UN – UN member states must take concrete steps to stop terrorists groups from getting funds through smuggling of oil and gas, illicit trade of cultural artefacts, kidnapping for ransom and donations from abroad, Ban Ki-Moon says.
Ban, the UN Secretary-General, made the call on Thursday in New York at an Open Debate of the Security Council on Countering Terrorism.
Ban said states should curtail the ability of terrorists to abuse and misuse the Internet and social media to radicalise and recruit young people by identifying global and regional solutions that involved governments, private enterprise and civil society.
NAN recalls that the U.S. estimates that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has acquired roughly 1.5 billion dollars by selling oil on the black market and looting bank vaults.
They also extort millions of dollars from people in cities that it has captured.
Ban said Da’esh was adept at raising funds through nefarious activities and had shown an ability to radicalise and recruit disaffected youths, including women and girls, through strategies involving the Internet and social media.
He said that no fewer than 30,000 people from all over the world had joined Da’esh’s campaigns in Iraq and Syria.
These foreign terrorist fighters, he said, also posed a significant security threat to their homes or third countries when they returned.
“We need to focus on implementing the relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions 1373, 2178, 2199 and 2253, and other resolutions and measures that sanction terrorist groups and individuals.
“We also need to implement all four pillars of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a comprehensive and balanced manner, recognising that security and respect for human rights are mutually reinforcing.
“Strategies to counter the threat of online radicalisation will also require legislative and law enforcement measures at the national level.
“We also need an effective approach to strategic communications, moving beyond counter-narratives to reinforcing the values of peace and tolerance.
The UN Counter-Terrorism Centre has made this a priority area in its new Five-Year Programme.
“To stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, we need to intervene at all stages, from their initial radicalization to their travel and return,’’ Ban said.
Security Council Resolution 2178, he added, called on all member states to co-operate in this effort.
The UN chief said that recent attacks around the world had destroyed lives, heightened fear and defied all norms of international law and our common humanity.
Terrorism and violent extremism, he explained, were global threats, transcending cultures and geographical boundaries.
“They should not be associated with any one religion, nationality or ethnic group.
“While recognising the importance of measures to counter terrorism, we also need to engage earlier and address the drivers of violent extremism.
“We know that violent extremism flourishes when groups are marginalised, political space shrinks, human rights are abused and people lack prospects and meaning in their lives.
“My Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism asks each country to develop a National Plan that engages key communities and focuses on conflict prevention.
“The plan also calls for the resolution of long-standing conflicts, which would give hope to those enduring oppression and eradicate the breeding grounds of violent extremism and terrorism,’’ Ban added.
NAN reports that resolutions 1373, adopted in 2001, calls upon member states to implement a number of measures intended to enhance their legal and institutional ability to counter terrorist activities.
This include taking steps to criminalize the financing of terrorism, freeze without delay any funds related to persons involved in acts of terrorism and deny all forms of financial support for terrorist groups.
Resolution 2178 was adopted in 2014, by the Council, where members condemned violent extremism and decided that member states should be consistent with international law.
This is to prevent recruitment, transporting or equipping individuals, who travel to a state other than their states of residence or nationality for the purpose of the perpetration, planning of, or participation in terrorist acts.
Particularly, Council underscored the “urgent need” to prevent the travel and support for foreign terrorist fighters associated with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Nusra Front (ANL) and other affiliates or splinter groups of Al-Qaida.
Resolution 2253 was adopted in 2015. It covers asset freeze, travel ban, arms embargo and listing criteria for ISIL, Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertaking and entities. (NAN)