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Statement at the Arria-formula meeting on Counter-Terrorism

Thank you very much Chair and I really want to thank Kenya and the United Arab Emirates for convening this important discussion, and I also want to thank all of our briefers this afternoon. I particularly want to acknowledge the information shared with us by Ms. Rose Gichure, in particular on the human impact, and trauma experienced, from the experience of terrorism. Thank you for that.

 

Chairs,

 

Terrorism knows no borders. Some terrorist groups, principally ISIL, Al-Qaida and their affiliates, represent a transnational threat through their regional and their global reach.

 

Terrorist groups have extended their influence through misuse of the internet and social media to radicalise, recruit, spread propaganda, plan attacks and finance terrorist activities.

 

In Africa, the terrorist threat has evolved from one marked by extremist groups focused on local objectives, to one in which such groups have increasingly aligned with global terrorist networks.

 

We saw Last week in Mogadishu, Al-Shabaab carried out another horrific attack, along with recent attacks in Kenya and Ethiopia.We have also seen the toll that transnational terrorism has taken on the lives of civilians in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.

 

Ireland remains a committed partner across Africa in tackling this scourge through development funding, support for African peace support operations, and our engagement here at the UN, including through targeted UN sanctions.

 

Chairs,

 

The challenge of countering international terrorism is compounded by the risk of new and emerging technologies such as AI, 3D printing and drones.

 

Drones constitute a particular threat as we’ve seen, in terms of cross-border attacks, with the 1267 Monitoring Team reporting on the growing capabilities of terrorist groups using unmanned aerial systems.

 

Too often, terrorist and armed groups conduct cross-border attacks, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, and Ireland condemns all cross-border attacks.

 

Often, terrorist groups exploit porous borders and weak state authority to move members, funds and arms across international boundaries as exemplified by Al-Shabaab.

 

Chairs,

 

The transnational reach of these terrorist networks presents a complex challenge to the Security Council. But we have a number of important tools at our disposal and let me mention four of these.

 

First, regional approaches are necessary. Council efforts must address transnational terrorist threats in a more holistic manner,working with regional and sub-regional organizations.

 

Second, the Council must do more to support all states, particularly those in Africa, to strengthen their border security capacities – the first line of defence against the cross-border movement of terrorists.

 

Third, UN sanctions are a vital tool and must be effectively implemented. 

 

However, we do recognise that sanctions can inadvertently impact on humanitarian action, particularly where terrorist or armed groups control territory.

 

The preservation of humanitarian space is an over-arching priority for Ireland across all sanctions regimes. We welcome the instances where humanitarian language has been strengthened and, in particular, where humanitarian carve-outs have been agreed.  Ireland supports the introduction of further carve-outs where relevant, using the Somalia and Afghanistan sanctions regimes as examples of best practice.

 

Fourth, the Council must pay greater attention to preventive measures, and build resilience to radicalization and recruitment by terrorist groups, including through comprehensive development strategies and ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all such efforts. Likewise, youth must not be an afterthought, but rather an integral part of such approaches.

 

This Council must support states to address the underlying causes that help fuel terrorism, from issues of governance to economic and social marginalization, to access to basic needs and resources, including due to climate change.

 

Finally, Co-Chairs, all measures to counter terrorism, including the misuse of new and emerging technologies, must comply with international human rights law and mainstream a gender responsive approach.

 

In adapting to deal with new threats, we must remember our core values and principles.Any other response will be frankly ineffective, and indeed possibly counterproductive. 

 

 

Thank you.

1.     Thank you very much Chair and I really want to thank Kenya and the United Arab Emirates for convening this important discussion, and I also want to thank all of our briefers this afternoon. I particularly want to acknowledge the information shared with us by Ms. Rose Gichure, in particular on the human impact, and trauma experienced, from the experience of terrorism. Thank you for that.

 

2.     Chairs,

 

3.     Terrorism knows no borders. Some terrorist groups, principally ISIL, Al-Qaida and their affiliates, represent a transnational threat through their regional and their global reach.

 

4.     Terrorist groups have extended their influence through misuse of the internet and social media to radicalise, recruit, spread propaganda, plan attacks and finance terrorist activities.

 

5.     In Africa, the terrorist threat has evolved from one marked by extremist groups focused on local objectives, to one in which such groups have increasingly aligned with global terrorist networks.

 

6.     We saw Last week in Mogadishu, Al-Shabaab carried out another horrific attack, along with recent attacks in Kenya and Ethiopia.We have also seen the toll that transnational terrorism has taken on the lives of civilians in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.

 

7.     Ireland remains a committed partner across Africa in tackling this scourge through development funding, support for African peace support operations, and our engagement here at the UN, including through targeted UN sanctions.

 

8.     Chairs,

 

9.     The challenge of countering international terrorism is compounded by the risk of new and emerging technologies such as AI, 3D printing and drones.

 

10.Drones constitute a particular threat as we’ve seen, in terms of cross-border attacks, with the 1267 Monitoring Team reporting on the growing capabilities of terrorist groups using unmanned aerial systems.

 

11.Too often, terrorist and armed groups conduct cross-border attacks, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, and Ireland condemns all cross-border attacks.

 

12.Often, terrorist groups exploit porous borders and weak state authority to move members, funds and arms across international boundaries as exemplified by Al-Shabaab.

 

13.Chairs,

 

14.The transnational reach of these terrorist networks presents a complex challenge to the Security Council. But we have a number of important tools at our disposal and let me mention four of these.

 

15.First, regional approaches are necessary. Council efforts must address transnational terrorist threats in a more holistic manner,working with regional and sub-regional organizations.

 

16.Second, the Council must do more to support all states, particularly those in Africa, to strengthen their border security capacities – the first line of defence against the cross-border movement of terrorists.

 

17.Third, UN sanctions are a vital tool and must be effectively implemented. 

 

18.However, we do recognise that sanctions can inadvertently impact on humanitarian action, particularly where terrorist or armed groups control territory.

 

19.The preservation of humanitarian space is an over-arching priority for Ireland across all sanctions regimes. We welcome the instances where humanitarian language has been strengthened and, in particular, where humanitarian carve-outs have been agreed.  Ireland supports the introduction of further carve-outs where relevant, using the Somalia and Afghanistan sanctions regimes as examples of best practice.

 

20.Fourth, the Council must pay greater attention to preventive measures, and build resilience to radicalization and recruitment by terrorist groups, including through comprehensive development strategies and ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all such efforts. Likewise, youth must not be an afterthought, but rather an integral part of such approaches.

 

21.This Council must support states to address the underlying causes that help fuel terrorism, from issues of governance to economic and social marginalization, to access to basic needs and resources, including due to climate change.

 

22.Finally, Co-Chairs, all measures to counter terrorism, including the misuse of new and emerging technologies, must comply with international human rights law and mainstream a gender responsive approach.

 

23.In adapting to deal with new threats, we must remember our core values and principles.Any other response will be frankly ineffective, and indeed possibly counterproductive. 

 

24.Thank you.

 

 

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