Security council strengthens fight against terrorism.

• Author: Sethi, Sanjay

Since the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States over a year ago, the United Nations has taken a number of actions to reassert and strengthen the Security Council's role in fighting terrorism. Resolution 1373 (2001), unanimously adopted on 28 September 2001, set out wide-ranging steps and strategies to combat international terrorist activities. It established the Counter-Terrorism Committee to monitor its implementation and called on all States to report on actions they had taken to that end no later than 90 days from the resolution's adoption. As a result, the Council has become a crucial vehicle to address the growing problem of terrorism worldwide.

On 10 September 2002, the Policy Working Group on the United Nations and Terrorism released a report recommending that the Organization provide additional support to the Committee. It also suggested that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime consider drafting a model legislation that could be used by States to incorporate resolution 1373 into their national laws. The Secretary-General stressed that no body has a more central role to play in meeting the challenge of terrorism than the Security Council.

He underscored that in the year since the attacks, the Council had fulfilled...