Statement by Ms Susan Grace, Director, Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Section Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the United Nations General Assembly Plenary for Sixth Committee on the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
4 September 2008
(As delivered)
The adoption of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in 2006 was a significant achievement for the General Assembly, as Member States united to take action on one of the most pressing threats facing the international community today.
Australia warmly welcomes the re-affirmation of the Strategy by the General Assembly offered in Resolution A/62/L.48 and we remain committed to implementing the Strategy’s Plan of Action in its entirety.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ambassador Rosenthal on his impressive effort in facilitating the current draft of Resolution A/62/L.48. Member States should also be applauded for coming together to uphold a consensus approach to eliminating international terrorism. We would encourage all Member States to build on this consensus and cooperate further with one another to implement the Strategy in full.
For Australia, multilateral action through the United Nations system is a vital element of our international strategy to address terrorism and violent extremism. The UN has the unique capacity to set international norms and standards on this issue, raising global awareness of the need to condemn and confront terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Australia supports ongoing efforts to ensure the UN is equipped to meet the challenge of terrorism, and to maximise the contribution that Member States can make to the multilateral counter-terrorism agenda.
In this context, we welcome initiatives by the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) to ensure overall coordination and coherence in counter-terrorism efforts at the UN. Australia appreciates the pro-active manner in which the Task Force has approached its work and welcomes further opportunities for dialogue between the Task Force and Member States.
Australia also strongly supports the efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) to build global counter-terrorism capacity by engaging donors and match their capabilities with the priority needs of recipient countries.
We also note with appreciation work that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has been undertaking through its Terrorism Prevention Branch in South-East Asia and the Pacific to promote the ratification and implementation of the international counter-terrorism conventions and protocols.
Measures to Prevent and Combat Terrorism
In addition to action through the United Nations system, it is important to remember that we, as Member States, have primary responsibility for the implementation of the Strategy.
Since 2001, Australia has introduced a range of important measures aimed at protecting Australians and Australian interests.
Australia’s domestic counter-terrorism arrangements are predicated first and foremost on a comprehensive approach to emergency management that recognises the need to prevent and prepare for and, if necessary, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks and their consequences.
An effective legal framework is also fundamental to addressing the global terrorist threat.
Australia has fully implemented its obligations to freeze terrorist assets under UN Security Council Resolutions 1267, 1373 and successor and related resolutions.
We have also now ratified 13 of the 16 international counter-terrorism instruments of universal application and are currently assessing the legislative changes necessary to implement the remainder.
Finally, Australia welcomes increased cooperation between law enforcement authorities to intensify cooperation on terrorism matters, and calls upon all Member States to adopt further practical measures to facilitate extradition of terrorist suspects, and sharing of information and best practices.
Measures to Build Global Counter-Terrorism Capacity
The evolving and persistent nature of the terrorist threat calls for a long-term international strategy built on sustained delivery of counter-terrorism assistance. We recognise that while the challenge of terrorism cannot be overcome quickly, the threat can be contained and reduced through effective international and regional cooperation.
Australia has signed thirteen Counter-Terrorism Memoranda of Understanding with countries in the South-East Asian, Pacific, Middle East and South Asian regions. These MOUs are umbrella arrangements that set out a framework for counter-terrorism cooperation and sharing best practice amongst partner agencies.
Australia’s counter-terrorism priorities to date have been South-East Asia, where Australians and Australian interests have been subject to direct attack, and the Pacific, where governments may require assistance from regional partners to meet their international CT obligations.
Our regional approach to tackling the terrorist threat centres on a sustained program of building mutually beneficial cooperation through CT capacity-building. There is now an increasing convergence in the understanding of the threat and our approaches to countering it between Australia and its regional partners.
Since 2003 the Australian Government has allocated more than $450 million to provide a wide-range of counter-terrorism assistance. The main areas of Australia’s engagement have been in the fields of law enforcement, intelligence sharing, border and transport security, diplomacy, defence cooperation, countering terrorist financing, legal capacity-building, as well as countering the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism.
We believe that the efforts of the South-East Asian region may provide useful lessons for other Member States in implementing the Global Strategy at a regional level. We will be looking to build on these achievements in our broad region.
I’d just like to take a moment now to highlight one of those initiatives.
In close partnership with Indonesia, the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) is recognised as a model for counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation. Australia has committed $36.8 million over five years to JCLEC to assist with the training of regional law enforcement officers involved in combating terrorism and other transnational crime.
The Centre has developed a reputation across South-East Asia as an institution which provides very effective and practical training and which fosters development of cooperation and networks between officers of regional agencies. CT training run through JCLEC is available to officials throughout the South-East Asian region, and covers topics such as post-blast analysis, management of serious crime, leadership skills, financial investigations and criminal intelligence training. JCLEC has now trained over 3000 law enforcement and legal officers.
Australia also pursues an ambitious counter terrorism and human security agenda through the APEC Counter-Terrorism Task Force (CTTF), which focuses on the economic aspects of terrorism.
Another key concern for all of us is the threat of terrorists acquiring and using chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials in an attack.
To reduce the risk of CBRN materials falling into the hands of terrorists, it is important that we have in place robust physical and legislative measures. Accordingly, Australia has assisted a number of regional countries to develop laws and regulations required to implement UN conventions on the protection of nuclear material, and improve the security of radiological, nuclear and laboratory biological materials.
Measures to Address Conditions Conducive to the Spread of Terrorism
Terrorists thrive in an atmosphere of ignorance and distorted ideas which make it easier to sow discord and to split communities from one another.
The Strategy recognises the importance of this ideological dimension to countering terrorism, and encourages initiatives and programs to promote dialogue, tolerance and understanding among civilizations, cultures and religions.
Australia welcomes the Secretary-General’s ‘Alliance of Civilizations’ initiative as a complement to the ongoing interfaith activities taking place in our own region.
These include a range of measures to counter ignorance and extremism both in Australia and in the region. Domestically, we have implemented a National Action Plan to strengthen social cohesion, harmony and security.
Australia is working with regional governments, NGOs and community groups to rebut extremist propaganda and to reinforce shared values based on tolerance, non-violence, respect for human dignity, diversity and pluralism.
Many of these measures are focused at the grassroots community level. They include support for mainstream NGOs and democratic community networks, media workshops, support for community interfaith activities, and exchange visits to strengthen links between communities. Grassroots interfaith programs provide opportunities for individuals to become involved in activities designed to stress shared values and overcome misunderstandings between communities.
Australia co-sponsors a Regional Interfaith Dialogue alongside New Zealand, the Philippines and Indonesia. These meetings bring together representatives from the diverse faiths in our region to promote harmonious relations between their communities. Discussion at the Dialogue generates action plans for ongoing regional engagement on interfaith issues, particularly in the areas of partnership-building, education and media. Australia is a strong supporter of this process and has offered to host the next Dialogue, at a date that is still to be determined.
Measures to Ensure Respect for Fundamental Human Rights and the Rule of Law
Respect for human rights and the rule of law is the fourth and final cornerstone of the Strategy. We cannot effectively counter the threat of terrorism by using the same methods as terrorists. Counter-terrorism measures must be accountable and subject to the rule of law.
Counter-terrorism measures must strike the right balance between the protection of the public from the terrorist threat and protection of civil liberties.
In this context, Australia recognises that the United Nations vital role to perform advising Member States on ways to counter terrorism consistent with their obligations under international law, with particular regard for international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.
As we go forward, Australia anticipates engaging further with United Nations agencies on all these issues, and contributing what we can of our experience towards a shared approach by world community to eliminating the scourge of terrorism from the world stage.