General Assembly
Elimination of International Terrorism
International terrorism is a growing problem in this post 9/11 world. As international concerns over safety are growing, so, too, are weapons technologies, international communications, and civil unrest. Acts such as hijacking of aircrafts, the taking of hostages, piracy, and violence directed towards civilians are prevalent issues, constantly rising in importance in international affairs. Nations with weakened central government and internal volatility are especially vulnerable targets for terrorist acts. It is the General Assembly’s ultimate hope to eradicate the instability that enables terrorism without compromising human rights or humanitarian law.
Currently, there has been concern over airport security, with several threats of hijackings and airport bombings scattered across the globe in recent months. In late December 2009, a plot to blow up an American passenger jet over Detroit was organized and launched by al Qaeda leaders in Yemen who apparently sewed bomb materials into Abdul Farouk Umar Abdulmutallab's underwear before sending him on his mission. Although the bombs did not detonate, and Abdulmutallab was restrained by passengers, the event has sparked an intense international response, with airport security increasing significantly in many nations. Events like this, threats and attempted bombings, have occurred in many other places. By monitoring network sites, and reacting to any possible suspicion of terrorism, countries are attempting to prevent these attacks. In Britain, a man was arrested on the basis of a comment he posted on the networking website, Twitter, that was a humorous terrorist threat. These extreme measures raise the concern of walking the line between public safety, and privacy infringement. Some people wonder if these measures are overreactions to the current situation, and speculate about less severe policies.
Piracy is another form of terrorism that has been threatening international trade and safety. The piracy in Somalia specifically, resulting from internal conflict and weak central government, has been a recent problem. Somali pirates have commandeered unarmed trading ships, demanding high ransoms for hostages and cargo. To battle piracy, the UN has launched an international attack, calling on nations with adequate naval resources to supply military force against the acts of piracy. The most important question about solving this piracy problem, though, lies in the decision to eliminate the short term acts of piracy, or fix the problem at its source, for the long term, by strengthening the Somali government. This not only applies to Somalia and piracy, but to other weakened nations with terrorist problems. Answering this question is integral to deciding the UN policy for dealing with the multitudinous terrorist issues at hand.
It is up the General Assembly to reach a resolution that accommodates as many nations as possible, while still providing the framework for the successful eradication of international terrorism, and the preservation of human rights.