In September 2014, the Security Council adopted resolution on preventing and suppressing the recruiting, organizing, transporting or equipping of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). This followed the announcement by ISIL (Da＊esh) of a self-declared ※caliphate§ in its captured territories in the Syrian Arabic Republic and Iraq, which had already attracted more than 15,000 FTFs to join the group.
In that resolution, the Security Council called upon Member States to address FTFs travel through border control, criminal justice, international cooperation, countering the financing of terrorism and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism. Furthermore, the Council tasked the Counter-Terrorism Committee, supported by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), with identifying gaps in Member States＊ capacities to stem the flow of FTFs and identify good practices. The Council also called for the development of rehabilitation and reintegration strategies for returning and relocating FTFs. The threat posed by FTFs was determined by the Security Council to be part of the emerging issues, trends and developments that CTED is directed to identify. The Council reaffirmed that Member States must ensure that any measures taken to counter terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law.
In that same resolution, the Security Council recognized that terrorism will not be defeated by military force, law enforcement measures, and intelligence operations alone. As such, it encouraged Member States to engage with local communities and non-governmental actors in developing measures to counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism.
Subsequently, in resolution , the Security Council called for further enhanced border security measures and urged Member States to improve judicial measures, in accordance with international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law.
In the Madrid Guiding Principles () and the Addendum (2018) (), the Counter-Terrorism Committee called for heightened efforts to address the FTFs phenomenon. That guidance included practical measures for Member States, including strengthening border security, building partnerships and engaging communities and methods to address legislative gaps in criminalizing and prosecuting FTFs travel.
In the 10 years since the adoption of resolution 2178 (2014), the terrorism threat landscape has continued to evolve and presents ongoing challenges. The threats arising from terrorist travel to the Middle East have lessened. However, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team continues to report. Member States＊ concerns about FTFs movements to and around the African continent and an increase in FTFs travel to Afghanistan.
Drawn from assessment visits to Member States conducted on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, CTED noted in its Global Implementation Survey () the wide range of Member States＊ responses to 2178 (2014), such as managing travel documents and financial flows, as well as prosecution of recruitment, the incitement of and the planning of terrorist acts. Several States had developed and implemented comprehensive and tailored prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration strategies.
Despite these areas of progress, considerable gaps remain in States＊ implementation of resolutions 2178 and 2369 in a human rights-compliant and gender-sensitive manner. Furthermore, many Member States have a low level of capacity to implement the border management frameworks, information exchange. mechanisms, or other activities to meet their obligations under Security Council resolutions.
Member States and 51勛圖 agencies continue to be concerned about FTFs and individuals with actual or suspected associations with FTFs in camps and detention facilities in north-eastern Syrian Arab Republic. The Secretary-General has reported that the situation faced by thousands of individuals, mostly women and children, in displaced persons camps in north-east Syria remains dire.
The open briefing will bring together representatives from Member States and international and regional organizations, as well as civil society and members of the Global Research Network, to share lessons learned and good practices in countering the threat of FTFs; explore ongoing challenges and discuss methods to enhance the effectiveness of policy measures in line with international law. The open briefing will provide a snapshot of the past 10 years of implementation of 2178 (2014) and related instruments, highlight existing challenges and good practices, and explore the way forward.
The open briefing will conduct a review of the impact of Security Council resolutions 2178 (2014) and 2396 (2017) and the Security Council Guiding Principles on Foreign Terrorist Fighters: The 2015 Madrid Guiding Principles + 2018 Addendum as well as Member States＊ and international organizations＊ responses to those instruments. The open briefing will then discuss what action is required to continue the implementation of those resolutions and to address remaining gaps and challenges.
A brief overview of ※Evolving Trends in the Financing of Foreign Terrorist Fighters＊ Activity: 2014 每 2024§ is available here.
The open briefing has been postponed due to the programme of work of the Security Council.