United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee
Encyclopedia
The Counter-Terrorism Committee is a subsidiary body of the United Nations Security Council
.
In the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks
in the United States
, the United Nations Security Council
unanimously adopted resolution 1373
, which, among its provisions, obliges all States to criminalize assistance for terrorist
activities, deny financial support and safe haven to terrorist
and share information about groups planning terrorist
attacks.
The 15-member Counter-Terrorism Committee was established at the same time to monitor implementation of the resolution. While the ultimate aim of the Committee is to increase the ability of States to fight terrorism, it is not a sanctions body nor does it maintain a list of terrorist
organizations or individuals.
The body has been effective in requiring member states to take steps to deny terrorists safe havens, prohibiting the raising or transferring of funds, freezing assets and sharing information about possible terrorists activities. The obligations are generic rather than aimed at any particular group, state or incident. These features have made it easier for member states to accept the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.
The Counter-Terrorism Committee has under the leadership of Jeremy Greenstock
of the United Kingdom
, operated with transparency and patience. Working with technical experts the Counter-Terrorism Committee has investigated how particular member states can be helped, such as through model legislation, training or administrative practices to meet their (United Nations
Security Council Resolution) 1373 obligations. While the Counter-Terrorism Committee is not a direct capacity provider it does act as a broker between those states or groups that have the relevant capacities and those in the need of assistance.
Seeking to revitalize the Committee’s work, in 2004 the Security Council adopted Resolution 1535
, creating the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to provide the CTC with expert advice on all areas covered by resolution 1373. CTED was established also with the aim of facilitating technical assistance to countries, as well as promoting closer cooperation and coordination both within the UN
system of organizations and among regional and intergovernmental bodies.
During the September 2005 World Summit at the UN
, the Security Council – meeting at the level of Heads of States
or Government
for just the third time in its history – adopted Resolution 1624
concerning incitement to commit acts of terrorism
. The resolution also stressed the obligations of countries to comply with international human rights law
s.
The leaders also resolved to conclude work on the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism
, including a legal definition of terrorist acts, during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly
. This achievement would mark the culmination of years of negotiation and debate on various proposals, including those contained in Secretary-General Kofi Annan
's report, “In Larger Freedom.” In this document, he called urgently for the adoption of a definition of terrorism
similar to that contained in the report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change
, which states “that the targeting and deliberate killing of civilians and non-combatants cannot be justified or legitimized by any cause or grievance, and that any action intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants, when the purpose of such an act, by its nature or context, is to intimidate a population
or to compel a Government
or an international organization
to carry out or to abstain from any act cannot be justified on any grounds and constitutes an act of terrorism
.”
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
.
In the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
unanimously adopted resolution 1373
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, adopted unanimously on September 28, 2001, is a counter-terrorism measure passed following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States...
, which, among its provisions, obliges all States to criminalize assistance for terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
activities, deny financial support and safe haven to terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and share information about groups planning terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
attacks.
The 15-member Counter-Terrorism Committee was established at the same time to monitor implementation of the resolution. While the ultimate aim of the Committee is to increase the ability of States to fight terrorism, it is not a sanctions body nor does it maintain a list of terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
organizations or individuals.
The body has been effective in requiring member states to take steps to deny terrorists safe havens, prohibiting the raising or transferring of funds, freezing assets and sharing information about possible terrorists activities. The obligations are generic rather than aimed at any particular group, state or incident. These features have made it easier for member states to accept the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.
The Counter-Terrorism Committee has under the leadership of Jeremy Greenstock
Jeremy Greenstock
Sir Jeremy Q. Greenstock, GCMG is a retired British diplomat, active from 1969-2004.-Life and career:Greenstock was born in Harrow on the Hill, north-west London, the son of Ruth Margaret and John Wilfred Greenstock. He was educated at the Harrow School and Worcester College, University of...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, operated with transparency and patience. Working with technical experts the Counter-Terrorism Committee has investigated how particular member states can be helped, such as through model legislation, training or administrative practices to meet their (United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution) 1373 obligations. While the Counter-Terrorism Committee is not a direct capacity provider it does act as a broker between those states or groups that have the relevant capacities and those in the need of assistance.
Seeking to revitalize the Committee’s work, in 2004 the Security Council adopted Resolution 1535
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1535
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1535, adopted unanimously on March 26, 2004, after reaffirming resolutions 1373 , 1377 and 1456 , the Council restructured the Counter-Terrorism Committee to enhance the implementation of anti-terrorism measures.-Observations:The Security Council...
, creating the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to provide the CTC with expert advice on all areas covered by resolution 1373. CTED was established also with the aim of facilitating technical assistance to countries, as well as promoting closer cooperation and coordination both within the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
system of organizations and among regional and intergovernmental bodies.
During the September 2005 World Summit at the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, the Security Council – meeting at the level of Heads of States
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
or Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
for just the third time in its history – adopted Resolution 1624
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1624
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1624, adopted unanimously at the 2005 World Summit on September 14, 2005, after reaffirming resolutions on terrorism, including resolutions 1267 , 1373 , 1535 , 1540 , 1566 and 1617 , the Council called on all states to co-operate in order to strengthen...
concerning incitement to commit acts of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. The resolution also stressed the obligations of countries to comply with international human rights law
International human rights law
International human rights law refers to the body of international law designed to promote and protect human rights at the international, regional and domestic levels...
s.
The leaders also resolved to conclude work on the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, including a legal definition of terrorist acts, during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
. This achievement would mark the culmination of years of negotiation and debate on various proposals, including those contained in Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
's report, “In Larger Freedom.” In this document, he called urgently for the adoption of a definition of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
similar to that contained in the report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change
High Level Threat Panel
The High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change of the United Nations, chaired by former Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun and including former United States National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and several former heads of government and foreign ministers as members, produced in...
, which states “that the targeting and deliberate killing of civilians and non-combatants cannot be justified or legitimized by any cause or grievance, and that any action intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants, when the purpose of such an act, by its nature or context, is to intimidate a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
or to compel a Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
or an international organization
International organization
An intergovernmental organization, sometimes rendered as an international governmental organization and both abbreviated as IGO, is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states , or of other intergovernmental organizations...
to carry out or to abstain from any act cannot be justified on any grounds and constitutes an act of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
.”