UN: Terrorism ran counter to the very principles and purposes which defined the United Nations, the world body has said in a statement outlining the range of anti-terorist measures it has undertaken.
These include: improving the legal framework through anti-terrorist treaties and conventions; action taken by the Security Council and the General Assembly; and the establishment of a high-level Policy Working Group by the Secretary-General. Composed of senior staff and outside experts, this working group has just issued a set of 31 recommendations for improvements and changes in UN activities as part of the fight against terrorism. The battle against terrorism was integral to the entire mandate of the UN, the statement said.
The UN Security Council - the 15-member body, including Ireland, which is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security - met in the immediate aftermath of the Twin Towers and Pentagon attacks and declared them "a tragedy for, and a challenge to, all humanity", adding that "there can be no excuse or justification for these acts and any terrorist act".
Security Council Resolution 1373, of September 28th 2001, obliges states to criminalise the provision of funds to terrorists, freeze the financial assets of people who commit terrorist acts and prohibit the provision of services to those who participate in terrorism. Resolution 1390, of January 2002, extended and strengthened sanctions against Osama bin Laden which the Security Council first imposed in 1999.
Resolution 1373 also set up a Counter-Terrorism Committee. This committee, which is composed of all 15 members of the Security Council, including Ireland, has received reports from 160 states on their efforts to implement the measures the resolution prescribed.