Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) - Michèle Coninsx

CTED Executive Director participates in CSW62 #WomenAgainstTerrorism event

AKHVEDELID — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 06:59:00 +0000

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“Gender-blind counter-terrorism policies and practices have the potential of not only being ineffective, but to also negatively impact women and girls’ rights.” This was one of the key messages pronounced by Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the 51�Թ� Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), in an event during the 62^nd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62). Organized on 12 March 2018 by the 51�Թ� Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and UN Women at the UN in New York, the panel discussion on The 51�Թ� Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Advancing Women’s Leadership and Participation also saw the participation of the UN Ambassadors of Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

“CTED conducts neutral expert assessments of Member States’ implementation of key Security Council resolutions aimed at countering the threat to peace and security caused by terrorist acts. Gender considerations are now fully mainstreamed in our assessments, and we continue to reaffirm the notion that effective counter-terrorism responses should be human rights compliant, and gender-sensitive,” Ms. Coninsx stressed.

The panel discussion allowed Member States, 51�Թ� officials, and women civil society leaders to take stock of progress made and challenges ahead in terms of advancing efforts to increase women’s participation and leadership and a gender dimension in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism. The event took place in advance of the General Assembly’s 6^th Review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which is planned for June 2018.

Speakers included Member States, 51�Թ� officials, and women civil society leaders:

E. Mrs. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh,Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the 51�Թ� (statement)
E. Mr. Koro Bessho, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Japan to the 51�Թ� (statement)
Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General, 51�Թ� Office of Counter-Terrorism (statement)
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director, 51�Թ� Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (statement)
Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General, Executive Director, 51�Թ� Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (statement)
Fauziya Abdi Ali, President, Women in International Security Kenya, Chair, Sisters Without Borders
Yenny Wahid, Director, The Wahid Institute

A webcast recording of the event is available here.

To see the flyer, please click here.

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Security Council briefed on UN engagement and counter-terrorism efforts in Iraq

AKHVEDELID — Thu, 31 May 2018 05:30:00 +0000

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Ms. Coninsx briefing the Security Council.

In a briefing on the UN engagement and counter-terrorism efforts in Iraq, the Security Council on 30 May 2018 heard statements by Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the 51�Թ� Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) Ján Kubiš, Under-Secretary-General and Head of the 51�Թ� Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov, and Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) Michèle Coninsx. This was the first briefing by all three principals following the joint high-level consultations by CTED and UNOCT with Iraq, undertaken in close coordination with UNAMI, in March 2018.

In her remarks, Ms. Coninsx mentioned the excellent collaboration between the two entities, and stressed that the recent visit directly responded to the call for strengthened coordination between the two entities, as expressed by the Council in its resolution 2395 from December 2017. She also referenced the counter-terrorism assessment of Iraq, concluded by CTED on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee already in September 2015 and which included identifying priority technical assistance needs, formulated in collaboration with CTED’s partner organizations and adopted in accordance with their best codes and practices. These technical assistance needs were endorsed by the Government of Iraq in March 2016, and eventually adopted by the Committee, which recommended 16 priority areas, including legal and judicial matters, counter-financing, law enforcement and border management, and countering violent extremism (CVE).

“This joint visit was certainly historic in its approach, and I firmly hope that it will also be historic in terms of its results and impact, and that we thereby honour all the victims of the past in Iraq and avoid future victims in Iraq and in the rest of the world,” Ms. Coninsx concluded.

Ms. Coninsx’ statement is available here.

The statements by USGs Kubiš and Voronkov can be accessed here.

For the 51�Թ�’ complete meetings coverage, follow this link.

The webcast of the 8271^st Security Council meeting, regarding the Eighteenth report of the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 4 of Security Council resolution 2107 (2013) (S/2018/353), is available here.

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CTED Executive Director attends meeting of ICAO Air Transport and Unlawful Interference Committees — signs cooperation arrangement

AKHVEDELID — Fri, 18 May 2018 05:36:00 +0000

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ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu and CTED Executive Director Michèle Coninsx at the signature of the agreement between the two entities.

On 17 May 2018, the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), Assistant Secretary-General Ms. Michèle Coninsx, attended a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Transport and Unlawful Interference Committees in Montreal.

