Sixth Committee (Legal) — 74th session
Measures to eliminate international terrorism (Agenda item 109)
- Authority: resolution 73/211
Documentation
- A/74/151 — Report of the Secretary-General
- A/C.6/74/L.18 — Draft resolution
Summary of work
Background (source: A/74/100)
The item entitled “Measures to prevent international terrorism which endangers or takes innocent human lives or jeopardizes fundamental freedoms, and study of the underlying causes of those forms of terrorism and acts of violence which lie in misery, frustration, grievance and despair and which cause some people to sacrifice human lives, including their own, in an attempt to effect radical changes” was included in the agenda of the twenty-seventh session of the General Assembly further to an initiative of the Secretary-General (A/8791, Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1). At that session, the Assembly decided to establish the Ad Hoc Committee on International Terrorism, consisting of 35 members (resolution 3034 (XXVII)).
The Assembly had the item on its agenda at its thirty-first session and biennially from its thirty-second to forty-eighth sessions, and has had the item on its agenda annually since then, changing its title to “Measures to eliminate international terrorism” at its forty-sixth session (resolutions 31/102, 31/103, 32/147, 32/148, 33/19, 34/145, 34/146 (International Convention against the Taking of Hostages), 36/109, 38/130, 40/61, 42/159, 44/29, 46/51, 49/60 (Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism), 50/53, 51/210 (Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism), 52/164 (International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings), 52/165, 53/108, 54/109 (International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism), 54/110, 55/158, 56/88, 57/27, 58/81, 59/46, 59/290 (International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism), 60/43, 61/40, 62/71, 63/129, 64/118, 65/34, 66/105, 67/99, 68/119, 69/127, 70/120, 71/151, 72/123 and 73/211 and decision 48/411).
At its fiftieth session, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit an annual report on the implementation of paragraph 10 of the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism (resolution 50/53).
At its fifty-first session, the Assembly established an Ad Hoc Committee to elaborate an international convention for the suppression of terrorist bombings and, subsequently, an international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, to supplement related existing international instruments, and thereafter to address means of further developing a comprehensive legal framework of conventions dealing with international terrorism (resolution 51/210).
At its fifty-fourth session, the Assembly decided that the Ad Hoc Committee should also address the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations (resolution 54/110).
At its seventy-third session, the Assembly allocated the item to the Sixth Committee, where statements in the debate were made by 86 delegations (see A/C.6/73/SR.1–5, 33 and 35). The Assembly decided to recommend that the Sixth Committee, at the seventy-fourth session of the Assembly, establish a working group with a view to finalizing the process on the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism as well as discussions on the item included in its agenda by resolution 54/110 concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations, recognized the valuable dialogue and efforts of Member States towards resolving any outstanding issues and encouraged all Member States to redouble their efforts during the intersessional period (resolution 73/211).
Consideration at the seventy-fourth session
The Sixth Committee considered the item at its 3rd to 7thand 34th and 35th meetings, from 8 to 10 October and on 11 and 20 November 2019 (A/C.6/74/SR.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 34 and 35).
For its consideration of the item, the Committee had before it the report of the Secretary-General (A/74/151).
Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 72/123 of 7 December 2017, at its 1st meeting, on 7 October, the Committee established a working group with a view to finalizing the process on the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, as well as discussions on the item included in its agenda by General Assembly resolution 54/110 concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations. The Working Group was open to all States Members of the United Nations or members of the specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Working Group held three meetings, as well as informal consultations, on 21 and 24 October and on 7 November. At its 34th meeting, on 11 November, the Committee heard and took note of the oral report by the Chair of the Working Group on the work of the Working Group and on the results of the informal consultations held during the current session.
Statements were made by the representatives of Islamic Republic of Iran (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)), Zambia (on behalf of the African Group), Saudi Arabia (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)), Cambodia (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)), the European Union (also on behalf of its Member States (the candidate countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania, the country of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA country, Liechtenstein, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, aligned themselves with the statement)), Canada [in English] (also on behalf of Australia and New Zealand (CANZ)), Norway (also on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden (Nordic Countries)), Israel, Nicaragua, Morocco, Singapore, Egypt, Mongolia, Kuwait, Argentina, Ghana, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Lebanon, Sudan, Qatar, Syrian Arab Republic, Colombia, Russian Federation, Maldives, Gambia, Honduras, Thailand, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Mauritius, Turkey, Pakistan, Mexico, Cuba [in English], United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Malaysia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, United States of America, Japan, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Armenia, Mali, Myanmar, Burkina Faso, Iraq, Nigeria, Viet Nam, Ethiopia, South Africa, Burundi, Georgia, Costa Rica, Peru, Indonesia, China [in English], Ecuador, Azerbaijan, India, Montenegro, Uganda, the Republic of Korea, Togo, Serbia, Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Algeria, Bahrain, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Tunisia, Nepal, the Philippines, Senegal, Ukraine, Timor-Leste, Libya, Niger, Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Panama, Guinea, Kazakhstan, Eritrea, Brazil and Yemen. The Permanent Observers of the Holy See, the State of Palestine and the International Committee of the Red Cross also made statements.
