Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : UN-CTC
Mains level : Counter-terrorism initiatives by the UN
In a first, India will host diplomats and officials from all 15 countries of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including China, Russia and the US, for a special meeting on terrorism, in Delhi and Mumbai in October.
Key determinants of the meet
The special meeting will specifically focus on three significant areas:
- Internet and social media
- Terrorism financing
- Unmanned aerial systems
What is Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC)?
- The CTC is a subsidiary body of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
- The 15-member CTC was established at the same time to monitor the implementation of the resolution.
- In the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, the UNSC unanimously adopted resolution 1373.
- This among its provisions obliges all States
- To criminalize assistance for terrorist activities,
- Deny financial support and safe haven to terrorists and
- Share information about groups planning terrorist attacks
Its executive body
- Seeking to revitalize the Committee’s work, in 2004 the Security Council adopted Resolution 1535.
- It created the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to provide the CTC with expert advice on all areas covered by resolution 1373.
- It was established also with the aim of facilitating technical assistance to countries, as well as promoting closer cooperation and coordination both within the UN.
Its working
- While the CTC 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.
- 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 groups or individuals.
Significance of the event
- India has been pushing for the UN members to adopt a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (first proposed in 1996), which is likely to be raised during the meeting.
- The event will showcase India’s role as a victim of terrorism as well as a country at the forefront of global counter-terrorism efforts.
- CTC meeting in India could also pave the way for a possible visit to New York by PM Narendra Modi in December, when India will be the President of the UNSC for the entire month.
Way ahead: Hitting the nerve
- While terror financing was now recognised by FATF, it was necessary to build templates and “codes of conduct” for newer threats.
- Today terror financing now includes financing through cryptocurrency and the use of drones for terror attacks.
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