In her statement, Ms. Coninsx emphasized that many States continue to face significant challenges in their efforts to strengthen their borders against the threat posed by terrorists and terrorist groups. In its resolution 2309 (2016), the Security Council identified steps to be taken by Member States to strengthen their implementation of the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of ICAO.

In order to effectively inspect travellers at airports, a combination of mechanisms should be in place. They include Advance Passenger Information (API), Passenger Name Records (PNR), biometric technologies, and access to watch lists and the INTERPOL database of Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD). In accordance with Security Council resolution 2309 (2016), CTED engages with Member States on the particular concern that terrorist groups may be actively seeking ways to defeat or circumvent international civil aviation security measures and to identify and exploit perceived gaps or weaknesses. Ms. Coninsx referred to the requirements of Security Council resolution 2396 (2017) and the urgent need to strengthen the sharing of information by airlines and Governments on API and PNR systems.

Ms. Coninsx commended the cooperation between CTED and ICAO, which includes the participation of ICAO experts, not only in country visits of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, but also in its special meetings and open briefings, as well as in various CTED activities. The latter include initiatives pertaining to border management, travel documents, security, and the facilitation of technical assistance. These issues are also addressed within the framework of the Working Group of the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) on Border Management and Law Enforcement, which is chaired by CTED. Additionally, CTED fully supports the implementation of tools and instruments developed by ICAO, such as the ICAO Global Aviation Security Plan.

In the framework of the meeting, Ms. Coninsx and ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu signed an arrangement on cooperation between CTED and ICAO. The objective is to further strengthen and enhance cooperation and information-sharing relating to border management, aviation security, and counter-terrorism, with a view to enhance the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions. The arrangement represents a basis for future cooperation, but also recognizes joint achievements. Furthermore, the arrangement aims to leverage expertise, optimize resources, avoid duplication of efforts, and maximize deliverables to Member States.

The arrangement will be followed by a joint action plan, and build upon past cooperation initiatives between the two entities.

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PRESS RELEASE: Heads of 51�Թ� counter-terrorism bodies conclude joint visit to Iraq

AKHVEDELID — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 06:07:00 +0000

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Baghdad and New York, 8 March 2018 – Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the 51�Թ� Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and Ms. Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), yesterday concluded a two-day visit to Iraq at the invitation of the Government and with the support of the 51�Թ� Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

The joint delegation met with high ranking officials in Iraq as well as with representatives of the diplomatic community, UNAMI, and the 51�Թ� Country Team.

The joint delegation congratulated Iraq on the military victory against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) and commended Iraq for its continued and long-term resolve in the fight against terrorism. They underscored the importance of comprehensive counter- terrorism efforts in accordance with all the four pillars of the 51�Թ� Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant Security Council resolutions.

“This joint UNOCT – CTED visit symbolises the concerted efforts of the 51�Թ� to support Iraq’s fight against terrorism,” said Mr. Voronkov during the meetings with senior officials. “We want to emphasise, with one voice, the importance of preventing and countering terrorism in accordance with the rule of law, and commend Iraq’s ongoing efforts to ensure that its counter- terrorism laws are in compliance with the universal counter-terrorism legal framework,” stated Ms. Coninsx.

During the meetings, the joint delegation discussed the counter-terrorism priorities of Iraq and the Government’s progress in addressing the 16 priority needs identified by the 51�Թ� Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2015 and endorsed by Iraq.

The 51�Թ� Senior Representatives also visited Fallujah, a one-time stronghold of Daesh west of the Iraqi capital that was liberated by Iraqi forces in June 2016. They met there with the Mayor and other local officials, and toured the city.

The joint delegation reiterated the strong support of the 51�Թ� to Iraq. Based on the priority needs identified, UNOCT will provide technical assistance in priority areas, including capacity-building assistance, which were discussed and reiterated during the visit and in coordination with UNAMI and the UN Country Team.

“This joint visit complements UNAMI’s efforts in supporting the Government of Iraq in its efforts to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous country for the people of Iraq,” concluded Mr. Ján Kubiš, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq and the Head of UNAMI.

The three leaders of UNOCT, CTED, and UNAMI have agreed to seize the first available opportunity to report back jointly to the Security Council at one of its relevant upcoming sessions.

