Preventing and Combating Terrorism: the Role of the United Nations Presentation to Brno University/ Summer Class by Elena Rigacci Hay Policy Coordination Officer Terrorism Prevention Branch, UNODC 19 June 2012, VIC
Presentation Outline 1. Terrorism: definition and threat 2. The UN added value in countering terrorism; 3. The UN normative work and the universal legal regime against terrorism; 4. The UN family and counter- terrorism; 5. Looking ahead 2
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The UN Charter and Terrorism Chapter 1: Purposes and Principles, Art 1 The Purpose of the United Nations are: 1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace. 4
UN Added Value in Preventing and Combating Terrorism MORAL AUTHORITY; IMPARTIALITY AND CREDIBILITY; MULTILATERAL FORUM; ANALYSIS AND MONITORING; CAPACITY BUILDING; COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY; NORM SETTING. 5
UN UNIVERSAL LEGAL REGIME AGAINST TERRORISM Security Council Resolutions (1373, 1624, 1267, 1540..) General Assembly Resolutions (GCTS) 18 Universal Instruments against Terrorism 6
UN Security Council s resolutions 1. SC Resolutions 1267 (1999), 1988 (2011) and 1989 (2011), and the respective Committees 2. SC Resolution 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), and the CTC/CTED 3. SC Resolution 1540 (2004) and the 1540 Committee 7
General Assembly s resolutions 1972/2001: Terrorism is part of the GA Agenda resolution 3034 (1972) 12 resolutions + 4 Conventions 2001-2005: resolutions focused on security aspects 2006: United Nations Global Counter-terrorism Strategy (A/RES/60/288) 8
The UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy Adopted by consensus on 8 Sept 2006 as A/RES/60/288 Sends a clear message that terrorism is unacceptable in all its forms and manifestations; Provides for a common strategic approach to fight terrorism that is both comprehensive and integrated; Mandates for a review of the implementation of the Strategy in two-year time (and every two years, afterwards); Calls for the institutionalization of the CTITF. 9
International Legal Instruments dealing with the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Civil Aviation Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft (1963) Convention for the Suppression and Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (1970) Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation (1971) Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports serving International Civil Aviation (1988) Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection (1991) Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation (2010) Protocol Supplementary to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (2010) Maritime Navigation Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (1988) Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (2005) Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms located on the Continental Shelf (1988) Protocol to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms located on the Continental Shelf (2005) 10
International Legal Instruments dealing with the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Financing of Terrorism Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (1999) Dangerous Materials Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (1979) Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (2005) Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005) Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (1997) Status of the Victim Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents (1973) Convention against the Taking of Hostages (1979) 11
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UNODC/TPB TPB s Role in Terrorism Prevention UNODC is mandated by the General Assembly to promote the Global Legal Regime against Terrorism: Support Member States in promoting ratification of the international legal instruments against terrorism; Assist with the harmonization of national laws with international obligations, within the framework of the rule of law; Provide capacity-building assistance, as requested, for the implementation of the Global Regime, in particular by strengthening criminal justice systems; Facilitate international cooperation on the legal aspects of counterterrorism. 13
Building Capacity Building national capacity by training criminal justice offices on the application of the universal regime against terrorism. Regional and national workshops Train the trainer workshops Online training courses Technical tools and publications The Terrorism Prevention Branch 14
Looking forward: Terrorist threats and methods VS Political will of MS and continued awareness of the terrorism threat; Adopting an international convention against terrorism; Promoting and implementing the UNGCTS in a comprehensive and integrated manner, paying special attention to the conditions conducive to terrorism. 15
Internet resources UN Action against Terrorism: : http://www.un.org www.un.org/terrorism/ Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: http://www.un.org/terrorism/strategy- counter-terrorism.shtml terrorism.shtml CTITF: http://www.un.org/terrorism/cttaskforce.shtml 1267 Committee: http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/ CTC/CTED: www.un.org/en/sc/ctc 1540 Committee: http://www.un.org/sc/1540/ UNODC/TPB: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/terrorism/index.html Official documents: http://www.un.org www.un.org/en/documents/ Elena Rigacci Hay, TPB/UNODC elena.rigacci.hay@unodc.org 16
Thank you!!! Questions? 17