essential component of such efforts. That is why my country supports the work of the Financial Action Task Force and its global network, as well as the exchange of information among States. In addition, we believe it is essential to continue with the implementation of resolution 2462 (2019), adopted five years ago, which is the first comprehensive resolution adopted by the Council on the fight against terrorist financing. Similarly, technical assistance aimed at improving national counter-terrorism capabilities continues to be essential for many countries. We encourage the Office of Counter-Terrorism, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other agencies to continue to respond in an effective and coordinated manner to States’ requests for technical assistance. Moreover, the persistence of the threat posed by Da’esh reveals the limits of a security-focused approach. Building more just and egalitarian societies that provide quality basic services to their people, as well as opportunities for their young people, should be a top priority of our efforts to contain the spread of the threat of terrorism. Therefore, a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy must also incorporate a vision for development. In conclusion, Ecuador shares the concern expressed by the Secretary-General regarding the precarious conditions faced by those detained in the camps in the north-east of the Syrian Arab Republic, many of whom are women and children, and calls for them to be guaranteed access to humanitarian assistance.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Voronkov, Executive Director Gherman and Secretary General Stock for their briefings today. I also thank the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team for their work on the report (S/2024/117). The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned at the prospect of Da’esh’s resurgence in the Middle East. As the report notes, though the threat in Iraq and Syria has been effectively suppressed, it remains a serious threat. Iranian-aligned militias continue to attack the forces of the international counter-Da’esh coalition that are directly working, in partnership with the Government of Iraq, to remove Da’esh’s malignant influence in the region. The United Kingdom calls on Iran to use influence to stop those attacks and de-escalate regional tensions. It is in all our interests to prevent Da’esh from projecting its poisonous ideology and inflicting death and destruction across the region. Turning to Africa, the United Kingdom is deeply concerned at Da’esh’s growing presence across the continent. We stand ready to support our African partners and intensify efforts to improve coordination and strengthen regional cooperation. United Nations entities play an important role in that, and we welcome their cooperation with the African Union to build up capacity and squeeze the spaces in which violent extremist networks can flourish. We also encourage cooperation between Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact members, and we welcome INTERPOL’s role in that regard. Finally, we must not ignore the disproportionate impact that terrorism has on women and girls. This year, we mark the 10-year anniversary of the atrocities committed against the Yazidi people. We commend the important work by the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, with the support of the Iraqi authorities, to investigate sexual crimes by terrorists against women and girls. We know that Da’esh thrives in divided, fragile and instable environments. We all have a responsibility to counter its ideology and provide an alternative future.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Guyana. I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Voronkov and Ms. Gherman for their updates, and I acknowledge their efforts in the preparation of the report of the Secretary-General under consideration today (S/2024/117). I also thank the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr. Jürgen Stock, for the insights he provided. We recognize and appreciate INTERPOL’s important role in combating terrorism and its strong collaboration with the Security Council. Guyana takes note of the Secretary-General’s report and the worrisome trends identified concerning the activities of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). We remain primarily concerned about some of the key trends highlighted in the report, including the escalation of threats of terrorism and violence in West Africa and the Sahel and the rising threat levels in Europe, the increased lethality of terrorist attacks, the development of unmanned-aerial-systems technology and its weaponization, the proliferation and illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons and the increased use of improvised explosive devices, and the increased use of cryptocurrencies to finance terrorist activities. Guyana joins the international community in condemning all forms and manifestations of terrorism and remains deeply committed to addressing this grave challenge in a manner consistent with international law, international human rights law and the Charter of the United Nations. Terrorism continues to pose a clear and present danger to the stability and security of nations. Its impact transcends borders and affects communities indiscriminately, thriving especially in conflict areas. It also disrupts the social fabric of communities and undermines the rule of law. In addition to the effects of terrorism on nations, terrorists engage in sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, torture and sexual slavery. In the report issued by the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, detailing the sexual violence against women and girls committed by ISIL in Iraq between 2014 and 2017, it was noted that ISIL used sexual violence almost exclusively against women and girls. In that regard, there is a need for concerted, collaborative efforts to counter terrorism and its pernicious impacts on global peace and security. That also means ensuring increased representation of women in the decision-making processes for anti-terrorism laws and policies and having in place specialized units within security forces and the justice systems that can provide training to investigate sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism. In addressing this scourge, it is also necessary to adopt preventive measures that address the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, marginalization and lack of access to education and economic opportunities, among others. Guyana underscores the need to hold the various actors in terrorism, including the financiers, perpetrators, organizers and sponsors, accountable. We also urge the international community to support, multiply and enforce all efforts directed towards the eradication of terrorism. In that vein, we acknowledge the pivotal role of United Nations agencies and organs and INTERPOL in combating terrorism and fostering a coordinated, multilateral response to this global challenge. We support all initiatives aimed at bolstering the capacity of Member States to combat terrorism, fostering dialogue and cooperation and championing strategic partnerships to comprehensively counter this threat. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate Guyana’s unwavering commitment to working collectively with the international community to combat the scourge of terrorism and safeguard international peace and security. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.