Note to Correspondents

PANEL DISCUSSION ON ‘TERRORISM:  A CHALLENGE TO CIVILIZED SOCIETY’,

 

TO BE HELD ON 9 JUNE

 

Are we better equipped to face up to terrorist threats?  A distinguished international panel of experts will explore this theme during a forum organized by the United Nation’s Office of Legal Affairs, Treaty Section, at United Nations Headquarters on 9 June from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Trusteeship Council.

The panel discussion, entitled “Terrorism:  A Challenge to Civilized Society”, brings together the following experts:  Maud De Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary-General, Council of Europe; Baltasar Garzón, Investigating Judge, National Court, Spain; Kriangsak Kittichaisaree, Ambassador, Coordinator of the International Legal Cooperation against Terrorism Stream under the Legal Issues Working Group (ASEAN); Barry Sabin, Chief, Counter-Terrorism Section, Criminal Division, United States Department of Justice; A.E. Seif El-Dawla, Chief, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, former Senior Prosecutor, Head Office of the Prosecutor-General, Egypt.  Nicolas Michel, the United Nations Legal Counsel, will moderate the forum.

The forum will offer a broad overview of the various aspects of the terrorism challenge.  Is the judicial system effective in fighting terrorism?  Is the international cooperative structure effective?  What are the main challenges confronting an organization of States in the fight against a non-State protagonist?  What roles do domestic or regional considerations play in the fight against terrorism?  What effect does terrorism have on attitudes about immigration and human rights?

The panel discussion is expected to address these questions and also build on the key developments of the United Nations counter-terrorism work in 2005:  in March, Secretary-General Kofi Annan launched the comprehensive system-wide counter-terrorism strategy of the United Nations; in April, Member States adopted the text of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism; also in April the Human Rights Commission appointed a special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism; and the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee began a new phase in its work this year by starting country visits.

The UN Legal Office Treaty Section has organized the forum in preparation for this year’s treaty-signing event, which will take place during the General Assembly summit meeting between 14 and 16 September.  One of the treaties featured will be the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism -- which will open for signature on 14 September.

The panel discussion is open to all.

Contacts:  Sherry Holbrook, Office of Legal Affairs, Treaty Section (e-mail:  holbrook@un.org, tel.:  1-212-963-8924) and Janos Tisovszky, Department of Public Information (e-mail:  tisovszky@un.org, tel.:  1-917-367-2068).

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