UNITED NATIONS – May 30, 2015 (NAN) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says UN will continue to work actively with Member States to forge more comprehensive and creative approaches to tackle activities of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs).
Ban gave the assurance in his remarks at the Security Council meeting on Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts on Friday in New York.
He said, “no one country can tackle this challenge alone.
“Member States have to enhance their cooperation and exchange information, develop effective border controls and strengthen their criminal justice systems, in accordance with the rule of law and human rights standards,’’ he said.
Ban said since the adoption of Security Council resolution 2178, the flow of foreign terrorist fighters that have joined the ranks of Da’esh and other terrorist groups continue to grow.
He expressed concern with recent events, particularly in Iraq and Syria, which has seen the advancement of Da’esh and other groups with the growing support of FTFs.
The UN Chief said that this has demonstrated increasing threat to international peace and security that requires even more concerted action by the international community.
He said there has been an estimated 70 per cent increase in FTFs worldwide between the middle of 2014 and March.
This trend, he said, means more FTFs in the front-lines, a bigger pool of expertise available to terrorists and a menace to their countries of origin once they return.
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He said the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Monitoring Team estimates that more than 25,000 FTFs from over 100 Member States have travelled to Syria and Iraq, as well as Afghanistan, Yemen and Libya.
“When counter-terrorism efforts ignore the rule of law and violate fundamental rights, they not only betray the values they seek to uphold, but can also end up further fuelling violent extremism.
“To ensure consistency with human rights principles, measures to implement resolution 2178 must be clear and precise, as required by the principle of legality.
“Exceptional and lawful restrictions imposed on rights must be specific, necessary and proportionate.
“The United Nations stands ready to assist Member States in implementing these standards,” he said.
Ultimately, he said, Member States must address the conditions conducive to young men and women being lured by violent extremism.
Radicalisation, he said, is the essential precursor to individuals becoming FTFs.
“Building effective, accountable and inclusive governance and institutions is an important element of preventive efforts.
“Youth today are the group most prone to radicalisation, violent extremism and recruitment as FTFs.
“ Most FTFs are young males aged between 15 to and 35 motivated by extremist ideologies.
“However, we should also address the conditions and factors leading women and girls to join the ranks of Da’esh and other terrorist groups,’’ he said.
Ban welcomed the growing emphasis on addressing the underlying drivers of violent extremism at the global, regional, national and local levels to prevent radicalisation.
The UN Chief also welcomed the Council’s initiatives, including the upcoming Counter-Terrorism Committee Special Meeting on stemming the flow of FTFs, which will be held in Madrid on July 27 and July 28.
Ban said he has instructed the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force in the Department of Political Affairs to establish an inter-agency working group on FTFs to coordinate the work of all relevant UN entities. (NAN)
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