National Statement Delivered by Minister Coveney at UNSC Open Debate on Counter-Terrorism

Statement

I would like to thank Minister Jerandi, and the Tunisian Presidency for convening this debate. My thanks also to Under Secretary General Voronkov and Executive Director Coninsx for their briefings today and also, of course, to Fatima Akilu of the Neem Foundation. 

Mr President,

This is my first time to address the Council since Ireland assumed its seat on 1 January.  We take our responsibility entrusted to us very seriously. We want to be a constructive and thoughtful partner at the Security Council for the next two years. 

I look forward to working closely with you, and with fellow Council members, over the coming two years to support the Council in fulfilling our shared goal of promoting international peace and security.

Ireland aligns itself with the statement submitted on behalf of the EU.

Ireland also supports the Presidential Statement, which has been adopted today.

Mr President,

Terrorism remains one of the gravest threats to international peace and security.

The UN Counter Terrorism Committee was established two decades ago. Ireland was a Security Council member at that time, as was your country, Mr. President.  Those weeks following the September 11 terrorist attacks, as we worked on Resolution 1373 were momentous ones.

Our work on that Resolution and establishing the Committee has certainly paid dividends in countering terrorism in the intervening two decades. 

Today, the UN’s counter-terrorism framework is wide and deep, and encompasses resolutions on issues ranging from addressing the financing of terrorism to foreign terrorist fighters, with the Counter Terrorism Committee at its core.

But we have seen too many terrorist attacks in the years since the Committee began its valuable work.  Civilians are most often the victims of such attacks.

Today, I want to express our deep sympathy and support for all victims of terrorism. I want to emphasise that this includes the victims of sexual and gender-based violence committed by terrorist groups.

As a Council member, we will work so that this Council brings a new momentum to support the victims of terrorismand, of course, holding perpetrators to account.  

In resolving together to combat terrorism, we must use every opportunity to deliver on our commitment to international peace and security, a key priority for Ireland’s UNSC term. 

From our own lived experience of conflict on the island of Ireland, we know that building peace is not easy, is not quick, but it is possible.  The UN has a critical role to play.

We must also work together to provide a stronger framework for multilateral cooperation, a forum for dialogue, support and engagement. Regional and international cooperation remains vital.

Strengthening Prevention is also a core priority for Ireland. 

We know that poverty and discrimination both contribute to terrorism, and indeed that they are exacerbated by terrorism.

The UN is uniquely placed to bring coherent approaches to issues including poverty, and inequality and climate change, as well as to work in supporting effective governance including through capacity-building. Those tasks are key to countering terrorism, as well as many others.

The current pandemic has demonstrated how terrorists adapt to find new audiences and opportunities online to spread hate, to radicalize and recruit new members, and, of course, raise funds. 

We welcome the Counter Terrorism Committee’s efforts to assess theimpact of the pandemic, including on areas where the terrorist threat has increased as a result of it.  We urge the Committee to complete its work with urgency and to support affected states in identifying and tackling terrorism.

Addressing the evolving threat from politically motivated violent extremism and terrorism, especially the growing number of far-right attacks, is part of our responsibility too.

Mr President,

In adapting to deal with new threats, we must not lose sight of our core values and principles. Ireland has consistently argued that measures to combat terrorism must comply with international law, including human rights law, humanitarian law and international refugee law.  I say that because we know any other response will be ineffective, and indeed at times counterproductive. 

Put simply, violations of human rights can contribute to radicalization and the growth of terrorism itself.

Today, I want to emphasize that I see the engagement of women and young people as fundamental to combating terrorism.  The full, equal and meaningful participation of women in the creation and development of policy is critical to building resilience and to countering terrorism. We will champion work on the Council on Women, Peace and Security.

It is also vital that we engage civil society and other stakeholders to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism.  I am aware of the best practices that are being followed by Tunisia in this regard and welcome the contribution of Fatima Akilu at this meeting. 

Sustained engagement by the Committee with civil society and other key stakeholders is essential to the success of our common mission to tackle terrorism. 

Ensuring that counter-terrorism measures – including sanctions - do not have an unintended or negative impact on those who most need our support will remain a guiding objective for my country during our tenure. We will apply that particularly to the critical work of humanitarian and civil society actors.  We support the UN Office of the Ombudsperson in promoting transparency to sanctions regimes.

Mr. President,

Thank you for shining a light on this critical issue. We stand by your side.

I salute what has been achieved by the Counter Terrorism Committee over the past two decades, but leave you with the thought that, as the threats posed by terrorism continue to evolve, so does fear and mistrust.

All of that is deeply damaging to our aspiration for global peace. It divides and weakens our societies. 

So, let’s resolve today, guided by our core principles and values, that we all start 2021 looking forward,  working closely and collaboratively on this Council and across the UN, to counter the threat of terrorism and, importantly,  to address the factors that are fueling that scourge.

