NCJ Number
191300
Date Published
1998
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This chapter focuses on the multinational approach to combat terrorism.
Abstract
No single inclusive definition of terrorism has been accepted by the United Nations or in any generally accepted multilateral treaty. A policy combating terrorism cannot be developed unless all participants agree on the meaning of what is being addressed. Essentially, terrorism is politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents. With the different motivational elements and targets of terrorism, the definition must be amorphous. One alternative is for the definition to focus on the act, and not on the motivation inducing such an act. A common definition and unified strategy will combat terrorists more effectively than unilateral efforts or piecemeal regional conventions. Following the lead of the United States, the major economic and political powers have undertaken steps to defeat terrorism by using new laws as their primary tool. Leading nations have met in a series of summits to consider the implementation of new legislative initiatives to address terrorism. The Halifax Summit included Russia but not the Middle East so modern methods for fighting international terrorism were not pursued. The International Crime Control Act of 1996 was passed to improve the ability to prevent, investigate, and punish terrorists and other types of international criminals. Among the provisions was to deny entry into the United States to anyone trying to avoid prosecution in a foreign country and target financial support networks by expanding the list of money laundering crimes to include terrorism. At the Ottawa Summit each country agreed to the principle to the necessity for addressing terrorism but did not agree on the nature and extent of terrorism and how best to combat it. The Sharm el-Sheikh Summit was considered a lost opportunity because specific agreements and treaties were not reached. The Lyon Ministerial and the Paris Ministerial adopted nearly identical measures but did not address the nations that willfully provide refuge to terrorists.