Foreword UN Photo by the Under-Secretary-General of UNOCT and Executive Director of UNCCT The critical phenomenon of individuals who travel abroad for the purpose of perpetrating, planning, preparing for or participating in terrorist acts – so-called foreign fighters – has been high on the agenda of the international community. Following the territorial collapse of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in particular, increased attention has been focused on such individuals and their families, many of whom are detained in camps, returning to their countries of origin or travelling to a third country. Thousands of children are among them. Some of the children accompanied their parents to conflict zones, and an unknown number were born to parents who are foreign fighters. Others were recruited across borders and travelled by themselves to join terrorist groups. Although some did not travel across borders, there are concerns that the children may face consequences because of their family ties to individuals suspected of being foreign fighters. Acknowledging the challenges posed by the foreign fighter phenomenon and the urgent need to address the needs and protect the rights of children affected by it, some Member States have requestedpractical guidance on how to take appropriate measures towards such children while also fulfilling their obligations under international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law. As the Secretary-General has emphasized, respect for and the protection of human rights are of extraordinary importance to addressing the conditions conducive to terrorism. Upholding the rights of children affected by the foreign fighter phenomenon will be critical to ensuring their full reintegration into society and will protect them from marginalization and discrimination, which may lead to future radicalization. In particular, all policies and actions related to children should be firmly based on the principle of the best interests of the child, and children should be treated, first and foremost, as victims. The Security Council has also taken note of the plight of such children. In its resolution 2396 (2017), adopted in December 2017, the Council called upon Member States to assess and investigate individuals whom they have reasonable grounds to believe are terrorists, including suspected foreign terrorist fighters and their accompanying family members, including children; to develop and implement comprehensive risk assessments for those individuals; and to take appropriate action, including by considering appropriate prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration measures. 9.