Border Management and Gender: Understanding the Crime-Terror Nexus and the Gendered Impacts of Border Practices to Prevent Terrorist Movement
Comprehensive and integrated border management strategies are paramount for the effective and timely identification of suspected or known terrorists and foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs), members of transnational criminal organizations, and other serious criminals attempting to cross international borders. The issue has been reiterated by the General Assembly during the Seventh Review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/75/291), with renewed concerns over the continued threat posed by FTFs and the importance of international and regional cooperation to prevent terrorist movement.
Recognizing the nexus between organized crime and terrorism is also key for effectively countering and preventing terrorist activity and movement. In resolution 2482 (2019), the UN Security Council called upon Member States to “better understand the nature and scope of the linkages that may exist between terrorism and organized crime”, including trafficking in persons, acts of sexual and gender-based violence, money laundering, trafficking of dual-use materials and the illicit trade in natural resources.
While enhanced and coordinated border controls are at the core of preventing and countering terrorism, all counter-terrorism measures, including at borders, must be compliant with human rights law, humanitarian law, and refugee law. Indeed, as recently highlighted by the UN General Assembly, “respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are complementary and mutually reinforcing with effective counter-terrorism measures and are an essential part of a successful counter-terrorism effort” (A/RES/75/291, para. 9).
Understanding the crime-terror nexus is essential not only for the prevention of travel by terrorists and other serious criminals, but also for the effective identification of potential victims of terrorist groups, sexual and gender-based violence, human trafficking and other related crimes. Effective and comprehensive gender-sensitive screening procedures at borders would thus allow border officials to identity victims and individuals in vulnerable situations, protect them from secondary victimization, and ensure referral mechanisms to the adequate services and protection.
Furthermore, gender assumptions, norms and stereotyping intrinsically permeate screening practices at borders, which in turn can have disproportionately harmful consequences to the full enjoyment of rights and fundamental freedoms by women and girls attempting to cross or crossing international borders. Through resolution 2242 (2015) on the Women, Peace and Security agenda, the UN Security Council recognized the “differential impact on the human rights of women and girls of terrorism and violent extremism, including in the context of their health, education, and participation in public life”. On the other hand, gender stereotyping also overlooks the myriad of roles of women in terrorism, violent extremism and other serious crimes, often reducing them to the role of victims or passive observers.
This webinar will explore the gender dimensions of the crime-terror nexus and the importance of gender-responsive approaches to border security and management. It will explore the multifaceted ways in which border practices impact individuals crossing borders, taking into consideration the complexities of gender roles in the counter-terrorism environment and the underlying assumptions regarding women, girls, men and boys. The discussions will further identify practical ways in which border officials can be better equipped to apply a rights-based and gender-sensitive approach to their daily interaction with individuals crossing borders.
Jacopo provides strategic guidance and support to the IOM missions in the MENA region in the field of Immigration and Border management.
From 2019 to 2022 Jacopo was Programme Manager at IOM Libya mission where he managed complex border management programmes including border management information systems, policy, technical support and cross border cooperation. He has been with IOM since 2012 and worked in Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Iraq and Egypt.
He has a solid experience in engaging with governments and multilateral organizations in the field of immigration and border management through the implementation of various initiatives related to trainings and development of standard operating procedures, construction and rehabilitations of border crossing points, bilateral/multilateral cooperation and engagement with border communities.
Jacopo worked extensively in supporting governmental authorities in managing borders during crisis situations by applying a rights-based approach and by the development of humanitarian border management programmes in West Africa and MENA regions. Before joining IOM and alongside his academic career, Jacopo studied Arabic in Yemen and had working experiences with the European Union and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the MENA region.
Jacopo holds a master in European Affairs and a bachelor in Middle Eastern studies, both from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po Paris). He is fluent in Italian, English, French and has working knowledge of Arabic.
Prior to Border Security Ms Reznikowa has been working with OSCE’s Gender Issues Programme, the International Organization for Migration and UNHCR. Ms Reznikowa holds a B.A. in Transcultural Communication and Gender Studies and a M.A. in International Relations and East European Studies.
Flavia holds a Masters in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford. She completed her Law Degree and was admitted to practice law in Brazil, where she also obtained a Master’s Degree in International Relations and an LLM in Constitutional Law.
