Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 6390th Meeting, 27 Sept. 2010, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorists Acts"]

S/PRST/2010/19View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 31 Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, published in 2010.

What subjects does this mandate have?

4 subjects

Counter-Terrorism International Instruments International Security Terrorism

What’s in this document?

30 paragraphs

At the 6390th meeting of the Security Council, held on 27 September 2010, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorists acts”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council reaffirms its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

“The Security Council notes with concern that terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security, the enjoyment of human rights, the social and economic development of all Member States, and undermines global stability and prosperity, that this threat has become more diffuse, with an increase, in various regions of the world, of terrorist acts including those motivated by intolerance or extremism, and expresses its determination to combat this threat.

“The Security Council condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, reaffirms that any terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and reaffirms that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality or ethnic group.

“The Security Council recognizes the important accomplishments made in the fight against terrorism and also acknowledges that gaps remain in the overall fight against this scourge, urges all Member States and the UN system to address them, and stresses the need to ensure that counter-terrorism remains a priority on the international agenda.

“The Security Council reaffirms the importance of all its resolutions and statements on terrorism, in particular resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), as well as other applicable international counter-terrorism instruments, stresses the need for their full implementation, and calls for enhanced cooperation in this regard.

“The Security Council renews its call upon all Member States to become party, as a matter of urgency, to the relevant international conventions and protocols, whether or not they are a party to regional conventions on the matter, and to fully implement their obligations under those to which they are a party, and commends the technical assistance provided by the Terrorism Prevention Branch of UNODC in this regard.

“The Security Council recognizes that terrorism will not be defeated by military force, law enforcement measures, and intelligence operations alone, and underlines the need to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, including, but not limited to, the need to strengthen efforts for the successful prevention and peaceful resolution of prolonged conflicts, and the need to promote the rule of law, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, good governance, tolerance and inclusiveness to offer a viable alternative to those who could be susceptible to terrorist recruitment and to radicalization leading to violence.

“The Security Council recognizes, in this regard, that development, peace and security, and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, underlines the international effort to eradicate poverty and promote sustained economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all.

“The Security Council emphasizes that continuing international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations, in an effort to prevent the indiscriminate targeting of different religions and cultures, can help counter the forces that fuel polarization and extremism, and will contribute to strengthening the international fight against terrorism, and, in this respect, appreciates the positive role of the Alliance of Civilizations and other similar initiatives.

“The Council reaffirms its profound solidarity with the victims of terrorism and their families, stresses the importance of assisting victims of terrorism, and providing them and their families with support to cope with their loss and grief, recognizes the important role that victims and survivor networks play in countering terrorism, including by bravely speaking out against violent and extremist ideologies, and in this regard, welcomes and encourages the efforts and activities of Member States and the UN system, including the Counter Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) in this field.

“The Security Council reiterates its call upon Member States to enhance their cooperation and solidarity, particularly through bilateral and multilateral arrangements and agreements to prevent and suppress terrorist attacks, and encourages Member States to strengthen cooperation at the regional and sub-regional level, particularly through regional and sub-regional mechanisms and coordination and cooperation at the operational level.

“The Council reaffirms that Member States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, underscores that effective counter-terrorism measures and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are complementary and mutually reinforcing, and are an essential part of a successful counter-terrorism effort, and notes the importance of respect for the rule of law so as to effectively combat terrorism.

“The Security Council underlines that safe havens provided to terrorists continue to be a significant concern and recalls that all Member States must cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism in order to find, deny safe haven and bring to justice, on the basis of the principle of extradite or prosecute, any person who supports, facilitates, participates or attempts to participate in the financing, planning, preparation or commission of terrorist acts or provides safe havens.

“The Security Council encourages Member States to develop and maintain an effective and rule of law-based national criminal system with provisions for judicial criminal cooperation regarding extradition and mutual legal assistance, in particular to expedite, simplify and give priority to extradition and mutual legal assistance requests in terrorism-related cases and implement international and regional best practices in the field of extradition and mutual legal assistance, consistent with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

“The Security Council reminds Member States of their obligation to ensure, in conformity with international law, that refugee status is not abused by the perpetrators, organizers or facilitators of terrorist acts.

