Security Council Meeting: Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts
Statement by Marc-André Blanchard, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations
New York, April 14, 2016
Mr. President,
My remarks are broadly divided into two categories: firstly the values that inform our policy and actions and secondly the nature of Canada’s response to countering terrorism, both domestically and internationally.
First, on the subject of our values, let me start by saying that in Canada we aspire to building a society where there is inclusive and accountable governance, peaceful pluralism and respect for diversity and human rights. After all, our struggle with extremism, is at its core a battle of values. We do not speak of us versus them. Our goal is a society where everyone belongs, all rights are respected, and each individual enjoys dignity. We seek to build accountable institutions and opportunities for all. Societies that pursue these goals, we believe, are more resilient to extremism.
We don’t pretend to have reached these goals; we have much more to do. But we trust that efforts in this direction are integral to building a more secure society and to countering terrorism.
Promoting critical thinking through education, supporting the empowerment of women, and actively involving our young people in their society are essential to creating peaceful and prosperous societies and preventing violent extremism.
Le contre-terrorisme n’est pas seulement le renforcement des lois et les mesures de sécurité; c’est aussi l’engagement avec nos communautés. Canada has seen promising results with locally-driven efforts, for example by Montreal’s Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence, which the Secretary General visited during his visit to Canada in February, and the Calgary Police Service’s ReDirect program.
Second, I will turn to our counter-terrorism approach. Canada believes that the only way we will be successful in our fight against terrorism is through collective efforts to stop terrorist organizations in their tracks.
The UN has a key role to play in this approach as it uniquely placed to bring coherence and coordination to international efforts to address violent extremism.
Canada fully endorses the work of the Security Council to create a unified approach to countering terrorism. This is why, for example, we co-sponsored, UN Security Council Resolutions 2178 and 2253. This support is also demonstrated in Canada’s intention to seek a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the 2021-22 term.
Canada fully supports the All-of-UN approach outlined in the Secretary General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, as well as the Plan’s call for enhanced regional cooperation in preventing violent extremism. Ensuring coherence throughout the UN system will be essential to effectively implementing the Secretary General’s Action Plan.
In order to protect Canadians from the evolving threat of terrorism, the Government of Canada has over the past few years enacted legislation which has provided new tools to allow law enforcement and national security agencies to take appropriate measures, including to address the issue of extremist travellers. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring our tools strike the appropriate balance between our collective security and rights and freedoms.
Canada strongly supports continued efforts to cut off terrorists’ access to funds.
Terrorist organizations and other criminals have proven themselves to be adaptable and opportunistic; they exploit weaknesses in international regulatory systems, allowing them to finance their illegal activities undetected.
In order to mitigate terrorist financing and money laundering, all countries need to eliminate these regulatory gaps through the effective implementation of the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) global standards.
We continue to work closely to build upon the FATF’s recent review of countries’ implementation of measures to cut-off terrorist financing. Countries should immediately take action in areas where gaps have been identified.
Canada is committed to a strong and comprehensive regime that is at the forefront of the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Canada is also working to combat terrorists’ use of the Internet. At the same time, however, we recognize that free speech needs to be protected.
Canada is working with a number of countries to counter ISIL’s propaganda on the Internet and to thwart its ability to recruit members and finance their operations through on-line appeals.
Canada is also working with a number of countries to counter ISIL on the Internet through strategic communications and counter-narrative activities. These activities help thwart ISIL’s ability to recruit members, finance its operations through on-line appeals, and spread its ideology.
Canada welcomes efforts aimed at supporting third parties as they counter ISIL messages and promote positive and realistic alternative narratives in the region and beyond.
As we enter the ten year review for the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy, we are mindful of our new challenges but also believe there is reason to be hopeful. We are aware that terrorism has evolved and we are seeing new methods, tactics and tools exploited by terrorist groups. We are cautiously optimistic, however, because we have seen the international community move towards a coordinated, comprehensive response. We need to keep moving in that direction and strengthen our approach working together. Canada looks forward to being part of the solution. Thank you very much for your time and attention today.
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