UNSC calls for preventing terrorists profiting from cross-border crime

UNITED NATIONS, May 9 (APP):The UN Security Council has called on all the countries as well as international organizations to do more to stop terrorists enriching themselves through cross-border organized crime.
In a statement read out on Tuesday by Joanna Wronecka, the Permanent Representative of Poland, which holds the Presidency this month, the 15-member Council urged UN member states “to secure their borders against, investigate and prosecute terrorists and criminals working with them, including by strengthening national, regional and global systems to collect, analyze and exchange information.”
The Council also called on all the member states to use “all existing tools,” and the resources of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO), to strengthen international cooperation.
But in adopting new counter-terrorism measures, the Security Council reminded the countries that they “must comply” with all their obligations under international law, including human rights law, refugee law and humanitarian law.
“Respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are complementary and mutually reinforcing with effective counter-terrorism measures and are an essential part of a successful counter-terrorism effort,” the Council stressed.
Also in the statement, the Security Council called for better understanding of the links between terrorists and criminal groups, which operate across borders, urging the UNODC and the Counter-terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) – which was formed to coordinate the UN’s overall effort – to monitor ties closely.