Delegations reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and generally underlined that terrorism constituted a serious breach of international law and a threat to international peace and security, as well as economic and social development. It was also noted that terrorism was a major factor in hindering sustainable development under the 2030 Agenda. Several delegations also stressed the call that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or civilization, nor should it be confused with the legitimate self-determination and national liberation struggle of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation.
Delegations also generally underlined the importance, while countering terrorism, of a strict observance of the Charter of the United Nations as well of as other rules of international law, including human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law. The fundamental importance of international and regional cooperation in the field, including the sharing of information and best practices, was underlined by several delegations. A number of delegations also stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, exclusion, lack of access to resources, social marginalization and injustice.
States were called upon to ratify and accede to instruments relating to counter-terrorism. States were also urged to refrain from financing, organizing, instigating, or assisting terrorist acts, as well as providing safe havens. The function of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to root out illegal financing of terrorist acts was highlighted by a few delegations.
The need to take a holistic, whole-of-society approach when countering terrorism was underlined by several delegations. In this regard, the importance of engaging women and youth was emphasized, and the fundamental role of a culture of peace was highlighted. Furthermore, the role of women in preventing violent extremism, as well as in de-radicalization and reintegration projects was highlighted. A number of delegations voiced their concern in relation to the employment by terrorist groups of deliberate and systematic sexual and gender-based violence as a method of terrorism. A number of delegations also pointed out the need to promote credible alternative narratives of hope to counter terrorism. The importance of addressing challenges raised by the internet and prevention of the dissemination of terrorist content online was also underlined. The ongoing concerns over the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters was stressed by several delegations. Some delegations also condemned the practice of double-standards and stressed the importance of upholding uniform standards in counterterrorism.
The importance was highlighted of coordinated action and capacity-building of vulnerable States to promote accountability and prosecution of perpetrators.
A number of delegations expressed solidarity with victims of international terrorism and their families. Condemnations were voiced regarding recent terrorist attacks around the world. Delegations also expressed their commitment to the first Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism to be held in 2020 and urged consideration of the needs and rights of victims when developing counterterrorism measures.
Delegations reiterated their support for the new United Nations counter-terrorism architecture, and specifically the creation of the Office of Counter-Terrorism. The importance of implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact was highlighted.
A number of delegations underlined the importance of the various sanctions regimes, including the 1267/1989 and 1540 Sanctions Committees. Support was expressed for the continuing and strengthened implementation of fair and clear procedures by the sanctions committees and for the role of the Ombudsperson.
Delegations generally reaffirmed the importance of the negotiations on and successful conclusion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism and the necessity to find consensus thereupon. In this regard, the importance of negotiating an internationally agreed definition of terrorism was underlined. Several delegations affirmed their commitment to the process and reiterated proposals made regarding the possible content of the convention. To this end, the suggestion was made that the convening of the second United Nations High-level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States, to be held in June 2020, could help to advance discussions aimed at finalizing the outstanding issues with respect to the draft comprehensive convention. Several delegations reaffirmed their support for the proposal to convene a High-level Conference under the auspices of the United Nations to contribute to finalizing the outstanding issues with respect to the draft comprehensive convention. While some delegations noted the potential usefulness of such a conference, other delegations expressed the view that the conference would be more successful after technical negotiations had achieved a more advanced stage of consensus.
Action taken by the Sixth Committee
At the 35th meeting, on 20 November, the representative of Canada, on behalf of the Bureau, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Measures to eliminate international terrorism” (A/C.6/74/L.18). At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.6/74/L.18 without a vote.
At the same meeting, the Chair also informed the Committee that the Chair of the Working Group on measures to eliminate international terrorism had designated Mr. Michael Imran Kanu (Sierra Leone) to be Coordinator of the outstanding issues relating to the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism.
Under the terms of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would, inter alia recall further its resolution 73/305 of 28 June 2019 on the enhancement of international cooperation to assist victims of terrorism, looking forward to the first Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, to be held in 2020. It would also express awareness of the need to address underlying conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism through a comprehensive approach. It would likewise reiterate that terrorism is a global phenomenon, which is not and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group, It would also recommend that the Sixth Committee, at the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly, establish a working group with a view to finalizing the process on the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism as well as discussions on the item included in its agenda by Assembly resolution 54/110 concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations. The General Assembly would also recognize the valuable dialogue and efforts of Member States towards resolving any outstanding issues, and it would encourage all Member States to redouble their efforts during the intersessional period.
Subsequent action taken by the General Assembly
This agenda item will be considered at the seventy-fifth session (2020).
Full texts of submissions (A/74/151)
| State | Original submission | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | French | |
| Argentina | Spanish | English |
| Armenia | English | |
| Austria | English | |
| Azerbaijan | Russian | English |
| Colombia | Spanish | English |
| Cuba | Spanish | English |
| El Salvador | Spanish | English |
| Finland | English | |
| Greece | English | |
| Kyrgyzstan | English | |
| Malaysia | English | |
| Mali | French | |
| Mexico | Spanish | English |
| Oman | English | English |
| Panama | Spanish | English |
| Republic of Moldova | English | |
| Russian Federation | Russian | English |
| San Marino | English | |
| Serbia | English | |
| Singapore | English | |
| Switzerland | French | |
| Ukraine | English | English |
| Relevant observer | Original submission | Translation |
