United Nations adopts landmark Global Strategy to combat Terrorism by UN Assembly President Jan Eliasson 11:32am 10th Sep, 2006   12 October 2006 (UN General Assembly – Legal Committee)    Terrorism: Strong measures are urged against Global ‘Scourge’, taking account of root causes, avoiding links to particular rteligious or ethnic Groups.    When the Sixth (Legal) Committee today continued its consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism, the representative of Iraq spoke of the daily terrorist acts suffered in his country, including killings, torture and damage to infrastructure.    He said Iraq was being rebuilt to ensure that democracy, human rights and the freedom of opinion were respected. It had adopted measures to prevent and sanction terrorist acts, including a 2005 law on terrorism. He was aware that cooperation with all States was needed, including the exchange of information, effective border control measures and bringing terrorists to justice.    The representative of Sierra Leone, like most speakers, supported the holding of an international conference under United Nations auspices to examine terrorism. In addition to States, he said stakeholders including religious organizations and civil society bodies must be invited. The conference should be mandated to examine terrorism in all its aspects, including its root causes.    Speaking on behalf of the Rio Group of countries, Guyana’s representative said that dealing with the eradication of poverty, the introduction of democracy, sustainable development and the rule of law were all vital in the struggle against terrorism. Respect for all religions and cultures should be ensured.    The representative of Kyrgyzstan, speaking on behalf of the States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, said the fight against terrorism must be conducted in a manner that avoided double standards. It should not be linked to any particular civilization, ethnic group or religion. Exchanges and dialogue between different religions must be enhanced to improve mutual respect and understanding.    China’s representative said that the fight against terrorism should be conducted on the basis of law and in such a way as to avoid double standards. States must refrain from linking terrorism to any particular civilization, ethnic groups or religion. Exchanges and dialogue between different civilizations must be enhanced to improve understanding. The causes of terrorism, social unrest, injustice and poverty must be tackled for the success of the struggle against terrorism.    11 September 2006    The attacks on the US five years ago were against ‘humanity itself’: Annan.    Marking five years since the September 11 attacks on the United States, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said they were directed against “humanity itself,” as he urged all Member States to honour the victims of terrorism everywhere by implementing a new strategy that the world body adopted last week to fight the global scourge.    “The attacks of 11 September 2001 cut us all to the core, for they were an attack on humanity itself. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, and with all those who lost loved ones in the tragedy…And we remember all those who have fallen victim to other acts of terrorism around the world,” Mr. Annan said in a statement.    “Last Friday’s adoption by the General Assembly of a United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy sends a clear message that terrorism is unacceptable…I urge all Member States to honour the victims of terrorism everywhere by taking swift action to implement all aspects of the strategy. In this way, they will demonstrate the international community’s unwavering determination to defeat terrorism.”    The strategy, in the form of a resolution and a plan of action, includes practical steps at the local, national and international level – ranging from strengthening the capacity of individual States to prevent and combat terrorism to ensuring that human rights and the rule of law are always respected in the fight against terrorism.    Speaking after the strategy was adopted by consensus at UN Headquarters in New York, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson said “we should consider this as a great achievement for the General Assembly, which has established itself in the area of fighting terrorism.”    Acknowledging that the 12 months of negotiations had sometimes been “troublesome,” Mr. Eliasson said the definition of terrorism remained a source of contention for many nations.    But he said it was a sign of the mutual commitment to defeating terrorism that States were able to overcome their differences and find enough areas of common ground to devise a strategy.    The strategy makes clear that it is vital to consistently, unequivocally and strongly condemn terrorism in all forms and manifestations, committed by whomever and for whatever purposes. Terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group    8 September 2006    The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a comprehensive global strategy to counter terrorism, overcoming differences between Member States and a year of often fractious negotiations to agree for the first time on a common approach to fighting the scourge.    The strategy, in the form of a resolution and a plan of action, includes practical steps at the local, national and international level – ranging from strengthening the capacity of individual States to prevent and combat terrorism to ensuring that human rights and the rule of law are always respected in the fight against terrorism.    It also calls for measures to enhance the role of the UN system to deal with terrorism, and to make sure that the world body’s efforts are better coordinated.    Speaking after the strategy was adopted by consensus at UN Headquarters in New York, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson said “we should consider this as a great achievement for the General Assembly, which has established itself in the area of fighting terrorism.”    Acknowledging that the past 12 months of negotiations have sometimes been “troublesome,” Mr. Eliasson said the definition of terrorism remained a source of contention for many nations.    But he said it was a sign of the mutual commitment to defeating terrorism that States were able to overcome their differences and find enough areas of common ground to devise a strategy.    The strategy makes clear that it is vital to consistently, unequivocally and strongly condemn terrorism in all forms and manifestations, committed by whomever and for whatever purposes. Terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.    Identifying some conditions – such as prolonged unresolved conflict, human rights violations, socio-economic marginalization and lack of good governance – as conducive to the spread of terrorism, the strategy’s plan of action stresses the importance of achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), resolving conflicts and promoting dialogue and tolerance between civilizations.    The resolution calls for the strategy to be reviewed by the General Assembly in two years’ time to chart the progress made by Member States.    Welcoming the strategy, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement that it “sends a clear message that terrorism is unacceptable, no matter who commits it, no matter what the reason.”    Mr. Annan said he hoped Member States would now move swiftly to implement all aspects of the strategy so that they can “honour the victims of terrorism everywhere.”
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