India to contribute $500,000 for UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism

India to contribute $500,000 for UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that India will contribute $500,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism this year to help member countries build capacity to combat terrorism.

News Highlights

• This announcement was made at a special meeting of the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) on “countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.”
• This year, India will make a voluntary contribution of $500,000 to the UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism to supplement the efforts of the Office of Counter-Terrorism in providing capacity-building assistance to member states in preventing and countering the threat of terrorism.
• Despite the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) best efforts to combat the “gravest threat to humanity,” Mr. Jaishankar stated in his address that the global threat of terrorism is growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa.
• In order to combat this threat, the UN Security Council has developed a significant architecture over the past 20 years that is centered on the counterterrorism sanctions regime. This has been very effective in alerting the nations that have made terrorism a state-funded business.

What is Terrorism?

According to the FBI: “Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”

What are initiatives taken by India to combat terrorism?

• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act: The UAPA act establishes special procedures for dealing with terrorist activities. The death penalty and life imprisonment are the most severe punishments under UAPA. Under the UAPA act, both Indian and foreign nationals can be charged. The act aims to effectively prevent illegal activity associations in India.
• Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) 2002 Act: The act was passed in response to the terrorist attack on Parliament by Pakistan-based terrorists. The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act was repealed in favor of the POTA Act.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the United Nations’ five core organs, entrusted with maintaining international peace and security, as well as accepting new members and approving any amendments to the UN Charter.
• Headquarters: New York
• Established: 1945
• First session: 17 January 1947, London
• Total members: 15 (5 permanent and 10 non permanent)
• Permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States