I would like to thank Minister Jerandi, and the Tunisian Presidency for convening this debate. My thanks also to Under Secretary General Voronkov and Executive Director Coninsx for their briefings today and also, of course, to Fatima Akilu of the Neem Foundation. 

Mr President,

This is my first time to address the Council since Ireland assumed its seat on 1 January.  We take our responsibility entrusted to us very seriously. We want to be a constructive and thoughtful partner at the Security Council for the next two years. 

I look forward to working closely with you, and with fellow Council members, over the coming two years to support the Council in fulfilling our shared goal of promoting international peace and security.

Ireland aligns itself with the statement submitted on behalf of the EU.

Ireland also supports the Presidential Statement, which has been adopted today.

Mr President,

Terrorism remains one of the gravest threats to international peace and security.

The UN Counter Terrorism Committee was established two decades ago. Ireland was a Security Council member at that time, as was your country, Mr. President.  Those weeks following the September 11 terrorist attacks, as we worked on Resolution 1373 were momentous ones.

Our work on that Resolution and establishing the Committee has certainly paid dividends in countering terrorism in the intervening two decades. 

Today, the UN’s counter-terrorism framework is wide and deep, and encompasses resolutions on issues ranging from addressing the financing of terrorism to foreign terrorist fighters, with the Counter Terrorism Committee at its core.

But we have seen too many terrorist attacks in the years since the Committee began its valuable work.  Civilians are most often the victims of such attacks.

Today, I want to express our deep sympathy and support for all victims of terrorism. I want to emphasise that this includes the victims of sexual and gender-based violence committed by terrorist groups.

As a Council member, we will work so that this Council brings a new momentum to support the victims of terrorismand, of course, holding perpetrators to account.  

In resolving together to combat terrorism, we must use every opportunity to deliver on our commitment to international peace and security, a key priority for Ireland’s UNSC term. 

From our own lived experience of conflict on the island of Ireland, we know that building peace is not easy, is not quick, but it is possible.  The UN has a critical role to play.

We must also work together to provide a stronger framework for multilateral cooperation, a forum for dialogue, support and engagement. Regional and international cooperation remains vital.

Strengthening Prevention is also a core priority for Ireland. 

We know that poverty and discrimination both contribute to terrorism, and indeed that they are exacerbated by terrorism.

The UN is uniquely placed to bring coherent approaches to issues including poverty, and inequality and climate change, as well as to work in supporting effective governance including through capacity-building. Those tasks are key to countering terrorism, as well as many others.

The current pandemic has demonstrated how terrorists adapt to find new audiences and opportunities online to spread hate, to radicalize and recruit new members, and, of course, raise funds. 

We welcome the Counter Terrorism Committee’s efforts to assess theimpact of the pandemic, including on areas where the terrorist threat has increased as a result of it.  We urge the Committee to complete its work with urgency and to support affected states in identifying and tackling terrorism.

Addressing the evolving threat from politically motivated violent extremism and terrorism, especially the growing number of far-right attacks, is part of our responsibility too.

Mr President,

In adapting to deal with new threats, we must not lose sight of our core values and principles. Ireland has consistently argued that measures to combat terrorism must comply with international law, including human rights law, humanitarian law and international refugee law.  I say that because we know any other response will be ineffective, and indeed at times counterproductive. 

Put simply, violations of human rights can contribute to radicalization and the growth of terrorism itself.

Today, I want to emphasize that I see the engagement of women and young people as fundamental to combating terrorism.  The full, equal and meaningful participation of women in the creation and development of policy is critical to building resilience and to countering terrorism. We will champion work on the Council on Women, Peace and Security.

It is also vital that we engage civil society and other stakeholders to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism.  I am aware of the best practices that are being followed by Tunisia in this regard and welcome the contribution of Fatima Akilu at this meeting. 

Sustained engagement by the Committee with civil society and other key stakeholders is essential to the success of our common mission to tackle terrorism. 

Ensuring that counter-terrorism measures – including sanctions - do not have an unintended or negative impact on those who most need our support will remain a guiding objective for my country during our tenure. We will apply that particularly to the critical work of humanitarian and civil society actors.  We support the UN Office of the Ombudsperson in promoting transparency to sanctions regimes.

Mr. President,

Thank you for shining a light on this critical issue. We stand by your side.

I salute what has been achieved by the Counter Terrorism Committee over the past two decades, but leave you with the thought that, as the threats posed by terrorism continue to evolve, so does fear and mistrust.

All of that is deeply damaging to our aspiration for global peace. It divides and weakens our societies. 

So, let’s resolve today, guided by our core principles and values, that we all start 2021 looking forward,  working closely and collaboratively on this Council and across the UN, to counter the threat of terrorism and, importantly,  to address the factors that are fueling that scourge.

« Previous Item | Next Item »