Background

This joint visit was conducted within the framework of the joint efforts of UNOCT and CTED to facilitate the delivery of counter-terrorism related technical assistance to Member States in accordance with Security Council resolution 2395 (2017), in which the Security Council underscored the need for the two entities to work closely together, within their respective mandates, to ensure balanced implementation of the 51�Թ� Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

Mandated by the General Assembly, UNOCT was established in June 2017 to provide leadership to the implementation of General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates, to enhance coordination and coherence, and to strengthen the delivery of the 51�Թ� counter-terrorism capacity building assistance to Member States.

Established by the Security Council, the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) is a Special Political Mission of the 51�Թ�, tasked with assisting the Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee in monitoring the effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant counter-terrorism resolutions. CTED conducts objective country on site assessments that constitute the basis for the concerned technical assistance and capacity-building projects.

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For more information, please contact:
Mr. Samir Ghattas, 51�Թ� Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
Ms. Laurence Gerard, 51�Թ� Office of Counter-Terrorism.
Mr. Mattias Sundholm, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). .

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CTED Executive Director stresses continued need for global judicial and law enforcement cooperation against ISIL – signs Joint Action Plan with INTERPOL

AKHVEDELID — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 06:11:00 +0000

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CTED Executive Director Coninsx addressing the participants.

At a conference in Washington, DC, 51�Թ� Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx stressed the continued need for global cooperation by judicial and law enforcement bodies to counter the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh).

“As many foreign terrorist fighters as there are, there are also numerous jurisdictions and legal frameworks that seek to address the issue,” she said.

The conference, on “Mobilizing Law Enforcement Efforts to Defeat ISIL,” was attended by 300 senior-level stakeholders and practitioners from a broad range of Member States and organizations. Aimed at justice and law enforcement officials engaged in counter-terrorism, the conference took place on 27 and 28 February 2018, and was organized by the U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with INTERPOL and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ). A key objective of the event was to highlight the recently adopted Security Council resolution 2396 (2017), on returning and relocating foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), as well as related multilateral efforts, including those of the Global Counterterrorism Forum.

Ms. Coninsx, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), stressed the need to deal effectively with women and children who returned from conflict zones to their countries of origin or relocated to third countries. Returning or relocating women and children could be victims as well as perpetrators, she noted. There was also a need to address the whole lifecycle of FTFs, provide appropriate reintegration and rehabilitation programmes, and ensure that prisons did not become facilitators of radicalization.

The Executive Director also recalled the measures to be implemented by Member States to strengthen their capacity to detect and identify FTFs. Derived from Council resolution 2396 (2017), those measures included the introduction of so-called Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems, responsible use of biometric data, protection of critical infrastructure and soft targets, preventing terrorist access to weapons and improvised explosive devices, and collecting evidence from the military.

Ms. Coninsx highlighted a number of related initiatives taken by CTED in cooperation with its key partners, and reaffirmed CTED’s commitment to cooperate and coordinate with the 51�Թ� Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and other UN entities, as well as with relevant international and regional organizations. She also praised the good cooperation between CTED and UNOCT, led by Under-Secretary-General Mr. Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov.

On the margins of the conference, a Joint Action Plan was signed by the CTED Executive Director and Mr. Tim Morris, Executive Director of INTERPOL Police Services.

Executive Director of CTED Coninsx and Executive Director of INTERPOL Police Services Morris at the signing ceremony of the Joint Action Plan.

A follow-up to the existing Cooperation Arrangement, the Joint Action Plan sets out joint objectives and priorities for cooperation over the next two years. The Cooperation Arrangement and Action Plan are intended to leverage expertise, optimize resources, reduce duplication of effort, foster synergies, and maximize the value of deliverables to Member States.

Highlighting the already solid partnership between CTED and INTERPOL, the Executive Director stressed that CTED would make every effort to promote INTERPOL tools and the INTERPOL Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in its work.

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Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact signed – highlights importance of CTED assessments

AKHVEDELID — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 06:13:00 +0000

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CTED Executive Director Michèle Coninsx signs the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact (together with Head of UN OCT, Under-Secretary-General Voronkov).

