UN panel adopts Delhi Declaration to deny safe havens to terrorists

Urging all Member States to ensure zero tolerance towards terrorism, the Delhi Declaration adopted after the special meeting of the United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNCTC) in New Delhi on Saturday also expressed “deep concern” over the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.

It also underlined that terrorists’ opportunity to access safe havens continues to be a significant concern and that all Member States must cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism in order to identify safe havens, deny terrorists’ access to them and bring to justice, in accordance with domestic and international laws.

“(It) Reaffirms that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivations, whenever, wherever, and by whomsoever committed, and remains determined to contribute further to enhancing the effectiveness of the overall effort to fight this scourge on a global level,” the Declaration read.

It underscored the obligation of Member States to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts and to refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive, to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts, including by suppressing recruitment of members of terrorist groups, consistent with international law, and eliminating the supply of weapons to terrorists.

The Declaration emphasised that the threat of terrorism is continuing, affecting a greater number of Member States across most regions, which exacerbates conflicts in affected regions, and contributes to undermining affected States, specifically their security, stability, governance, social and economic development.

The members noted with concern the increased use of internet and other information and communications technologies by terrorists and their supporters, stating that new financial instruments, including crowdfunding platforms, risk being misused, including for terrorist-financing.

The Delhi Declaration also noted “with additional concern” the increasing global misuse of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by terrorists to conduct attacks against, and incursions into critical infrastructure and soft targets or public places, and to traffic drugs and arms.

It stressed the need to effectively counter the ways that the ISIL also known as Daesh, Al-Qaida, their affiliates and associated individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities use their narratives to incite and recruit others to commit terrorist acts.

The Declaration strongly condemned the continued flow of weapons, military equipment, UAS and their components, and improvised explosive device (IED) component to and between ISIL/Da’esh, Al-Qaida, their affiliates and associated individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities, and other terrorist groups.

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