Security Council resolution 2716 (2023) [on extension of measures imposed by Security Council resolution 2255 (2015) and extension of the mandate of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team for a period of 12 months]
Symbol: S/RES/2716 (2023)
Date: 2023-12-14
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/78 [31] TERRORISM
S/78 [46] AFGHANISTAN SITUATION
S/78 [10] INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
S/ X Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
Subjects: Taliban (Afghanistan)|UN. Security Council Committee Established pursuant to Resolution 1988 (2011)|UN. Security Council. Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team Established pursuant to Resolution 1526 (2004)|Al-Qaida Sanctions List|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|SANCTIONS|TERRORISM|COUNTER-TERRORISM|AFGHANISTAN SITUATION|SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ALBANIA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: ECUADOR
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: MALTA
vote: yes
country: MOZAMBIQUE
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SWITZERLAND
vote: yes
country: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                      S/RES/2716 (2023)
               Security Council                                                    Distr.: General
                                                                                   14 December 2023




               Resolution 2716 (2023)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 9506th meeting, on
               14 December 2023
                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its previous resolutions on international terrorism and the threat it
               poses to Afghanistan, in particular its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1333 (2000), 1363
               (2001), 1373 (2001), 1390 (2002), 1452 (2002), 1455 (2003), 1526 (2004), 1566
               (2004), 1617 (2005), 1624 (2005), 1699 (2006), 1730 (2006), 1735 (2006), 1822
               (2008), 1904 (2009), 1988 (2011), 1989 (2011), 2082 (2012), 2083 (2012), 2133
               (2014), 2160 (2014), 2255 (2015), 2501 (2019), 2513 (2020), 2557 (2020), 2596
               (2021), 2611 (2021), 2615 (2021), and 2665 (2022) and the relevant statements of its
               President,
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
               integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, as well as its continued support for the
               people of Afghanistan,
                    Reaffirming its support for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan,
                     Reaffirming the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan, including
               those individuals and groups designated by the Security Council Committee pursuant
               to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015), and further reaffirming the
               demand that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used to threaten or attack any
               country, to plan or finance terrorist acts, or to shelter and train terrorists, and that no
               Afghan group or individual should support terrorists operating on the territory of any
               country,
                      Reiterating its support for the fight against illicit production and trafficking of
               drugs from, and chemical precursors to, Afghanistan, while acknowledging the
               progress made in the reduction of poppy cultivation and emphasizing the necessity to
               support alternative livelihoods to sustain the reduction in opium, acknowledging that
               illicit proceeds of drug trafficking in Afghanistan continue to be a source of financing
               for terrorist groups and non-state actors that threaten regional and international
               security, and recognizing the threats that terrorist groups and non-state actors
               involved in narcotics trade, and illicit exploitation of natural resources, continue to
               pose to the security and stability of Afghanistan,
                     Emphasizing its deep concern regarding the dire economic and humanitarian
               situation in Afghanistan, including food insecurity and liquidity challenges, recalling
               that women, children, and minorities have been disproportionately affected,
               recognizing the need to help address the substantial challenges facing Afghanistan’s
               economy, including through the restoration of the banking and financial systems and


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               efforts to enable the use of assets belonging to Afghanistan’s Central Bank for the
               benefit of the Afghan people,
                     Emphasizing the importance of strengthened efforts to provide humanitarian
               assistance and other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan,
               recalling its decision in resolution 2615 (2021) that humanitarian assistance and other
               activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan are not a violation of
               paragraph 1 (a) of resolution 2255 (2015), encouraging Member States and
               humanitarian assistance providers to make full use of this decision and urging States
               when designing and applying sanctions measures to take into account the potential
               effect of those measures on exclusively humanitarian activities, including medical
               activities, that are carried out by impartial humanitarian actors in a manner consi stent
               with international humanitarian law in accordance with resolution 2462 (2019),
               acknowledging the important coordination role of the United Nations in regard to the
               provision of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, and emphasizing that the
               effective delivery of humanitarian assistance requires all actors to allow full, safe,
               and unhindered humanitarian access for all humanitarian personnel, including
               women, for United Nations agencies, international and national non-governmental
               organizations, and for other humanitarian actors,
                      Emphasizing the importance of the establishment of a truly inclusive and
               representative government, underlining that all parties must respect their obligations
               under international humanitarian law in all circumstances, including those related to
               the protection of civilians, reaffirming the importance of upholding human rights
               including those of women, children, minorities, persons in vulnerable situations, and
               forcibly displaced peoples, expressing its serious concern about the situation of
               women, girls, marginalized communities and minorities, the erosion of respect for
               their rights, in particular women and girls’ lack of equal access to education,
               economic opportunities, participation in public life, freedom of movement, justice,
               and basic services, the absence of which make peace, stability, and prosperity in the
               country unattainable, and in this regard expressing deep concern over the Taliban’s
               decisions to ban women from working for the United Nations and non-governmental
               organizations in Afghanistan as well as over persistent violence against women and
               girls, including sexual and gender-based violence, recognizing the need in particular
               to increase women’s roles in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and
               resolution, emphasizing the importance of safe and secure departure for those wanting
               to leave, and recalling the importance of the principle of non-refoulement,
                     Reiterating the need to ensure that the present sanctions regime contributes
               effectively to ongoing efforts to bring about sustainable and inclusive peace, stability
               and security in Afghanistan, and noting the importance of the sanctions review when
               and if appropriate, while taking into account the situation on the ground, in a manner
               that is consistent with the overall objective of promoting peace and stability in
               Afghanistan,
                    Recognizing the need to revise the 1988 sanctions regime when appropriate
               aimed at supporting peace and stability in Afghanistan and taking note of the
               recommendations outlined in the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring
               Team’s (hereinafter the “Monitoring Team”) report based on views received from the
               Member States in this regard,
                     Recalling the mandate of the Monitoring Team and in that regard strongly
               encouraging the Monitoring Team to constructively engage and assist Member States
               in their efforts to implement the measures referred to in paragraph 1 of this resolution,
               further emphasizing the importance of travel by the Monitoring Team to Afghanistan,
               which remains crucial for the effective implementation of its mandate, and



