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On 31 August 2023, the Counter-Terrorism Committee held an open briefing on border control and security in the context of counter-terrorism.

Border control is the last line of defence against the illegal cross-border movement of terrorists, including foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). To effectively screen travellers prior to departure and arrival, but also at ports of entry, a combination of several mechanisms needs to be in place, depending on whether the border is an air, maritime, or land border.

In an open briefing of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), Member States and experts were invited to share their experiences in this context. Held on 31 August 2023, the open briefing on “Border control and security in the context of counter-terrorism” focused on issues, current trends, and gaps in countering terrorism and organised crime, including in the implementation of border security measures of Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 2178 (2014), 2396 (2017), as well as other relevant resolutions. The meeting took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York and was open to all Member States, United Nations entities, intergovernmental organisations and specialized agencies, as well as non-governmental organisations.

Ms. Natalia Gherman, Assistant-Secretary General and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), stressed the importance of developing and implementing comprehensive and risk-based approaches and tools to ensure effective border controls and responses to the evolving threats posed by terrorists and their networks. She stressed the importance of robust dialogue with Member States and interactions on border control and security issues of concern with an extensive network of partners, such as international and regional organisations, civil society organisations and members of their in-house Global Research Network, among other entities.

The Counter-Terrorism Committee and CTED will continue its work on strengthening border security globally, encompassing through the effective implementation of Security Council resolutions and potential linkages to other Council resolutions pertaining to border control and security. Points of particular focus include the analysis of Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Records (PNR), the screening of individuals against watch lists and databases, the ethical use of biometrics in counter-terrorism, and the screening of goods. All efforts related to border management and security should be undertaken in accordance with domestic law, international obligations, and in full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; they should also be comprehensive, human rights-compliant, and include gender- and age-sensitive perspectives.

The concept note for the open briefing is available herePDF. 
The open briefing agenda can be accessed . 
A webcast of the open briefing can be found.
Additional photos from the briefing are available.

Speakers’ statements and presentations are available below:

H.E. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee: opening remarksPDF
Natalia Gherman, Assistant Secretary General and Executive Director, CTED: opening remarksPDF
Jean-Philippe Morange, Senior Legal Officer; Motaz Mohammad Zaki Mohammad Al-Rababah, Programme Management Officer; Anne-Maria Seesmaa, Legal Officer; CTED: presentationPDF
Ulrik Ahnfeldt-Mollerup, Senior Political Affairs Officer, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT): statementPDF
Peter Adams, Head of Maritime Security Section & Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Maritime Security, International Maritime Organization (IMO): statementPDF
P?r Liljert, Director, International Organization for Migration (IOM): statementPDF
Roraima Andriani, Special Representative to the United Nations, International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL): presentationPDF
James McColm, Acting Deputy Director, World Customs Organization (WCO): statementPDF
Isabelle Moeller, Chief Executive, and Roger Baldwin, Advisory Council Member, Biometrics Institute: statement