Since the establishment of the Taliban and Al-Qaida sanctions regime (1267) by the United Nations Security Council in 1999, which evolved into the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, over 600 individuals and entities have been subjected to travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes. Although playing an integral role in the fight against terrorism, such sanctions can fundamentally impact the human rights of those targeted and can also have a collective impact. The establishment of the Office of the Ombudsperson to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee was therefore a significant step forward in ensuring due process for petitioners through an independent and impartial review of delisting requests. Fifteen years on, the Office continues to provide a critical mechanism for due process within the 1267 sanctions regime; nevertheless, improvements to the delisting process continue to be called for.

This webinar, organised in cooperation with the Office of the Ombudsperson, will, among others, assess the 15 years of the mandate and critically reflect on the difficulties of ensuring human rights protections within the context of countering terrorism. To do so, the current Ombudsperson, Mr. Richard Malanjum, will be joined by a panel of experts, including lawyers, practitioners, and academic experts. The webinar builds upon a similar event hosted by the Asser Institute, the Office of the Ombudsperson, and the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism to mark 10 years of the mandate.