Statement by Tjaša Tanko, Minister Counsellor of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations, at the UNSC meeting on the Briefings by Chairs of subsidiary bodies of the Security Council

Thank you Mr. President,

I wish to thank the Chairs of the three committees for their briefings. The impact of their leadership on Committees work cannot be overstated and we thank you for it.

Mr. President,

Slovenia reiterates its concern about the complex and evolving threat posed by terrorist groups, particularly ISIL, Al-Qaida, and their affiliates. Throughout our Security Council tenure, the terrorist threat has remained persistent; in fact it is re-emerging in some parts of the world, such as the Middle East, and intensifying in Africa, particularly West Africa and the Sahel.

The use of new and emerging technologies by terrorist groups is advancing faster than the states’ ability to counter them effectively. Therefore, greater investment in preventive measures and technological safeguards is essential.

The use of the internet, AI, social media, and gaming or gaming-adjacent platforms to disseminate propaganda and target young people is particularly alarming. Reports also clearly show that terrorists employ a gendered approach to recruitment through these platforms. It is therefore necessary to adopt a gender-responsive approach to prevention and countering such efforts. Education and development of critical thinking skills, especially in the digital environment are key.

We reiterate that for counter-terrorism efforts to be sustainable, comprehensive, whole-of-society, whole-of-government and gender responsive approaches that comply with international law – particularly international humanitarian, refugee and human rights law – should be implemented. At the national level, this starts with respect for the rule of law and human rights, alongside the provision of education and economic opportunities.

Mr. President,

1267 ISIL (Da’esh) & Al Qaida Sanctions Committee is one of the pillars of the global counter-terrorism architecture and safeguarding its integrity is critical.

We are pleased that there has been a slight increase in the engagement of States in submitting listing proposals. However, due attention should be paid to verified affiliations with ISIL or Al Qaida, as required by the designation criteria. After all, due process should also be integral to the listing procedures, not only to delistings. In this regard, we welcome the appointment of the new Ombudsperson, ensuring there will be no interruption in the work of the Office.

Additionally, we would like to express our appreciation to the Monitoring Team for all their support to the work of the Committee. We particularly welcome the renewed focus on organizing regional meetings of intelligence agencies, not only the annual meeting in Vienna, but also in different regions in Africa. These contribute to the trust building and can result in increased intelligence sharing – an area consistently identified as one of the main challenges and a fundamental element of effective and successful counter-terrorism cooperation.

Mr. President,

In the face of adaptability that the terrorist groups continue to demonstrate despite counter terrorism efforts, the work of the Counter-terrorism Committee is essential. Systematic visits and assessments in all member states, assisting States in implementing counter-terrorism measures in line with resolution 1373, and trends analyses by CTED guide the efforts of the international community. This helps impacted States with capacity building in the fight against terrorism, and supports less-affected States’ work in prevention and resilience.

Mr. President,

Resolution 1540 (2004) remains a cornerstone of the international framework preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery to non-State actors.

Slovenia has supported efforts focused on helping States strengthen their national implementation frameworks and we consistently highlight the importance of dialogue, transparency, and practical cooperation to advance non-proliferation and collective security.

As 1540 implementation remains uneven across regions, Slovenia encourages continued attention to capacity-building, outreach and reporting, including through engagement with national points of contact and the promotion of voluntary national implementation action plans.

We welcome the upcoming comprehensive review of resolution 1540, which will offer a valuable opportunity to assess progress, identify remaining challenges, and renew the global commitment to preventing the WMD proliferation to non-State actors.

Mr. President,

Terrorism is evolving with the speed of human imagination as transposed into ever-changing global realities. This means that our responses must demonstrate the same ingenuity and even greater rigor, which can only be achieved in cooperation with other stakeholders.

In conclusion,

We cannot let the geopolitical divides get in the way of cooperation in counter-terrorism. The price is human lives, human rights and stability of States. This price is simply too high.

I thank you.

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