Introduction
In 1996 the General Assembly, in resolution 51/210 of 17 December, decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to elaborate an international convention for the suppression of terrorist bombings and, subsequently, an international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, to supplement related existing international instruments, and thereafter to address means of further developing a comprehensive legal framework of conventions dealing with international terrorism. This mandate continued to be renewed and revised on an annual basis by the General Assembly in its resolutions on the topic of measures to eliminate inernational terrorism.
The Ad Hoc Committee's mandate is further framed by the following two declarations adopted by the General Assembly:
- the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, Res. 49/60 of 9 December 1994 (E, F, S, R, C, A); and
- the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, Res. 51/210 of 17 December 1996 (E, F, S, R, C, A)
Current mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee
Under the terms of General Assembly resolution 62/71 (E, F, S, R, C, A) adopted on 6 December 2007 (operative paragraph 22), the Ad Hoc Committee shall, on an expedited basis, continue to elaborate the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, and shall continue to discuss the item included in its agenda by General Assembly resolution 54/110 concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations.
Product of the Ad Hoc Committee's work
Since its establishment, the Ad Hoc Committee has negotiated several texts
resulting in the adoption of three treaties:
- the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 52/164 of 15 December 1997 (E, F, S, R, C, A) (status); and
- the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 54/109 of 9 December 1999 (E, F, S, R, C, A) as corrected (status);
- the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 59/290 of 13 April 2005 (E, F, S, R, C, A) (status)
By the end of 2000, work had begun on a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism. For an indication of subsequent developments concerning the negotiations of the draft comprehensive convention, the following documents may be consulted: A/57/37, A/59/894, A/C.6/60/L.6, A/61/37, A/C.6/61/SR.21, A/62/37, A/C.6/62/SR.16 and A/63/37.
Status of international legal instruments related to the prevention and suppression of international terrorism (January 2008)
Working methods
The Ad Hoc Committee has adopted the pattern of holding
one session per year over a one or two week period, usually early in the
year. The work is then continued in the framework of a Working Group of
the Sixth Committee held later in the year during the regular session
of the General Assembly (see the respective Sixth Committee reports).
The Ad Hoc Committee works on the understanding that
all proposals remain on the table and nothing is agreed until everything
is agreed.
The Committee is open to all States members of the United
Nations or members of specialized agencies or of the International Atomic
Energy Agency.
Ad Hoc Committee reports:
- 2008 (A/63/37)
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2007 (A/62/37)
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2006 (A/61/37)
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2005
- 2004 (A/59/37)
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2003 (A/58/37)
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2002 (A/57/37):
(E, F, S, R, C, A)
- 2001 (A/56/37):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2000 (A/55/37):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 1999 (A/54/37):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 1998 (A/53/37):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 1997 (A/52/37):
(E, F, S, R, C, A)
Sixth Committee Working Group reports:
- 2007 (A/C.6/62/SR.16-Oral)
(E, F, S, R, C, A)
- 2006 (A/C.6/61/SR.21 - Oral)
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2005 (A/C.6/60/L.6)
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2004 (A/C.6/59/L.10)
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2003 (A/C.6/58/L.10)
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2002 (A/C.6/57/L.9):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2001 (A/C.6/56/L.9):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2000 (A/C.6/55/L.2):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 1999 (A/C.6/54/L.2):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 1998 (A/C.6/53/L.4):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 1997 (A/C.6/52/L.3):
(E, F, S, R, C, A)
- 2008 (Res.62/71)
(E, F, S, R, C, A)
- 2007 (Res. 61/40):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2006 (Res. 60/43):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2005 (Res. 59/290):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2004 (Res. 59/46):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2003 (Res. 58/81):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2002 (Res. 57/27):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2001 (Res. 56/88):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 2000 (Res. 55/158):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 1999 (Res. 54/110):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 1998 (Res. 53/108):
(E, F, S, R, C, A) - 1997 (Res. 52/165):
(E, F, S, R, C, A)
See too:
Reports of the Secretary-General on Measures to Eliminate International
Terrorism (as of 1999) - available at the web site of the Sixth
Committee of the General Assembly
Report of the Coordinator of the draft convention, attached to the letter of the Chairman of the Sixth Committtee to the President of the General Assembly, dated 3 August 2005 (A/59/894, E, F, S, R, C, A)
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