United Nations, Jan 24: The UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) has established guiding principles aimed at preventing and identifying the use of new financial technologies for terrorism, furthering commitments made by the UN in the fight against terrorism during India’s time on the Council.
Earlier this month, under the leadership of Algeria, the CTC finalized the ‘Algeria Guiding Principles,’ which build upon the Abu Dhabi Guiding Principles previously adopted. These principles specifically address the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for terrorist activities, an agreement reached in December 2023. They serve as non-binding guidelines for member states to prevent, detect, and disrupt the misuse of new financial technologies in terrorist financing.
These guiding principles are particularly significant as they advance the commitments outlined in the Security Council’s Delhi Declaration from October 2022, which focused on countering the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. During its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, India chaired the CTC and hosted a special session in New Delhi and Mumbai, culminating in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration.
The UNSC CTC convened on October 28 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, the site of the tragic 26/11 attacks, and continued discussions in Delhi on October 29, where the Declaration was endorsed.
Despite India’s exit from the Council after its two-year term concluded in 2022, it has actively engaged with CTC members, particularly Algeria and the UAE, to follow up on the commitments made in the Delhi Declaration, reflecting its dedication to multilateralism and its resolve to combat terrorism.
Counter-terrorism has consistently ranked as a top priority for India, especially highlighted during its Security Council tenure. The ongoing work on elements of the Delhi Declaration indicates the significant impact of India’s chairmanship on the global counter-terrorism framework, according to sources.
As noted on the UN’s official website, the Algeria Guiding Principles are designed to assist member states in understanding the terrorism-financing risks associated with new financial technologies and fundraising approaches. They emphasize the need for proportionate, risk-based regulations, strengthened monitoring, and the evaluation of the impacts of counter-terrorism measures related to new technologies.
The Delhi Declaration reaffirmed the obligation of member states to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist activities, mandating that they refrain from offering any support, active or passive, to individuals or groups engaged in such acts. It stressed the importance of stopping the recruitment of terrorists and cutting off their access to weapons, as terrorists’ ability to find safe havens remains a significant concern. Furthermore, all member states are urged to work together to identify and eliminate these safe havens, ensuring that anyone involved in financing or facilitating terrorist activities faces justice under both domestic and international law.
