United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds special meeting on preventing exploitation of the Internet and social media for terrorist purposes - United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee

Exploitation of the Internet and social media for terrorist purposes can only be defeated through sustained and comprehensive action involving the active participation and collaboration of Member States, international and regional organizations, civil society, and the private sector. This was a common theme expressed by of a number of participants in a special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, held at the United Nations in New York on 1 December 2016.

“We must work together to promote dialogue among all stakeholders in order to find effective ways to prevent the exploitation of information and communication technologies for terrorist purposes,” H.E. Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations, said in his closing statement. Ambassador Aboulatta is Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council.

The meeting – Preventing the exploitation of information and communication technologies (ICT) for terrorist purposes, while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms – was held against the backdrop of the significant and growing threat posed to Member States by the exploitation of ICT, in particular the Internet and social media, for terrorist purposes. In a number of resolutions, the Security Council has recognized this threat and called upon Member States to take the measures needed to deliver an effective response. The formal meeting was preceded by technical sessions on the same theme organized by the Executive Directorate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTED) on 30 November and 1 December 2016.

Representatives of the private sector underscored their commitment to preventing the exploitation of ICT for terrorist purposes. Maryam Mujica, Public Policy Team Manager for Twitter, highlighted that the company “has suspended over 360,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts” since mid-2015.

Participants in the special meeting and the accompanying technical sessions included Member States, international and regional organizations, United Nations entities, the private sector, academia, faith-based leaders, and civil society representatives. Having relevant actors from various sectors gathered in the same room provided an opportunity for dialogue and for a frank discussion about challenges and ways forward.

Wednesday, 7 December 2016"

'via Blog this'

Two UN Security Council Committees and the Financial Action Task Force hold special meeting on depriving terrorist groups from accessing, raising, and moving funds - United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee

(NEW YORK) Despite efforts by the international community to deprive terrorists and terrorist groups of financial resources and prevent them from accessing the international financial system, terrorist groups continue to find ways to raise and move funds. Of particular concern is the urgent need to improve implementation of existing mechanisms for identifying and disrupting terrorist financing to prevent returning foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), dormant terrorist cells, and other terrorist support networks from accessing funds and assets.

“Combatting terrorism financing continues to be a priority for the international community, as notably demonstrated by last December’s historic Security Council meeting of Finance Ministers. In adopting its resolution 2253, the Council reaffirmed its determination to address the threat posed to international peace and security by Al-Qaida, ISIL, and their affiliates,” Ambassador Amr Aboulatta, Chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) said in his opening remarks of the joint special meeting organized and chaired by the Security Council 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee and the CTC , in cooperation with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and held in New York on 12-13 December 2016.

The purpose of the special meeting – Depriving terrorist groups from accessing, raising, and moving funds: Practices and lessons learned.” – was to build on the outcomes of the Security Council meeting of December 2015, as well as on a similar joint meeting held in April 2016, and to examine national practices and regional initiatives to better implement relevant counter-terrorist financing instruments, including the related resolutions of the Council. It also enabled the two committees, Member States, and relevant international and regional organizations to continue their discussions of terrorism-financing trends and to share practices and effective tools to deprive terrorists of financial resources.

Tuesday, 13 December 2016