Security Council bodies issue joint report on measures taken by States to disrupt terrorism financing

In June 2020, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team pursuant to resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities, issued a joint report providing insight into measures taken by States to disrupt terrorism financing, including through the effective implementation of measures required by the relevant Council resolutions.

Based on responses from 112 Member States, the report highlights the commitment of Member States to denying terrorist groups access to funds and financial services, and stresses the important role played by United Nations sanctions measures (in particular, asset-freezing measures) in that regard.

Most States report having revised their counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) laws and having conducted terrorism-financing risk assessments, working collaboratively with law enforcement, the judiciary, financial intelligence units, the private sector and the non-profit sector.

The responses suggest that States continue to face challenges with respect to, inter alia, the institutionalization of public/private partnerships, the integration of human rights obligations into CFT measures, and cooperation with civil society actors in developing policies to ensure risk-based supervision of the non-profit sector.

The report notes that only a handful of States have developed an institutional and operational response to paragraph 24 of Security Council resolution 2462 (2019), which notes that the implementation of CFT measures should take into account the potential effect of those measures on exclusively humanitarian activities, including medical activities, that are carried out by impartial humanitarian actors.

The joint report was prepared pursuant to paragraph 37 of resolution 2462 (2019), which is the first Council resolution devoted to preventing and suppressing terrorism financing.

The resolution’s adoption reflects the Council’s continued determination to assist States to deprive terrorists of funds, financial assets and economic resources, as well as to deny them access to the financial system and to other economic sectors vulnerable to terrorism financing.

CTED will continue to update and inform Member States and the public about the implementation of international CFT standards.