On 9 August 2022, Mr. Weixiong Chen, Acting Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), and Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), delivered a joint briefing on the Fifteenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat (S/2022/576).
Mr. Chen said the global and evolving threat posed by Da’esh requires partnerships and cooperation to forge effective responses. Highlighting the report, he said that despite recent leadership losses, Da’esh continues to take advantage of conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism to recruit as well as to organize and execute complex attacks.
Terrorism does not exist in a vacuum, he continued. Amid a range of overlapping global challenges that risk complicating counter-terrorism responses and exacerbating the threat posed by Da’esh and other terrorist groups, the exploitation of conflict-related fragilities remains a driver, notably in Iraq, the Syrian Arab Republic, and across the African continent. The global food crisis could act as a further catalyst for the spread of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.
Enhanced multilateralism, international cooperation, and global solidarity is the only way to counter a global terrorist threat like Da’esh, Mr. Chen said. A comprehensive, coordinated, “All-of-UN” approach remains crucial to developing and implementing effective counter-terrorism measures that are tailored, age- and gender-sensitive, and human rights compliant. Based on the Counter-Terrorism Committee’s recommendations, CTED, in close coordination and cooperation with UNOCT and other key partners, has also worked to support a range of capacity-building activities.
Mr. Voronkov echoed the call for concerted action to stem the threats posed by Da’esh, as the terrorist group evolves into using a decentralized internal structure, with affiliates operating from Afghanistan to the Lake Chad Basin.
“Better understanding and continued monitoring of this structure are indispensable for countering and preventing the threat posed by Da’esh,” he said. “Strengthened international and regional cooperation, including through information-sharing mechanisms, remain crucial in this regard.”
The Secretary-General’s latest report covers challenges and counter-terrorism achievements. It states that the current threat landscape highlights the need for comprehensive responses to counter and prevent terrorism, and while Member States have the primary responsibility in that regard, international cooperation remains indispensable.
Mr. Chen also informed the Security Council of the forthcoming special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee on the use of emerging technologies for terrorism and counter-terrorism purposes to be held from 28-30 October 2022 in New Delhi and Mumbai, India. “It is my hope that this event will serve as a forum to further enhance and strengthen our multilateral and multidimensional counter-terrorism efforts,” he said.
During the briefing, Security Council members also expressed their concern at the growing threat of Da’esh to international peace and security and reaffirmed the need to continue to take comprehensive and effective measures to address such threats.
Here are the remarks of Acting Executive Director, Weixiong Chen.
For coverage of the briefing, please see the United Nations Department of Global Communications Meetings Coverage Section press releases in English (SC/14995) and French (CS/14995).
Here are highlights from the Secretary-General’s fifteenth report.
Here is information on the Secretary-General’s previous report on the threats posed by ISIL/Da’esh.