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UN 101

There is no UN definition of terrorism

The UN has no internationally-agreed definition of terrorism.

Although work began on a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism by the end of 2000, the definitional impasse has prevented its adoption. Even in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 the UN failed to adopt the convention, and the deadlock continues to this day.

The prime reason is the standoff with the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation(OIC)(formerly the Organization of the Islamic Conference). The Arab Terrorism Convention and the Terrorism Convention of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) define terrorism to exclude armed struggle for liberation and self-determination. This claim purports to exclude blowing up certain civilians from the reach of international law and organizations. It is central to interpreting every proclamation by the states which have ratified these conventions in any UN forum purporting to combat terrorism.

When it comes to agreeing to a comprehensive convention, the OIC is still looking for ways to exclude "the activities of the parties during an armed conflict, including in situations of foreign occupation" from the purview of the Convention. (See page 17, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996, Sixth session (28 January-1 February 2002), A/57/37; See page 8, para 4, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Seventh session (31 March-2 April 2003), A/58/37; See page 10, para 2, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Eighth session (28 June-2 July 2004), A/59/37; See page 23, para 5, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Ninth session (28 March-1 April 2005), A/60/37; See page 2, para 6, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Tenth session (27 February-3 March 2006), A/61/37; See page 2, para 6, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Eleventh session (5, 6 and 15 February 2007), A/62/37; See page 2, para 6, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Twelfth session (25 and 26 February and 6 March 2008), A/63/37; See page 2, para 6, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Thirteenth session (29 June to 2 July 2009), A/64/37; See page 2, para 6, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Fourteenth session (12 to 16 April 2010), A/65/37; See page 7, para 11, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Fifteenth session (11 to 15 April 2011), A/66/37; See page 24, para 23, Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, Sixteenth session (8 to 12 April 2013), A/68/37; See page 4, para 5, Oral Report of the Chairman of the Working Group on "Measures to eliminate international terrorism,"(November 7, 2014); See page 3, para 4, Oral Report of the Chairman of the Working Group on "Measures to eliminate international terrorism," (November 13, 2015); See page 7, para 35, Oral Report of the Chairman of the Working Group on "Measures to eliminate international terrorism," Seventy First session (November 4, 2016); See page 4, para 13, Oral Report of the Chairman of the Working Group on "Measures to eliminate international terrorism," Seventy Second session (November 3, 2017); See page 4, para 13, Oral Report of the Chairman of the Working Group on "Measures to eliminate international terrorism," Seventy Third session (November 5, 2018); See Oral Report of the Chairman of the Working Group on "Measures to eliminate international terrorism," Seventy Fourth session (November 11, 2019).

Speaking on behalf of the OIC on October 8, 2019, the Saudi Arabian delegation once again was explicit about the standoff, stating the "OIC reiterated the need to distinguish between terrorism and the exercise of the legitimate right of peoples to self-determination and to resist foreign occupation..." Likewise, Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said on October 7, 2019, "that terrorism should not be equated with the legitimate struggle of peoples under ... foreign occupation, for self-determination and national liberation."

On November 5, 2018, the Chairman of the General Assembly Working Group -- that was established to finalize a draft convention on international terrorism -- circulated an oral report in which he discussed "the outstanding issues" and specifically pointed to questions "in relation to foreign occupation."

See also: UN non-action to combat terrorism

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