Security Council to Thwart Terrorists’ Access to Weapons
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons, particularly small arms and light weapons.
The 15-member body said that these weapons continue to pose threats to international peace and security and cause significant loss of life.
The Council 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 prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons.
Courtesy: UN
