 TERRORISM
LAW & POLICY |
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WORLD ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS
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UN Instruments | UN Conventions | Regional Conventions | Laws by Country
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- UN Action Against Terrorism
- Security Council actions
- Security Council Resolution 1377 (November 12/01)
- U.S. letter to Security Council (October 7/01; invoking UN Charter, Article 51)
- Security Council Resolution 7158 (September 28/01)
- General Assembly actions
- General Assembly debate on measures to eliminate international terrorism (October 1-5/01)
- General Assembly General Debate - 56th Session (November 10-16/01)
- Security Council actions
- UN Charter, Chapter 7 [threats to the peace]
- Article 51 [self-defense]
UN Conventions
- Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (12/79)
- Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (12/99)
- Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (12/97)
- Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation (Montreal Convention) (PDF; 9/71).
This applies to acts of aviation sabotage such as bombings aboard aircraft in flight.
- Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (Hague Convention) (PDF; 12/70). This applies to hijackings.
- Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Identification (PDF; 3/91). This provides for chemical marking to facilitate detection of plastic explosives.
- Convention on Offenses and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft (Tokyo Convention) (PDF; 9/63). This convention applies to acts affecting in-flight safety.
- Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (10/79). The convention combats unlawful taking and use of nuclear material.
- Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons (12/73). This agreement protects senior government officials and diplomats.
- Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation [with related protocol] (3/88). This applies to terrorist attacks on ships and on fixed offshore platforms.
- Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation. (PDF; 2/88) This extends and supplements the Montreal Convention on air safety.
- US Status of International Conventions on Terrorism
Regional Conventions
- Arab Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism (League of Arab States, 1998)
- Convention of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Combating International Terrorism (1999)
- European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism (PDF; 1977)
- OAS Convention to Prevent and Punish Acts of Terrorism Taking the Form of Crimes against Persons and Related Extortion that are of International Significance (Organization of American States; PDF 1971)
- SSARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism (PDF; South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, 1987)
Laws by Country
- Australia
Canada - Anti-Terrorism Act [Justice Canada press release, Oct. 15/01; highlights, civil liberties protection, international co-operation]
- full text [Bill C-36, introduced Oct. 15/01]
- Special Senate Committee on the Subject-Matter of Bill C-36
- First Report [Nov. 01/01]
- Speaking Notes (Eric Rice, Q.C., President, Canadian Bar Association; Oct. 24/01)
- The Security of Freedom:
A Conference on the Proposed Anti-Terrorism Act
[University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Nov. 09-10/01]
France - On October 31, 2001 the French National Assembly approved a series of anti-terrorism amendments to a larger security bill. The measures, initially introduced in the French Senate on October 16 by Interior Minister Daniel Vaillant, are scheduled to remain in force until December 31, 2003 - they give the police expanded powers to search private cars, monitor communications and heighten security in public places.
India - Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance
On October 16, 2001 the Indian cabinet approved the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, which will likely be considered by the Indian Parliament during its winter session. The new law enacts a broad definition of terrorism that includes acts of violence or disruption of essential services carried out with "intent to threaten the unity and integrity of India or to strike terror in any part of the people." It also criminalizes the failure to provide authorities with "information relating to any terrorist activity."
[Source: Human Rights Watch] - Prevention of Terrorism Bill 2000 [draft; Law Commission of India Report, April 2000]
- National Human Rights Commission of India position against enactment (August 2000)
- Terrorist Affected Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1984
- National Security Act, 1980
Israel - Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance No. 33 of 5708 - 1948
Japan - Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Bill
The Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Bill was passed by the Diet on October 29, 2001. The proposed bill intends to enable Japan to contribute actively and on its own initiatives to the efforts of the international community for the prevention and eradication of international terrorist acts, thereby ensuring the peace and security of the international community including Japan, through such activities as cooperation and support activities for the U.S. forces and others which aim to eradicate the threat of the terrorist attacks, search and rescue activities, and relief activities to affected people.
[Source: Government of Japan]
Pakistan - Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 1999
United Kingdom - UK Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill [Nov. 12/01; PDF]
- New Money Laundering Regulations [press release, Nov. 12/01]
- new measures to tackle international corruption [press release, Nov. 09/01]
- Terrorism Act of 2000 [background and supporting documentation]