ist fighters”.4 The Council recognized that such individuals may “be travelling with family members they brought with them, with families they have formed or family members who were born while in conflict zones.”5 Noting that children are among such family members, the Council further notes that children may be especially vulnerable and in need of specialized support, such as post-trauma counselling, stressing that they need to be treated in a manner that respects their rights and dignity, in accordance with applicable international law.6 4. The Security Council recognizes that such children are victims of the most grievous human rights violations by armed groups, including designated terrorist groups.7 Designated terrorist groups, including ISIL and Boko Haram, recruit and use children across national borders.8 In Syria for example, 76 children verified to be recruited by armed groups were of 17 nationalities.9 Some children may also be kidnapped and transferred across borders by designated terrorist 4 The United Nations Security Council resolution 2178 (2014) defines “foreign terrorist fighters” as those “who travel or attempt to travel to a State other than their States of residence or nationality, and other individuals who travel or attempt to travel from their territories to a State other than their States of residence or nationality, for the purpose of the perpetration, planning, or preparation of, or participation in, terrorist acts, or the providing or receiving of terrorist training”(para. 6(a)). Various concerns have been raised with the term, including from human rights and humanitarian law perspectives. See section on terminology. 5 Security Council resolution 2396 (2017); By June 2018, for example, at least 1,175 children and 435 women were deprived of liberty in three sites across the north-eastern part of the Syrian Arab Republic on the basis of suspected family ties with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters, among them 43 nationals. S/2018/969, para. 24. groups or brought to the territory by their families.10 Furthermore, some children may simply be living under the control of those groups with no direct contact with them. Many children were born into those areas that were previously under the control of designated terrorist groups to foreign mothers or fathers and face similar challenges as the children who traveled to those locations due to their perceived association with, or family links to, individuals suspected of being foreign fighters. 5. As with all other victims of terrorism, children affected by the foreign fighter phenomenon face layers of challenges. Those recruited across borders are often stranded in hostile territories. They are left particularly vulnerable as they are in environments with limited to no support structures.11 The States most impacted by armed conflict and terrorism are often characterized by poor security and humanitarian conditions and overwhelmed criminal justice, child protection and welfare services. Because of these multiple challenges, many children are also systematically arrested, detained, prosecuted and even convicted for their alleged association with armed groups, including designated terrorist groups.12 Many infants and younger children are detained along with their primary caregivers because of their caregivers’ suspected association with designated terrorist groups.13 In many of these cases, detention conditions do not meet minimum standards, 10 S/2018/969, para. 24. 11 A/73/278, paras. 10–11. 8 A/72/865, para. 16. 12 A/HRC/40/49, para. 18; In Iraq, an estimated 1,200 children of different nationalities have reportedly been detained by the Government, including on terrorism-related charges. In the Syrian Arab Republic, more than 1,300 children are reportedly being held by Kurdish actors in different sites across the north-east of the country, often because of their alleged association with foreign fighters. A/73/278, para. 9. 9 13 A/72/865, para. 224. 6 Security Council resolution 2396 (2017), preamble. 7 Security Council resolution 2427 (2018). S/2018/969, para. 15. 12.