Committee on Counter Terrorism

[swatiraohnlu]

Less than three weeks after the terrorist destruction of the World Trade Centre on 9th September 2001, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1373 for UN Committee on Counter Terrorism. The CTC is working to establish norms for respecting human rights and civil liberties while engaging in effective counter terrorism.

The CTC has observed that the very relaxed gun laws in the United States make it very easy for terrorists to obtain weapons there. In order to comply more fully with Security Council Resolution 1373, the US should take steps to restrict the free sale of firearms.

 

[swatiraohnlu]

Although the work of the Counter Terrorism Committee is very worthy, it has taken a very low-key approach in the four years of its existence. Collecting submissions from governments on their commitments and needs in countering terrorism is all very well, but the CTC needs to go beyond this to determine whether these pledges are actually worth anything in reality. It also needs to be willing to name and shame states who are not cooperating and recommend enforcement action to the Security Council - something it has so far failed to do. Until the CTC shows itself willing to take a more vigorous line on counter terrorism, the United States is justified in pursuing other means of international cooperation in addition to its support for the UN process.