Security Council Open Debate: Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts: combating the financing of terrorism

Speech | 28-03-2019

Mr President,

Thank you for organizing today’s important open debate and to the briefers for their contributions.

Allow me to also commend you on the unanimous adoption of resolution 2462, which the Kingdom of the Netherlands proudly co-sponsored.

Mr President,

The Kingdom of Netherlands aligns itself fully with the statement made by the European Union.

In my national capacity I would like to highlight three issues:

1. Obligations under international law
2. Public-private cooperation
3. Coordination

International law

Mr President,

Today, many before me have said that the terrorist threat is changing.

That the technology through which terrorists finance their operation is developing.

And that this means that we have to change and develop our approach to terrorism financing as well.

We agree.

And resolution 2462 will guide us in doing so.

But changing and developing our approach does not mean that the rules of the game change.

On the contrary.

Every country’s obligation under international law, in particular human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, is now more relevant than ever.

This is also why the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a candidate for a seat in the Human Rights Council for the period 2020-2022.

By wavering our commitments under international law, we will only play into the hands of the terrorists we want to fight.

Therefore, we have to ensure, through fair risk assessment, that NGOs can continue to operate in a free space.

That humanitarian actors can continue deliver aid in line with the humanitarian principles.

We call on the Security Council to see to these aspects when reviewing the implementation of resolution 2462 in a year from now.

Public-private cooperation

Mr President,

This brings me to my second point: public-private cooperation.

The public and private sector are natural allies in the fight against terrorism and its financing.

I applaud your efforts to enhance public-private cooperation in countering the financing of terrorism through resolution 2462.

In The Netherlands, we already have good experiences with such cooperation.

For some years now, the Dutch public prosecutor, police, Financial Intelligence Unit and private companies, including banks and insurance companies, share information on individuals and transactions related to terrorism on the basis of civil law.

Since its inception, this public-private partnership resulted in more than 300 extra suspicious transaction reports related to terrorism financing.

We encourage the UN and its Member States to engage in similar efforts to join forces with the private sector.

Coordination

Mr President,

On my third and final point: coordination.

I commend your efforts to bring the important work of the Financial Action Taskforce closer to that of the UN.

Coordination of efforts by these bodies, but also by the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the Egmont Group and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, is extremely important for us to stay ahead of the curve.

The same goes for internal coordination within the UN system.

As UN entities, governments and international organizations we have to learn from each, share good practices and strengthen capacity building.

Only by doing so can we be greater than the sum of our parts in countering terrorism.

Conclusion

Mr President,

Two weeks ago, two men were arrested in Amsterdam in connection with the horrific terrorist attack that occurred in your country’s capital in 2015.

The two men are accused of selling kalashnikovs and explosives that were used in the Paris attack that killed 129 people.

Four years after that attack, it shows that investigating financial and other resources is key to hold terrorists and their accomplices to account.

It shows that complacency in our fight against terrorism cannot be and is not an option.

And it shows that the Kingdom of the Netherlands continues to cooperate with its partners, the UN and its Member States to pinch terrorism at its source.

Thank you.