Security Council resolution 2557 (2020) [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/2557 (2020)
Date: 2020-12-18
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/75 [31] TERRORISM
S/75 [46] AFGHANISTAN SITUATION
S/75 [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: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
vote: yes
country: ESTONIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: NIGER
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: TUNISIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VIET NAM
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/2557 (2020)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 18 December 2020




               Resolution 2557 (2020)
               Adopted by the Security Council on 18 December 2020

                    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), and 2513 (2020) and the relevant
               statements of its President,
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
               integrity and national unity of Afghanistan,
                    Reaffirming its support for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan,
                      Emphasizing its serious concern about the security situation in Afghanistan,
               including ongoing violent activities by the Taliban and associated groups, including
               the Haqqani Network, and ongoing terrorist activities by Al-Qaida, ISIL, and their
               affiliates,
                    Reiterating its support for the fight against illicit production and trafficking of
               drugs from, and its support for the fight against illicit production and tr afficking of
               drugs from, and chemical precursors to, Afghanistan, acknowledging that illicit
               proceeds of the drug trafficking significantly contribute to the financial resources of
               the Taliban and its associates, and recognizing the threats that the Taliba n, illegal
               armed groups and criminals involved in narcotics trade, and illicit exploitation of
               natural resources, continue to pose to the security and stability of Afghanistan,
                    Urging an immediate reduction in violence leading to a ceasefire to create an
               environment conducive to peace negotiations,
                     Reiterating the need to ensure that the present sanctions regime contributes
               effectively to ongoing efforts to advance reconciliation to bring about peace, stability,
               and security in Afghanistan, including the importance of the sanctions review in full
               accordance with resolution 2513,
                     Welcoming efforts by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban in
               facilitating intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha, Qatar, on 12 September 2020, and
               encouraging the parties to make rapid progress on a permanent and comprehensive




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               ceasefire, and a political settlement that ends the conflict in Afghanistan and ensures
               that Afghanistan is never again a safe haven for international terrorism,
                     Recognizing that, notwithstanding accelerated efforts to make progress toward
               reconciliation, the situation in Afghanistan remains 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, stressing in this regard the important
               role the United Nations plays in this effort,
                    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 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 35 of resolution 1988 (“the Committee”)
               in the 1988 Sanction 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 2020, 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 receives 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;
                    5.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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           Annex

                In accordance with paragraph 3 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
           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, the Government of Afghanistan, 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 government

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               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
               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 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 the Government of Afghanistan, 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 regional
               bodies, to raise awareness of the 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 the Government of Afghanistan, 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 the Government of Afghanistan, 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;


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               (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);
                (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 the Government of Afghanistan and
           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; and
                (dd) Any other responsibility identified by the Committee.




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