The nexus between human trafficking and terrorism Open briefing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee on The nexus between international terrorism and transnational organized crime Monday, 8 October 2018, New York Ms. Delphine Schantz, CTED Senior Legal Officer
Presentation overview Links with transnational organized crime Human trafficking as a tactic of terrorism and a source of terrorism financing CTED s mandate pursuant to UNSCRs 2331 (2016) and 2388 (2017) CTED s project on Identifying and exploring the nexus between HT, T and TF Recommendations
Why talking about HT in relation to the Terror/Crime Nexus? Several UNSCRs underscore the concern that terrorist groups benefit from organized crime-related activities, including HT. HT is one of the most profitable activities of organized crime. It generates annual profits of around $150 billion. Even though the HT/TF nexus is difficult to demonstrate, HT could represent a highly opportunistic source of revenue for terrorists. The SG has also underscored that terrorism is increasingly interlinked with international organized crime and the trafficking of people, drugs, arms and corruption. There are some instances demonstrating that the nexus is not only theoretical but also concrete.
Example of links with organized crime In Libya, patterns of sexual violence (encompassing HT) perpetrated by smugglers, traffickers and hybrid criminalterrorist networks, have been well documented On 7 June 2018, the SC Committee established pursuant to UNSCR 1970 added six leaders of criminal networks responsible for HT and people smuggling in Libya to its Sanctions List In the narrative summary of the reasons for listing Ahmad al-dabbashi, it is explained that his clan and militia cultivate relationships with terrorist and violent extremist groups His clan and militia have long-standing links with ISIL and its affiliates and several ISIL operatives have been in their ranks
The nexus between HT&T Strategic use of human trafficking-related activities to Spread terror and advance ideology Intimidate populations and decimate communities Institutionalize sexual violence and slavery Incentivize and bolster recruitment Human trafficking-related activities can also constitute an opportunistic source of revenue Captives sold in open slave markets or through online auctions Captives used as instruments to perform support/servitude roles Captives used as means to secure ransom/rescue payments
CTED s ACTION In accordance with UNSCR 2331 (2016), since March 2017, CTED has included elements related to human trafficking in its country assessments. Through its follow-up and recommendations, CTED aims to sensitize Member States on the issue of human trafficking committed in support of terrorism, including financially. UNSCR 2388 (2017) encourages Member States to increase efforts to collect, analyze and share data relating to financial flows associated with human trafficking and the extent and nature of financing of terrorism through this crime and to provide CTED and the Monitoring Team with relevant information pertaining to those linkages. As of January 2018 CTED is member of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT). CTED was part of the project team of the FATF/APG typology report on Financial flows from human trafficking.
CTED s Project on HT&T As limited information has been collected so far, CTED has undertaken a project aimed at identifying and exploring the nexus between human trafficking, terrorism and its financing Outreach to MS, international and regional organizations, academia Report aimed at highlighting the main outcomes of the study Findings will contribute to the SG report pursuant to UNSCR 2388
Questionnaire In an effort to collect reliable data, CTED produced and disseminated an ad hoc questionnaire As of 8 October 2018, CTED has received 45 completed questionnaires The questionnaire is divided in 4 sections The threat Legal framework Operational measure Good practices
Main challenges Overlaps between different phenomena Not a significant source of revenue for terrorists Lack of relevant/substantive information Lack of domestic inter-agency coordination/mechanism Difficulty in collecting evidence Lack of capacity/expertise/awareness Impunity
Some findings (I) In Iraq 3,117 ISIL captives remain missing Human traffickingrelated activities would be still on-going in conflict zones Increase in acts of sexual violence Acts of abduction and forced recruitment have continued In February 2018 ISWAP kidnapped 111 schoolgirls from the town of Dapchi
Some findings (II) Systematic use of deceptive strategies based on employment/education opportunities or promises of a better life Women have been promised work opportunities but their salaries have been paid directly to Al-Shabaab. 9 women were forcibly taken to Iraq by their husbands. They delivered 45 children in total within a short period of time. MS were able to collect some data on the use of human trafficking as a tactic of terrorism while the majority of them affirmed to lack information on the financial-related aspect of the issue
Initial recommendations Raise awareness regarding the possible use of human trafficking both as a tactic of terrorism and as an opportunistic source of revenue for terrorists. Consider listing individuals involved in human trafficking who may meet the 1267/1989/2253 Committee s designation criteria. Consider also involvement in human trafficking to finance terrorism be grounds for the designation of a person/entity pursuant to the asset-freezing mechanism established by States pursuant to UNSCR 1373 (2001). Human trafficking should be examined as a potential money-laundering/terrorism-financing risk within the national risk assessment framework. Enhance cooperation/information-sharing mechanisms between domestic bodies respectively responsible for the investigation of human trafficking, terrorism, money-laundering and terrorism financing. Conduct parallel financial investigations in all human trafficking related cases: it appears in fact that the financial aspect of such crime is not systematically addressed.
Thank you for your attention For more information, please visit: www.un.org/en/sc/ctc