News Highlight
India, the current President of the 15-nation U.N. Security Council, will hold two signature events on reformed multilateralism and Counter-Terrorism.
Key Takeaway
- India proposes to hold a Security Council briefing on the Global Counter-Terrorism Approach Principles and the Way Forward on December 15 under the Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts.
- The note emphasised that all acts of terrorism are unlawful and that the threat of terrorism cannot be connected to any religion, nation, civilisation, or ethnic group.
- No act of terrorism can be excused or justified, regardless of its intent, where it occurs, when it occurs, or who commits it.
- The era of classifying terrorists as bad, not so bad or good based on political convenience must end immediately.
Act of Terrorism
- A crime involves intimidating a populace or forcing a government or international organisation to carry out or refrain from carrying out any action and results in:
- Substantial physical harm or death to any person.
- Serious harm to public or private property, such as a public space, a government or state facility, a public transportation system, a facility used for infrastructure, or the environment.
- A large economic loss is projected due to damage to property, locations, facilities, or systems.
- Factors Contributing to the Rise of Terrorism
- Safe havens and state sponsorship.
- Sophisticated technology is available.
- Terrorist organisations’ connections to the criminal underworld.
Counter-Terrorism
- Indian Initiatives
- The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)
- NATGRID has been established to build a suitable database of security-related data.
- The Navy established a Joint Operations Center to monitor India’s extensive coastline.
- The National Investigation Agency, a specialised agency created to address terrorist offences, began operating in January 2009.
- India emphasised its call for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in 2018. (UNGA).
- The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)
- Global Initiative
- India’s Annual Resolution on Counter-Terror
- United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
- Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
United Nations Security Council
- About
- The United Nations Security Council is the world’s top body for ensuring international peace and security.
- The UN Security Council, sometimes known as the UNSC, is one of the six leading United Nations agencies and was established by the UN Charter in 1945.
- It is headquartered in New York.
- The UNSC is the only UN body having the power to send member states legally binding resolutions.
- Composition of UNSC
- The UNSC consists of 15 members
- The Security Council includes five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, known as the P5. Any of them can veto a resolution.
- The ten elected council members, given two-year, staggered mandates, do not have veto authority.
- The UN General Assembly elects these individuals with a two-thirds majority.
The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC)
- Foundation
- The CTC was established by the UN Security Council resolution 1373(2001).
- It was adopted unanimously on 28th September 2001 in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States.
- Mandate
- The requested countries to implement several measures to enhance their legal and institutional ability to counter-terrorist activities at home, in their regions, and worldwide.
- Chaired by
- The Permanent Representative of India to the UN currently serves as the Chair of the CTC for 2022.
- Purpose
- UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee(CTC) will discuss the overarching theme of ‘Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
- The panel will also discuss terror financing through crypto-currency and drones in new-age terrorism.
Pic Courtesy: The Hindu
Content Source: The Hindu