Indian Foreign Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who chaired the meeting, urged participants to stand and observe a minute’s silence for victims worldwide.
Including an Irish peacekeeper serving with the UN mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, shot dead in an attack last night. Three other peacekeepers were also injured; one critical.
Widespread and widespread
The global threat of terrorism requires not only the continued attention of the Council, but also a new common approach, said Vladimir Voronkov, Head of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office (UNOCT).
“Despite continuing losses in leadership by al-Qaeda and Da’esh [also known as ISIL]terrorism in general is increasingly common and geographically widespread, affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide,” he said.
Mr. Voronkov said these groups and their affiliates continue to exploit Instability, fragility and conflictparticularly in areas such as West Africa and the Sahel where the situation remains urgent.
Their operations have also substantively contributed to the deteriorating security situation in Central and South Africa and elsewhere.
Terrorist groups remain in Afghanistan, where they continue to pose a serious threat to the region and beyond.
Terrorist attacks hostile to foreigners are increasing
“Furthermore, it is worrying that the de facto authorities have failed to sever longstanding ties to terrorist groups harboring in the country, despite calls from this council to do so,” he added.
Terrorists “adapt opportunistically,” Mr Voronkov said. They resort to illegal financing methods and other criminal activities, making a coordinated international response difficult.
He also expressed concern about an increase in terrorist attacks xenophobia, racism and other forms of intoleranceor on behalf of religion or belief.
“Although it is not a new phenomenon, some member states consider it as growing fastest or the most prominent threat to internal security they face,” he said.
pledge of support
Mr Voronkov welcomed a special session of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) held in India last month to examine how terrorists are using new and emerging technologies for their own illegal ends.
Discussions focused on three areas: the internet, including social media platforms and related online spaces; Fighting the financing of terrorism and new payment technologies as well as the misuse of unmanned aerial systems.
“The special meeting brought to the fore overarching considerations of a ‘One-UN’ approach, upholding human rights, the role of civil society and honoring the victims of terrorism,” said Weixiong Chen, acting chief of the Executive Directorate for Counter-Terrorism (CTED).
“The Committee adopted the Delhi Declaration to reaffirm its commitment to work with Member States to achieve full implementation of all relevant points Security Council Resolutions to counter the threat of terrorism,” he added.
Courage in Chaos
The CTC meeting took place over two days in Delhi and Mumbai, where terrorists carried out a series of bombings and shootings for four days 14 years ago. More than 30 people were killed and dozens more injured.
Anjali Vijay Kulthe, a senior nurse at Cama and Albless Hospital in Mumbai, reminded the council that on November 26, 2008 she was on night duty in the maternity ward.
Two terrorists scaled the wall of the facility dedicated exclusively to mothers and children. They entered the hospital and she could hear gunshots.
Back then, Ms. Kulthe was traveling with two assistants and 20 women in advanced stages of pregnancy. Despite being terrified, she kept everyone safe. They hid in the dark in the hospital pantry.
“I still tremble when I think about the night of the terrorist attack. While the terrorists were killing people like insects, I’m glad I was able to save the lives of 20 pregnant women and their unborn babies,” she said through an interpreter.
call to action
A month later, the brave nurse was called to identify the only surviving terrorist from the attacks. Although her family feared reprisals, she continued.
Terrorist Ajmal Kasab “had not an iota of remorse, no shame, no guilt; His sense of victory still haunts me to this day,” she revealed.
“Whenever I see news on TV about terrorist attacks anywhere in the world, my heart goes out to the victims and survivors of such attacks who are traumatized for the rest of their lives,” Ms. Kulthe said.
She called on the international to bring the sponsors of the Mumbai attacks to justice and put an end to the families of the victims.
address root causes
Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney expressed his deep sadness and shock at the death of the country’s young peacekeeper in Lebanon and the injuries to his colleagues.
“The incident and the loss of life are a stark reminder of that Our peacekeepers serve in dangerous circumstances at all timesin the cause of peace,” he said.
Mr Coveney told the council that prevention is the most effective way to fight terrorism, which means addressing the complex and varied factors that drive it.
“We know that conflict, poverty, inequality, poor governance and human rights abuses affect communities more vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment,” he said.
“If we don’t address the root causes, we get caught up in tackling the same security challenges over and over again.”
At the end of the meeting, the Security Council issued a statement condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The Council offered its condolences to the families of those killed in terrorist attacks and underlined support for survivors and victims.
Members stressed the need to promote and protect the rights of victims of terrorism, including women and children, and reaffirmed their deep solidarity with them and with countries that have suffered terrorist attacks.
