The United Nations Security Council today unanimously adopted a
resolution aimed at preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons,
particularly small arms and light weapons, the “destabilizing
accumulation and misuse” of which the 15-member body said “continue
to pose threats to international peace and security and cause
significant loss of life.”
The Council “strongly condemned” the continued flow of weapons,
military equipment, unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and their
components, and improvised explosive device (IED) components to
and between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
(ISIL/Da'esh), Al-Qaida, their affiliates, and associated groups,
illegal armed groups and criminals.
UN Member States were encouraged to prevent and disrupt
procurement networks for weapons, systems and components between
and among such groups and entities. Member States were
specifically urged to ensure the ability to take appropriate
legal actions against those who are knowingly engaged in
providing terrorists with weapons and to ensure proper physical
security and management for stockpiles of small arms and light
weapons.
It also encouraged the implementation of marking and tracing
procedures of small arms and light weapons to improve
traceability of such weapons which could be provided to
terrorists through illicit trafficking.
UN Member States were also urged to strengthen their judicial,
law enforcement and border-control capacities, and develop their
capabilities to investigate arms-trafficking networks in order to
address the link between transnational organized crime and
terrorism.
The Council also called on all States to consider becoming party
to the related international and regional instruments, with a
view to help eliminate the supply of weapons to terrorists, and
to fully implement their respective obligations under those to
which they are a party.
Before the adoption of the text, three leading UN officials
involved in counter-terrorism, briefed the Council on the complex
efforts being undertaken by multiple agencies and committees to
fulfil the Organization's promise to take an “all-of-UN” approach
to tackle terrorism and the prevent terrorists from acquiring
weapons.
Jehangir Khan, the Officer-in-Charge of the newly created UN
Counter-Terrorism Office, told Council members that “the spectre
of terrorists acquiring lethal technologies and new weapons,
including weapons of mass destruction, poses a serious threat to
international peace and security.”
Welcoming the consideration of the resolution before the Council
today, he said “this initiative goes to the heart of the
Secretary-General's efforts to make prevention the core mission
of the United Nations.”
For his part, the Deputy Director of the UN Security Council
Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED),
Weixiong Chen, explained how the resolution would add further
tasks to CTED's mandate.
Citing a wide range of vulnerabilities in the mechanism to
prevent terrorists' access to weapons, he stressed the need for
further efforts, such as reviewing and strengthening national
legislation on countering the supply and trafficking of weapons
to terrorists and preventing the flow of weapons to
conflict-affected regions and conflict zones.
“Preventing and eliminating the supply of weapons to terrorists
is a complex task,” he said. “But please rest assured that CTED
will continue to strengthen its engagement with its UN and
international and regional partners, in accordance with the
relevant Council resolutions, to assist Member States to deny
terrorists access to weapons.”
Speaking via video-teleconference from Vienna, Austria, Yury
Fedotov, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC), stressed the importance of cross-border
partnerships.
He cited many challenges with preventing, detecting,
investigating and successfully prosecuting illicit trafficking in
weapons, including inadequate regulatory environments and data
collection; lack of specialized skills and equipment; and lack of
coordination within and between countries and regions.
“Looking ahead, we need to (further strengthen cross-border
partnerships and operational responses, promote the involvement
of diverse stakeholders, including the private sector, and step
up tailored assistance to address gaps in capacity,” he said.
UNODC remains fully engaged in providing comprehensive support
through its integrated country, regional and global programmes
and network of field offices, in coordination with UN partners as
well as partners such as the International Criminal Police
Organization (INTERPOL).
Emmanuel Roux, Special Representative of INTERPOL to the United
Nations, also delivered a statement on behalf of the body's
Secretary-General, Jürgen Stock.
Mr. Roux highlighted the importance of tracing weapons back to
their sources. “Traditionally, investigations would end at this
point, with the seizure of a firearm. INTERPOL suggests that the
recovery of a weapon is just the beginning,” he explained,
stressing the need to strengthen and integrate border management
to prevent the mobility of the individuals using weapons, such as
foreign terrorist fighters.
“The capabilities I have described hold enormous potential in
assisting law enforcement officers to prevent terrorist access to
weapons,” he said, asking delegations to reach back to their
respective capitals and national security services, to “inquire
whether this potential is being maximized, at a time of
unprecedented threat.”
