New Delhi, July 2: The United Nations General Assembly has once again urged the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), proposed by India, with a significant majority vote.
On Wednesday, the assembly passed the ninth review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) with 140 votes in favor and only three against. It called on member states to make “every possible effort” to adopt the CCIT, which has been pending for 31 years since its introduction by New Delhi.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, warned that the lack of a “universally accepted legal framework” has weakened the global fight against terrorism.
He criticized two major obstacles to the adoption of the CCIT, reminding member states that effective counter-terrorism can only be achieved through international cooperation, without “double standards” and discrimination between “good and bad terrorists.”
The CCIT has faced opposition from Pakistan and a few other nations, which attempt to differentiate between terrorists and label some as “freedom fighters” to justify their support for terrorism.
Harish stated, “The international community must completely reject double standards in the fight against terrorism.” He emphasized that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances. Regardless of grievances, political motives, or strategic calculations, terrorism should be condemned unconditionally in all its forms and manifestations.
He added, “It is the responsibility of all to hold accountable the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of terrorist acts and bring them to justice. Member states must ensure full cooperation in this regard.”
Harish noted that the CCIT is essential for addressing legal gaps, strengthening prosecution and extradition processes, and denying terrorists and their supporters access to safe havens, funding, and weapons.
He urged that it is time to demonstrate political will and finalize the CCIT. The GCTS, which includes national, regional, and international strategies against terrorism, has been unanimously adopted during biennial reviews since its initial approval by the assembly in 2006.
However, this time, at the request of the United States, it was put to a vote. The U.S. criticized the document as “unnecessarily broad, outdated, and unfocused.” Only Israel and Argentina joined the U.S. in opposing it.
During the voting, 49 countries were absent, effectively taking no side. Japan did not formally participate in the vote but later clarified that it was a technical error and that it supports the document.
Harish also raised concerns about the UN’s focus on only Abrahamic religions in combating bias and discrimination. He stated, “Since this is the UN, a multilateral platform with universal membership, our approach should also be universal.”
He condemned all acts motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Christian sentiment, and anti-Semitism, while also urging the organization to acknowledge that such prejudices exist against other religions as well.
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