“The Security Council reminds Member States of their obligation to prevent the movement of terrorist groups by, inter alia, effective border controls, and, in this context, calls upon Member States to exchange information expeditiously, improve cooperation amongst competent authorities to prevent the movement of terrorists and terrorist groups to and from their territories, the supply of weapons for terrorists and financing that would support terrorists.

“The Security Council reiterates the obligation of Member States to refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive, to entities or persons involved in or associated with terrorist acts, including by suppressing recruitment of members of terrorist groups, consistent with international law, and eliminating the supply of weapons to terrorists.

“The Security Council also reiterates the obligations of Member States pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) such as to refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery.

“The Security Council reiterates the obligation of Member States to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts, and criminalize the wilful provision or collection, by any means, directly or indirectly, of funds by their nationals or in their territories with the intention that the funds should be used, or in the knowledge that they are to be used, in order to carry out terrorist acts.

“The Security Council expresses concern at the increase in incidences of kidnapping and hostage-taking, in some areas of the world with a specific political context, with the aim of raising funds or gaining political concessions.

“The Security Council reiterates its condemnation in the strongest terms of the incitement to terrorist acts and its repudiation of attempts at the justification or glorification of terrorist acts that may incite further terrorist acts, and recognizes the importance that Member States act cooperatively to prevent terrorists from exploiting technology, communications and resources to incite support for terrorist acts.

“The Security Council considers sanctions an important tool in countering terrorism, remains committed to ensure that fair and clear procedures exist for placing individuals and entities on sanctions lists and for removing them, as well as for granting humanitarian exemptions, and recalls, in this context, the adoption of resolutions 1822 (2008) and 1904 (2009) including the appointment of an Ombudsperson and other procedural improvements in the Al Qaida and Taliban sanctions regime.

“The Security Council reiterates its concern regarding the increasing connection, in many cases, between terrorism and transnational organized crime, illicit drugs, money-laundering, illegal arms trafficking, and emphasizes the need to enhance coordination of efforts on national, sub-regional, regional and international levels in order to strengthen a global response to this serious challenge and threat to international peace and security, and encourages UNODC to continue its work, in this regard, in collaboration with other relevant UN entities.

“The Security Council recognizes the importance of the support of local communities, private sector, civil society and media for increasing awareness about the threats of terrorism and more effectively tackling them.

“The Security Council acknowledges the technical and other counter-terrorism-related capacity-building assistance that UN entities and subsidiary bodies have provided to Member States and recognizes that some Member States lack the capacity to implement the Council’s counter-terrorism and related resolutions and notes with concern that terrorist groups and other criminal organizations seek to exploit such lack of capacity.

“The Security Council underlines, in this regard, the importance of capacity building and technical assistance with a view to increasing the capabilities of Member States for an effective implementation of its resolutions, encourages the Counter Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate (CTED) to continue to work with Member States, at their request, to assess and facilitate technical assistance, in particular, in close cooperation within CTITF, as well as with all bilateral and multilateral technical assistance providers, and welcomes the focused and regional approach of CTED aimed at addressing the counter-terrorism needs of each Member State and region.

“The Security Council reiterates the need to enhance the ongoing cooperation among the committees with counter-terrorism mandates established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) and their respective groups of expert, notes the importance of the committees’ ongoing interaction and dialogue with all Member States for their effective cooperation, encourages the committees to continue to pursue a transparent approach, and recalls resolution 1904 (2009) which requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary arrangements for the groups to be co-located as soon as possible.

“The Security Council reiterates its strong support for the adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/60/288) of 8 September 2006 and the institutionalization of CTITF, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 64/235, to ensure overall coordination and coherence in the counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations system, and the full participation, within their mandates, of relevant Security Council subsidiary bodies in the work of CTITF and its working groups, and welcomes the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 64/297.

“The Security Council encourages Member States to make every effort to conclude the negotiations of the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.”

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