A/HRC/42/42/Add.2 II. Overview of findings A. Foreign fighters 33. The foreign fighter phenomenon is not new to Europe. In the past, conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, Chechnya, Afghanistan and elsewhere attracted foreign fighters, including from Austria. However, the volume of those travelling in connection with the crises in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic from 2011 to 2015 was unprecedented. Terrorist attacks in Europe gave rise to fears regarding those returning from conflict zones. This prompted a series of measures, some of which were largely punitive, although others focused on rehabilitation. 34. The phenomenon of travelling to conflict zones from Austria began some time after 2011, peaking around 2015. During 2013 and 2014, around 8 to 10 youths were reported to have left Austria for the Syrian Arab Republic. According to an organization working on deradicalization, staff received reports at their various youth centres in Vienna in 2011 and 2012 that many young people were beginning to discuss the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic. Several of them with a Muslim background had questions related to religion, which spurred these discussions. Not long after that, information began to emerge of individuals travelling to join groups such as ISIL and the Nusrah Front in the Syrian Arab Republic. 35. By September 2015, 230 identified individuals had left Austria for the Syrian Arab Republic or Iraq, 120 were still in the conflict zone and at least 34 had died. According to the authorities, the number of returnees exceeded 70 at this time. Seventeen women had left Austria by February 2015 for ISIL-controlled territory, some of them having been under 18 years of age at the time of their departure. At the time of the visit, the overall number of foreign fighters from Austria was estimated to be over 300. 36. Many of those who were intercepted entered prison or the criminal justice system, most of them having been charged or convicted under the anti-terrorism legislation contained under section 278 of the Penal Code. During the visit, the Working Group was informed that the number of persons travelling to engage in conflict had declined significantly, and that no individuals were known to be attempting to travel at that time. The military suppression of ISIL had gained momentum during the period of the visit, and measures by the Government to address the phenomenon of foreign fighters had taken effect. 37. The Austrian security and law enforcement agencies and officials from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counter-terrorism were routinely cooperating with representatives of other States in various types of investigation, ranging from the informal sharing of preliminary investigative information to joint multilateral investigative projects and enforcement operations. Border security forces were making effective use of security measures, including biographic and biometric screening at ports of entry, and were sharing information internally and with other European Union countries. Border security officials at ports of entry have discretion when determining which documents and passengers are subject to screening on arrival. 38. While security measures were being implemented to address issues concerning persons travelling to conflict zones, emphasis was being placed on better understanding the reasons that prompted individuals to travel to take part in conflicts. Motivation and recruitment 39. There is no standard profile for Austrians who travel abroad to fight, and diverse factors motivate different individuals. Some of the main factors include ideology, religious conviction, a search for identity and a sense of belonging, economic and financial gain, and adventure. Financial gain is of particular interest to the Working Group with regard to its mandate and, given the wealth that groups such as ISIL have accumulated through illicit means, there was a likelihood of individuals being drawn to become members of those groups primarily for material and financial gain. The delegation was informed of a case in 7