UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

Strategy Highlights

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a global counter-terrorism strategy on 8 September 2006. The strategy - in the form of a Resolution and an annexed Plan of Action - is a unique instrument to enhance national, regional and international efforts to counter terrorism. Its adoption marks the first time that all Member States have agreed to a common strategic and operational approach to fight terrorism.

Highlights of the strategy

* The strategy builds on Member States' consistent, unequivocal and strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, while setting forth concrete measures to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and to strengthen individual and collective capacity of States and the United Nations to prevent and combat terrorism, all while ensuring the protection of human rights and upholding the rule of law.

* It brings together a range of new proposals and enhancements of ongoing activities to be undertaken by Member States, the United Nations system, and other international and regional actors, all under a common strategic framework.

* Important new initiatives set forth in the strategy include :

o Improving the coherence and efficiency of counter-terrorism technical assistance delivery so that all states can play their part effectively.

o Voluntarily putting in place systems of assistance that would address the needs of victims of terrorism and their families.

o Addressing the threat of bioterrorism by establishing a single comprehensive database on biological incidents, focusing on improving States' public health systems, and acknowledging the need to bring together major stakeholders to ensure that biotechnology's advances are not used for terrorist or other criminal purposes but for the public good.

o Involving civil society, regional and sub-regional organizations in the fight against terrorism and developing partnerships with the private sector to prevent terrorist attacks on particularly vulnerable targets.

o Exploring innovative means to address the growing threat of terrorist use of the internet.

o Modernizing border and customs controls systems, and improving the security of travel documents, to prevent terrorist travel and the movement of illicit materials.

o Enhancing cooperation to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

* The strategy clearly affirms that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.

* It also reaffirms the responsibility of States to deny financial and operational safe havens to terrorists and to prevent terrorists from abusing the system of political asylum, bringing them to justice on the principle of extradite or prosecute.

* By adopting the strategy the General Assembly has concretely reaffirmed and enhances its role in countering terrorism. All Member States should now take swift action to implement the strategy and demonstrate the international community's unwavering determination to defeat terrorism.