Under India's Presidency, UNSC Adopts Statement Underscoring Obligation of Nations to Curb Terror Activities

The UN Security Council, under India’s presidency, adopted a Presidential Statement on Thursday underscoring the obligation of nations to curb terror activities of blacklisted individuals and groups regardless of their “nationality” and the need to deny safe havens and prosecute perpetrators of terrorism. The Presidential Statement said that Security Council reminds all States that they have an “obligation to curb the terrorist activities of all individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities included on the ISIL and Al-Qaeda Sanctions list created pursuant to resolutions 1267” regardless of the nationality or residence of such individuals, groups, undertakings, or entities. The statement underlined that safe havens provided to terrorists continue to be a significant concern and urged member states to cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism in order to find, “deny safe haven to, and bring to justice, extradite or prosecute, in accordance with applicable international law, any person who supports, facilitates, participates or attempts to participate in the financing, planning, preparation or commission of terrorist acts or provides safe havens.” Through the Presidential statement, the Council condemned in the strongest terms terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and all terrorist acts, including those on the basis of xenophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance, or in the name of religion or belief, and further reaffirmed that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation, or group. The Council recognised the “importance of conducting outreach to entities with expertise and experience in crafting counter-narratives and promoting tolerance and coexistence, including religious actors, to counter terrorist propaganda and narratives.” The Council strongly condemned the flow of weapons, military equipment, unmanned aerial systems and their components, and IED components to and between Da’esh, Al-Qaeda, their affiliates and associated individuals or groups and encouraged member states to prevent and disrupt procurement networks for such weapons.