On 1 February 2018, the 51�Թ� Secretary-General and 36 UN entities, including the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), as well as INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization, agreed to a Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. Adding transparency to the UN’s work in the area of counter-terrorism, the Compact will support the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, involve UN Country Teams in counter-terrorism activities, help share relevant capacity-building and coordination and coherence related information with the Compact’s members, develop mutually reinforcing capacity-building projects, and establish a joint resource mobilization and outreach strategy with donors.

Of a non-binding nature, the Compact emphasizes evidence-based programming, the establishment of a mechanism for monitoring and evaluation of programmes, and an increased focus on capacity-building and technical assistance. The Compact specifically stresses UN Security Council resolution 2395 (2017), calling on UNOCT, all other relevant UN funds and programmes, Member States, donors as well as recipients, to make full use of CTED’s expert assessments in technical assistance and capacity-building efforts. The Global Compact Coordination Committee will be chaired by the Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism. CTED will have a seat on the Coordination Committee.

Following a decision in a meeting of the Executive Committee, UN Secretary-General António Guterres signed the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact on 23 February 2018. Heads of numerous 51�Թ� entities present in New York, including Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of CTED Michèle Coninsx, will shortly add their signatures to the Compact.

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Major challenges remain, Executive Director of CTED tells Security Council in meeting on foreign terrorist fighters

BMUSONI — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 17:03:00 +0000

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Although Member States have made progress in many areas to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, major challenges still remain, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) told the Security Council in a meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. In her first briefing to the Council, on 28 November 2017, ASG Coninsx provided a number of examples of existing gaps in the implementation of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014). Fewer than 60 States have so far introduced measures requiring airlines to provide advance passenger information (or API) – meaning that for over 100 Member States verifying the possible presence of a foreign terrorist fighter onboard an aircraft is very difficult. Furthermore, many States still require assistance in establishing the necessary connectivity between national databases and border posts.

In terms of the phenomenon of so-called lone actors perpetrating terrorist acts, ASG Coninsx stressed that they often have received support or resources from elsewhere, including via the Internet or social media. Terrorists are also increasingly using new technologies to transfer funds to such individuals.

“If we are to continue to make progress in promoting and implementing […] the resolution, we must continue to strengthen the partnerships between and among Member States, UN agencies, and partner organizations. Or, to put it another way: it takes networks to beat networks,” ASG Coninsx concluded.

Watch ASG Coninsx’ briefing to the Security Council here.

Watch the webcast of the entire meeting here.

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Counter-Terrorism Committee holds briefing on returning foreign terrorist fighters

BMUSONI — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 15:07:00 +0000

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As ISIL (Da’esh) continues to lose territory in the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq, it has moved into a new phase, marked in particular by the geographical dispersal of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), and by the increase in attacks carried out against critical infrastructure and civilian (“soft”) targets. In this regard the Chairman of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the 51�Թ�, H.E. Amr Aboulatta, highlighted that the global terrorist threat is evolving in scale and complexity.

This creates additional challenges for law enforcement and judicial officers, including relating to the collection, preservation, and sharing of evidence obtained in conflict and post-conflict settings that is admissible in criminal courts. On 8 November 2017, the CTC held a well-attended informal open briefing that focused on legal issues and emerging challenges relating to the treatment and prosecution of FTFs, including returnees.

In the first session, a CTED expert and Queen’s Counsel Brigadier-General (retired) Kenneth Watkin underscored the importance of a law enforcement and criminal justice approach to countering terrorism, which is based on human rights compliant arrest and detention over the killing of a suspect. The speakers focused on the role of the military in evidence collection for the investigation and prosecution of terrorists who commit terrorist acts in conflict zones.

In the second session, CTED underscored the importance of effective border management, including the so-called 4th digital border of the Internet, including the Dark web. In countering this challenge, INTERPOL emphasized cooperation and preemptive action to ensure access to the right information at the right time, including by making full use of databases and biometrics at the disposal of States.

Thanking the Members of the Committee and UN colleagues for the warm welcome she had received, CTED’s new Executive Director, Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, stressed the need to prevent terrorist acts by fighting impunity and bringing terrorists to justice. She also highlighted the unique nature of CTED’s analytical work which draws on its assessments, broad network of partners, and in-depth knowledge of its experts.

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