Steps taken by the South African Government to encourage the United Nations Security Council to address the plight of people affected by the Islamic State incursion
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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO: 228 (NO3029E)
PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.3029E OF 12 AUGUST 2015
MR B A RADEBE (ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:
(1) What steps has the Government taken to encourage the United Nations Security Council to address the plight of people affected by the Islamic State incursion?
REPLY:
Draft Response:
(1) Through its active participation in the United Nations and its organs, including the UN Security Council, South Africa continues to draw attention to the plight of all civilian populations caught up in conflict situations, including those targeted and abused on religious or ethnic grounds - whether by armed forces or non-State actors, such as ISIS and Boko Haram. South Africa continues to support initiatives seeking peaceful and sustainable solutions to resolving the conflicts that give rise to these abuses, including in the Middle East.
The plight of peoples affected by Islamic State incursions, particularly women and children remains a priority on the agenda of the United Nations and its organs, including the United Nations Security Council.
Although South Africa is not at present a member of the United Nations Security Council, South Africa, through its engagement with Security Council members and its participation in the Council’s Open Debates, has condemned the terrorist acts carried out by ISIS and its continued threat of violence against ethnic and religious minorities throughout the region it occupies. South Africa has expressed concern over the abuse of women and children, forced conversions and the forced child recruitment committed by ISIS.
The UN Security Council has adopted sanctions measures against ISIS, which all UN Member States, are required to implement. Security Council resolution 2170 (2014) on foreign terrorist fighters, prohibits the flow of foreign fighters, financing and other support to Islamist extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, and imposes an assets freeze and travel ban on six persons affiliated to those groups on its terrorist sanctions list. Resolution 2199 (2015) obliges all UN Member States to take steps to prevent terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria from benefiting from trade in oil, antiquities and hostages, and from receiving donations.
The Security Council has also adopted measures against Boko Haram and Al Shabaab. The Security Councils’ Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee on 14 May 2014 added Boko Haram to its sanctions list, subjecting the organisation and its leader to an assets freeze, travel ban and an arms embargo. Al-Shabaab was listed on 12 April 2010, pursuant to paragraph 8 of resolution 1844 (2008) which imposed individual targeted sanctions - an arms embargo, including training and financial assistance, on individuals and entities; a travel ban on individuals; and an assets freeze on individuals and entities, as designated by the Committee.
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