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           encouraging the Monitoring Team to visit Afghanistan and meet with relevant
           stakeholders,
                 Determining that the situation in Afghanistan continues to constitute a threat to
           international peace and security, and reaffirming the need to combat this threat by all
           means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law,
           including applicable human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, and stressing in this
           regard the important role of the United Nations,
                Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

           Measures
                1.    Decides that all States shall continue to take the measures required by
           paragraph 1 of resolution 2255 (2015) with respect to individuals and entities
           designated prior to the date of adoption of resolution 1988 (2011) as the Taliban, as
           well as other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the
           Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan as
           designated by the Committee established in paragraph 30 of resolution 1988 (“the
           Committee”) in the 1988 Sanctions List (“the List”);
                 2.    Decides, in order to assist the Committee in fulfilling its mandate, that the
           1267/1988 Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (“Monitoring Team”),
           established pursuant to paragraph 7 of resolution 1526 (2004), shall continue to
           support the Committee for a period of twelve months from the date of expiration of
           the current mandate in December 2023 with the mandate set forth in the annex to this
           resolution, and further requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary
           arrangements to this effect, and highlights the importance of ensuring that the
           Monitoring Team receive the necessary administrative and substantive support to
           effectively, safely and in a timely manner fulfil its mandate, including with regard to
           duty of care in high risk environments, under the direction of the Committee, a
           subsidiary organ of the Security Council;
                3.    Directs the Monitoring Team to gather information on instances of
           non-compliance with the measures imposed in resolution 2255 (2015) and to keep the
           Committee informed of such instances, as well as to facilitate, upon request by
           Member States, assistance on capacity-building, encourages Committee members to
           address issues of non-compliance and bring them to the attention of the Monitoring
           Team or the Committee, and further directs the Monitoring Team to provide
           recommendations to the Committee on actions taken to respond to non -compliance;
                 4.     Decides to actively review the implementation of the measures outlined in
           this resolution and to consider adjustments, as necessary, to support peace and
           stability in Afghanistan; and
                5.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

           Annex
                In accordance with paragraph 2 of this resolution, the Monitoring Team shall
           operate under the direction of the Committee and shall have the following
           responsibilities:
                (a) To submit, in writing, an annual comprehensive, independent report to the
           Committee, on implementation by Member States of the measures referred to in
           paragraph 1 of this resolution, including specific recommendations for improved
           implementation of the measures and possible new measures;
                (b) To assist the Committee in regularly reviewing names on the List,
           including by undertaking travel on behalf of the Committee as a subsidiary organ of

