On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly urged the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, a proposal initially made by India 31 years ago. With 140 votes in favor and three against, the Ninth Review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy called on member nations to make every effort to adopt the convention. India’s Permanent Representative P. Harish emphasized the need for a universally agreed legal framework to combat terrorism effectively. He stressed that international cooperation is crucial in countering terrorism, but it can only be achieved if there are no double standards and no distinction between good or bad terrorists. Harish denounced the opposition to the convention, particularly from Pakistan and other countries that attempt to justify their support for terrorism by making a distinction among terrorists. The international community must reject double standards in counter-terrorism, he said, adding that there can be no justification for terrorism and that it must be condemned unequivocally. Harish also highlighted the importance of holding perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of terrorism accountable and bringing them to justice. The adoption of the CCIT is essential to close normative gaps, strengthen prosecution and extradition, and deny terrorists and their sponsors access to safe havens, funds, and arms. The time has come to demonstrate political will to conclude the CCIT, Harish declared. The US, Israel, and Argentina voted against the GCTS, while 49 countries absented themselves during the vote. Harish also drew attention to the UN’s narrow focus on Abrahamic religions in countering prejudice, emphasizing the need for a universal approach that acknowledges phobias against other faiths as well.
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📰 Source: Mangalorean News