The threat of terrorism in Latin America and the Caribbean remains generally low. However, Governments are aware of the evolving and decentralized threat posed by international terrorist groups, including the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh) and Al-Qaida.[1] The risk of recruitment to terrorism and radicalization to violent extremism conducive to terrorism, the growing volume and accessibility of terrorist propaganda, and the potential exploitation of the banking system and informal economies of many States to fund terrorist networks remain matters of concern. Moreover, because of its geography, the region is vulnerable to maritime criminal activity, including the smuggling of drugs; small arms and light weapons (SALW); people; and chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) materials.
Nor is the region immune to the threat posed by returning and relocating foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). By the start of 2018, more than 200 FTFs from States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) had reportedly travelled to Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic.[2] The prevalence of illicit trafficking routes throughout the Caribbean Basin and Latin America raises the risk that organized criminal groups and violent gangs may be enlisted to facilitate the undetected departure and return of FTFs in the region. In addition, the increased frequency of terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure and “soft” targets, including public spaces associated with tourism, major events and places of worship, globally, is a further matter of concern.
In its resolution 2482 (2019), the Security Council expressed its concern that terrorists can benefit from organized crime, whether domestic or transnational, as a source of financing or logistical support, while recognizing that the nature and scope of the linkages between terrorism and organized crime vary by context. The Resolution also called on Member States to increase the awareness, training and capacity of relevant practitioners in correctional systems on the linkages between terrorism and organized crime, including where perpetrators of petty crime may be exploited or recruited by terrorists, as perpetrators of such crimes can develop and have actively pursued those linkages and other networks in prison settings.
Although Member States of the region have made notable improvements in their counter- terrorism capacities, including by enhancing partnerships at the international, regional and subregional levels, there remain a number of challenges, including lack of national counter- terrorism strategies (that integrate law enforcement measures and address socio-economic, human rights, gender and rule of law components) and judicial and prosecutorial capacities; limited use of special investigative techniques and witness-protection measures; shortcomings in forensic capacity, porous coastlines, lack of financial and human resources and low capacity to counter online radicalization and violent extremist propaganda conducive to terrorism. There is also a need to enhance measures to prevent and suppress terrorism financing, including with respect to alternative remittance systems (ARS), the cross-border movement of cash (cash couriers), and new technologies (financial services linked to mobile services, Internet and store cards).
To address these challenges, the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) will be holding a virtual open briefing on “The threat of terrorism in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
The objectives of the proposed virtual open briefing are to facilitate discussion of the current and evolving threat of terrorism in Latin America and the Caribbean and to identify progress achieved and remaining gaps in implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions and international standards, as well as the related technical assistance needs in compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international refugee law. The briefing will also provide an opportunity for the Counter-Terrorism Committee to promote regional, cross-regional and international cooperation to counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.
The proposed briefing will include a panel of experts from relevant United Nations specialized agencies and other international, regional and subregional organizations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), OAS/CICTE and CARICOM IMPACS.
The virtual open briefing will take place on 14 December 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) via VTC and will be open to Member and Observer States, United Nations staff and interns, UN entities, intergovernmental organizations, and specialized agencies.
[1] See the “III Hemispheric Ministerial Conference to Fight Terrorism” Ministerial Statement, 19 and 20 January 2020, Bogota? Colombia.
[2] CARICOM Counter-Terrorism Strategy 2018, p. 5.
The event will also be webcasted at .
The concept note of the virtual open briefing is available here.
The agenda of the virtual open briefing is available here.