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               the Security Council and contact with Member States, with a view to developing the
               Committee’s record of the facts and circumstances relating to a listing;
                    (c) To assist the Committee in following up on requests to Member States for
               information, including with respect to implementation of the measures referred to in
               paragraph 1 of this resolution;
                     (d) To submit a comprehensive programme of work to the Committee for its
               review and approval, as necessary, in which the Monitoring Team should detail the
               activities envisaged in order to fulfil its responsibilities, including proposed travel on
               behalf of the Committee;
                    (e) To gather information on behalf of the Committee on instances of reported
               non-compliance with the measures referred to in paragraph 1 of this resolution,
               including by, but not limited to, collating information from Member States and
               engaging with related parties, pursuing case studies, both on its own initiative and
               upon the Committee’s request, and to provide recommendations to the Committee on
               such cases of non-compliance for its review;
                    (f) To present to the Committee recommendations, which could be used by
               Member States to assist them with the implementation of the measures referred to in
               paragraph 1 of this resolution and in preparing proposed additions to the List;
                     (g) To assist the Committee in its consideration of proposals for listing,
               including by compiling and circulating to the Committee information relevant to the
               proposed listing, and preparing a draft narrative summary referred to in paragraph 26
               of resolution 2255 (2015);
                     (h) To bring to the Committee’s attention new or noteworthy circumstances
               that may warrant a delisting, such as publicly reported information on a deceased
               individual;
                     (i) To consult with Member States in advance of travel to selected Member
               States, based on its programme of work as approved by the Committee;
                    (j) To encourage Member States to submit names and additional identifying
               information for inclusion on the List, as instructed by the Committee;
                    (k) To consult with the Committee or any relevant Member States, as
               appropriate, when identifying individuals or entities that could be added to, or
               removed from, the List;
                     (l) To present to the Committee additional identifying and other information
               to assist the Committee in its efforts to keep the List as updated and accurate as
               possible;
                    (m) To collate, assess, monitor and report on and make recommendations
               regarding implementation of the measures, including by key Afghan institutions and
               any capacity assistance requirements; to pursue case studies, as appropriate; and to
               explore in depth any other relevant issues as directed by the Committee;
                     (n) To consult with Member States and other relevant organizations and
               bodies, including United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and
               other United Nations agencies, and engage in regular dialogue with representatives in
               New York and in capitals, taking into account their comments, especially regarding
               any issues that might be reflected in the Monitoring Team’s reports referred to in
               paragraph (a) of this annex;
                    (o) To cooperate closely with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
               (UNODC) and engage in a regular dialogue with Member States and other relevant
               organizations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective


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           Security Treaty Organization, and the Combined Maritime Forces, on the nexus
           between narcotics trafficking and those individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities
           eligible for listing under paragraph 1 of resolution 2255 (2015), and report as
           requested by the Committee;
                 (p) To provide an update to the special report of the Monitoring Team pursuant
           to resolution 2160 (2014) Annex (p), as part of its regular comprehensive report;
                (q) To consult with Member States’ intelligence and security services,
           including through regional forums, in order to facilitate the sharing of information
           and to strengthen enforcement of the measures;
                (r) To consult with relevant representatives of the private sector, including
           financial institutions, to learn about the practical implementation of the assets freeze
           and to develop recommendations for the strengthening of that measure;
                 (s) To cooperate closely with the ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida Sanctions
           Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and other
           relevant United Nations counter-terrorism bodies in providing information on the
           measures taken by Member States on kidnapping and hostage-taking for ransom and
           on relevant trends and developments in this area;
                 (t) To consult with Member States, relevant representatives of the private
           sector, including financial institutions and relevant non-financial businesses and
           professions, and with relevant international organizations, including the Financial
           Action Task Force (FATF) and its Global Network of FATF-style regional bodies
           (FSRBs), to raise awareness of sanctions and to assist in the implementation of the
           measures in accordance with FATF Recommendation 6 on asset freezing and its
           related guidance;
                 (u) To consult with Member States, relevant representatives of the private
           sector and other international organizations, including International Civil Aviation
           Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the World
           Customs Organization (WCO), and INTERPOL to raise awareness of and learn about
           the practical implementation of the travel ban, including the use of advanced
           passenger information provided by civil aircraft operators to Member States, and
           assets freeze and to develop recommendations for the strengthening of the
           implementation of these measures;
                 (v) To consult with Member States, international and regional organizations
           and relevant representatives of the private sector on the threat posed by improvised
           explosive devices (IEDs) to peace, security and stability in Afghanistan, to raise
           awareness of the threat and to develop, in line with their responsibilities under
           paragraph (a) of this annex, recommendations for appropriate measures, to counter
           this threat;
               (w) To work with relevant international and regional organizations in order to
           promote awareness of, and compliance with, the measures;
                (x) To cooperate with INTERPOL and Member States to obtain photographs,
           physical descriptions and, in accordance with their national legislation, other
           biometric and biographic data of listed individuals when available for inclusion in
           INTERPOL-United Nations Security Council Special Notices and to exchange
           information on emerging threats;
                 (y) To assist other subsidiary bodies of the Security Council, and their expert
           panels, upon request, with enhancing their cooperation with INTERPOL, referred to
           in resolution 1699 (2006);



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                    (z) To assist the Committee in facilitating assistance in capacity-building for
               enhancing implementation of the measures, upon request by Member States;
                    (aa) To report to the Committee, on a regular basis or when the Committee so
               requests, through oral and/or written briefings on the work of the Monitoring Team,
               including its visits to Member States and its activities;
                     (bb) To study and report to the Committee on the current nature of the threat of
               individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban, in
               constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan and the best
               measures to confront it, including by developing a dialogue with relevant scholars,
               academic bodies and experts according to the priorities identified by the Committee;
                     (cc) To gather information, including from relevant Member States, on travel
               that takes place under a granted exemption, pursuant to paragraph 20 of resolution
               2255 (2015), and to report to the Committee, as appropriate;
                    (dd) Any other responsibility identified by the Committee.




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