The role played by the un in countering the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to investigating the multifaceted activities carried out by the UN to counter foreign fighters. The phenomenon of foreign fighters has captured the attention of the UN system in relation to the recent events taking place in Syria and Iraq. However, the topic is not new on the UN agenda and it has already been tackled within the framework of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. This burning issue will be analysed and discussed in light of the activities and initiatives carried out by the Security Council and by the General Assembly as well as by other UN entities such as the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre, and the UN Security Council (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee. After providing an overview of the UN framework dealing with counter terrorism, this contribution will focus on the two most recent, and both unanimously adopted, UNSC Resolutions, namely 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014), which attempt to present a holistic approach to the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. In particular the latter Resolution, given its ‘legislative’ nature, triggers many questions concerning the far-reaching powers of the UN Security Council, already exercised through the adoption of Resolution 1373 (2001). Such questions and the criticism towards the alleged ultra vires acts of the UN Security Council will be critically addressed in this contribution.