Standards and bodies
UN Security Council resolution 2396 (2017)
Short answer
- Adopted
- 21 December 2017 1
- Vote
- Unanimous 2
- Legal basis
- Chapter VII of the UN Charter 2
- Builds on
- Resolution 2178 (2014) 3
- ICAO follow-up
- PNR SARPs adopted 23 June 2020 4
What the resolution decides
The resolution places its operative paragraphs after the words acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations 2. The UN press release lists these provisions 2.
| Topic | Paragraph | Text |
|---|---|---|
| API 2 | 11 2 | Decides that Member States shall require airlines operating in their territories to provide API 2 |
| PNR 2 | 12 2 | Decides that Member States shall develop the capability to collect, process and analyse PNR data, with full respect for human rights 2 |
| Watch lists 2 | 13 2 | Decides that Member States shall develop watch lists or databases of known and suspected terrorists 2 |
| Biometrics 2 | 15 2 | Decides that Member States shall develop and implement systems to collect biometric data 2 |
| INTERPOL 2 | 16 2 | Calls upon Member States to contribute to and make use of INTERPOL's databases 2 |
Link to resolution 2178
The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism says resolution 2178 (2014) calls on Member States to require airlines to provide API to detect foreign terrorist fighters 3. It says resolution 2396 builds on 2178, reaffirms the API requirement and adds PNR 3.
The ICAO EUR/NAT office says the Annex 9 API Standards 9.7 and 9.8 came from Amendment 26, largely driven by resolution 2178 5. Resolution 2396 asks States to report relevant departures and attempted travel, in line with the ICAO standard effective 23 October 2017 2.
Effect on ICAO standards
ICAO says resolution 2396 urged it to establish a standard for the collection, use, processing and protection of PNR data 4. The ICAO Council adopted Amendment 28 to Annex 9 on 23 June 2020. It became applicable on 28 February 2021 4.
A Council of the EU Decision of 28 November 2019 cites the resolution in setting the EU position on those PNR standards 1. The resolution urges States to implement the ICAO Global Aviation Security Plan 2.
UN support programme
The UN Secretary-General launched the UN Countering Terrorist Travel Programme on 7 May 2019 3. Its implementing entities are CTED, ICAO, OICT and UNODC. It works with IOM, INTERPOL, OHCHR and IATA 3.
The programme offers goTravel, a UN software solution formerly called TRIP. The Dutch Government donated its intellectual property rights to the UN on 26 September 2018 3. The UN says it works with about 90 Member States, 68 of them receiving technical assistance 3.
Human rights conditions
Paragraph 12 ties PNR processing to full respect for human rights 2. Paragraph 15 ties biometric collection to domestic and international human rights law 2. The UN human rights office, OHCHR, is listed as a partner of the UN programme 3.
Common questions
Does resolution 2396 require PNR systems?
Paragraph 12 decides that Member States shall develop the capability to collect, process and analyse PNR data 2.
What is goTravel?
A UN software solution, formerly TRIP, given free of charge to beneficiary Member States under the UN Countering Terrorist Travel Programme 3.
How did ICAO respond to resolution 2396?
ICAO adopted PNR standards as Amendment 28 to Annex 9 on 23 June 2020 4.
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Sources
- legislation.gov.uk: Council Decision (EU) 2019/2107 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization as regards the revision of Annex 9 (Facilitation) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation in respect of Standards and Recommended Practices on passenger name record data (28 November 2019)
- UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases: Security Council Urges Strengthening of Measures to Counter Threats Posed by Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters, Adopting Resolution 2396 (2017) (21 December 2017)
- UN Office of Counter-Terrorism: Summary, Countering Terrorist Travel Programme (accessed 24 October 2026)
- ICAO Annual Report 2020: Contribution to Global Security, Counter Terrorism and UN Security Council Resolutions (2020 report)
- ICAO EUR/NAT Office: Newsletter #2 Annex 9 Facilitation Passenger Data Exchange System (2021)
Related
- Advance passenger information (API) and interactive API
What advance passenger information and interactive API are, what airlines send, the ICAO Annex 9 standards, UN resolutions and the EU API rules.
- Passenger name record (PNR) data
What PNR data is, how it differs from API, the ICAO PNR standards of 2020, the EU PNR Directive and the EU's PNR agreements with other countries.
- ICAO Annex 9 and the PNR SARPs
ICAO Annex 9 on facilitation and its passenger data chapter: API Standards 9.7 and 9.8, the 2020 PNR SARPs in Amendment 28, key dates and audit rules.
- INTERPOL Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database
INTERPOL's SLTD database: what it holds, record and search figures, who can check it, I-Checkit for private partners and EU rules on SLTD checks.
- Biometric e-gates
How automated border e-gates check passports and faces, who can use UK ePassport gates and Australian SmartGates, and the EU rules under the EES.