What's In Blue

Posted Fri 6 Apr 2018

Arria-formula Meeting on Synergies between the UN and Regional and Subregional Organisations in Addressing Terrorism and Transnational Organised Crime*

On Monday (9 April), Council members will hold an Arria-formula meeting on “Enhancing synergies between the United Nations and regional and subregional organisations to address the nexus between terrorism and transnational organised crime”. The meeting is open to member states, Permanent Observers and non-governmental organisations accredited to the UN. Following the meeting members may begin discussions on a draft presidential statement.

Peru, the chair of the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee , has organised the meeting with the objective of gaining a better understanding of the evolving nexus and dynamics between terrorism and transnational organised crime and how this varies in different regions. According to the concept note, the meeting is also aimed at finding ways to strengthen cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organisations, while ensuring measures comply with international and human rights law. It highlights the role of regional and subregional organisations in assessing the threat level in their regions, in the implementation of Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, as well as in strengthening the capacities of member states and facilitating technical assistance and information.

The briefers will be a mix of representatives from the UN and regional and subregional organisations. They include the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime , Under-Secretary-General Yuri Fedotov; the Head of the Office of Counter-Terrorism , Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov; Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, Permanent Representative of Singapore on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ; Ambassador Fatima Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the AU; Ambassador João Pedro Vale de Almeida, Head of the EU Delegation to the UN; Ambassador Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz, Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the UN; Alison Treppel, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States; and Rasa Ostrauskaite, Coordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

The concept note encourages participants to consider several key issues. One is the link between terrorism and transnational organised crime on a regional level and how the UN, member states, and regional and subregional organisations can jointly identify and disrupt these links. Another suggested area for discussion is improving the UN’s support to member states in their counter-terrorism efforts, and, more generally, how to strengthen their capacity to share information and meet their international counter-terrorism obligations in a manner that is consistent with fundamental freedoms and international human rights, refugee, and international humanitarian law. Finally, participants are encouraged to consider various lessons learned and good practices within their own region and how these can be disseminated globally.

For further information on the Council and Counter-Terrorism please see: https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/terrorism/

* Post-script: On 8 May, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2018/9), expressing concern about the close connection between international terrorism and transnational organised crime. The statement calls on states to prevent terrorists from benefiting from the financial proceeds of transnational organised crime and recalls their obligations to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism for any purpose. It further calls on the 1267/1989/2253 Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Afghanistan Sanctions Committee to hold a joint meeting on this issue within 12 months.

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