04 May 2006: ISS Today: Kofi Annan Unveils Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

04 MAY 2006: KOFI ANNAN UNVEILS GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY
un news

 

United Nations (UN) chief, Kofi Annan has unveiled a global counter-terrorism strategy that puts new emphasis on the need to address bioterrorism, to counter the growing use by terrorists’ of the Internet and the need to defend human rights.

 

A year after United Nations General-Secretary Kofi Annan introduced a global strategy against terrorism during the Madrid Summit in 2005, the United Nations unveiled a 32-page strategic document on 2 May 2006 (1). It used the definition of terrorism proposed by the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges, defined as “any action constitutes terrorism if it is intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants, with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a Government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act”. (2)

 

The strategy broadly consists of five pillars, or five “D’s” as referred to during the Madrid Summit: (3)

  1. Dissuade disaffected groups from choosing terrorism as a tactic to achieve their goals;

  2. Deny terrorists the means to carry out their attacks;

  3. Deter States from supporting terrorists;

  4. Develop State capacity to prevent terrorism; and

  5. Defend human rights in the struggle against terrorism.

In providing guidance on the adoption of strategies for the prevention and combating of terrorism, the following are some of the aspects highlighted in the UN report:

  • Terrorism, irrespective of its causes or grievances cannot be justified: “no cause, no matter how just, can excuse terrorism. This includes the legitimate struggle of people for self-determination. Even this fundamental right defined in the Charter of the United Nations does not excuse deliberately killing or maiming civilians and noncombatants” (p. 3).

  • In countering terrorism, it calls on civil society to “convince those with genuine grievances that there exist alternative, non-violent strategies”. In support of this, the UN is to establish a focal point within the Secretariat to coordinate efforts among civil society groups dealing with terrorism issues (p.4).

  • It calls on the media to guard providing a platform for terrorists to spread a message of hate, xenophobia or mass murder. Equally, member states are called upon to attend to measures to promote the safety and security of journalists (p.5).

  • The promotion of religious and ethnic tolerance through education.

  • The importance of addressing the root causes of terrorism is noted, with specific reference to:

    • Poor governance and a lack of civil and human rights. Member states are encouraged to adopt a strategy based on good governance, the rule of law and human rights to prevent the resort to violence and terrorism as a strategy.

    • Multi-cultural societies are encouraged to address religious and ethnic discrimination, political exclusion and socio-economic marginalization.

  • Although the UN strategy against terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11 almost exclusively focused on preventing the financing of terrorism, other logistical aspects in carrying out an attack are (in more detail) included in this strategy: Recruitment, training, weaponry and communication. Particular reference is made to the use of the Internet as an instrument in recruitment, dissemination of information and propaganda.

  • Greater emphasis on the protection of soft targets and to responses in the event of an attack. Specific reference is made to the need for protection strategies in the light of increased threats from the use of weapons of mass destruction.

  • The report also calls for greater coordination of roles and activities of the different UN structures in their strategies against terrorism. (In enabling better cooperation between these entities, the Secretary-General established a Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force in 2005.)

Though this report comes at an opportune time, it is less of a strategy document than an expression of desirable outcomes. The challenge lies in the formulation of strategy capable of implementation resulting specifically from differing interpretations by member states and their security forces. This strategy document, as with other proposals, is open to selective implementation depending on philosophy or political agenda. Could the call on the media to not provide a platform for terrorists in spreading a message of hate and xenophobia be interpreted by a restrictive regime as further reason to monitor the media, and even encourage censorship? This would then be in contradiction of the simultaneous call on member states to adopt a strategy based on good governance, the rule of law and human rights that includes the freedom of speech and association.

In addition, the UN, as with other regional organizations has to face the challenge that cooperation and compliance from member states cannot be forced. The jealous defense of sovereignty and personal agendas have to date hampered the adoption of global strategies. On such an emotive issue, it is to be expected that different interpretations will pose a challenge to mutual understanding. This is particularly apparent in debates on the definition of terrorism. It will be interesting to see how the African Union and it’s member states react to the UN’s strategy report, and most especially its reference to struggles for self-determination, since “struggle[s] waged by peoples in accordance with the principles of international law for their liberation or self-determination, including armed struggle against colonialism, occupation, aggression and domination by foreign forces shall not be considered as terrorist acts." (4)

 

Anneli Botha

 

(1) United Nations General Assembly, Uniting against terrorism: Recommendations for a global counter-terrorism strategy, A/60/825, 27 April 2006 (PDF) http://www.un.org/unitingagainstterrorism/sg-terrorism-2may06.pdf

(2) United Nations Press Release, Secretary-General Kofi Annan launches global strategy against terrorism in Madrid, SG/2095, 10 March 2005, http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/sg2095.doc.htm

(3) International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security, 8-11 Mach 2005, Madrid, http://english.safe-democracy.org/keynotes/a-global-strategy-for-fighting-terrorism.html

(4) OAU/AU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, 1999 (PDF) http://untreaty.un.org/English/Terrorism/oau_e.pdf

 

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