Guia de Estudos - Faap

INTRODUCTION
This year, in the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC),
the discussions will be about the terrorism that affects
the African Continent and its relation with the “conflict
diamond” issue. It is known that a large amount of the
profit that comes from such illicit diamonds is invested
in financing various terrorist attacks that consequently
affect the population in a very negative way and also
brings instability to the region.
The term “terrorism” has not a definition of its own as
consensus on such a definition has never been reached
in the international arena; however, it can be associated
with the words “attack”, “violence”, “disorder”, “rebellion”,
“revolution”, and “threat” to the security of the lives of
people all around the world.
In the midst of the 9/11 attacks, the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) had the intention to create an
organ that would anticipate terrorist attacks, in an attempt
to make the world a more secure place and launch
measures that Member States would put in practice in
order to prevent any sort of threat and attacks towards
the population. This organ, that now exists, is the CTC
and it was originated by an important UNSC resolution
- 1373 (2001) - and is also guided by resolution 1624
(2005). Nowadays, the Committee works to prevent terrorism
in general. Its Executive Directorate (CTED) assists
the committee and makes sure that the measures
are being followed and also, the CTED visits Member
States in their territories to evaluate in which level they
are being implemented and whether the country needs
assistance to avert future potential attacks.
Diamonds are known as the symbol of fortune and
represent good things; however, conflict diamonds, also
known as “blood diamonds” are those which are considered
illicit - illegally traded to finance attacks against
governments or even population. To end the existence
of these diamonds, their origin has to be well-known
before trading actually takes place and before entering
the market and being distributed world-wide.
Diamond trafficking is one of the main problems in
Africa as it not only affects the population involved in
the operation and with the growth of poverty but it also
diverges a large amount of money that could be invested
in public policies such as in the areas of health, edu-
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VII Fórum FAAP de Discussão Estudantil - 2011
cation and security. This situation not only affects the African
continent but all countries involved with diamond
trading. Africa is mostly affected with this problem for
the lack of legislation in its countries and because the
governments do not control its borders and diamond
trading in an effective way.
Nowadays, countries all around the world have been
implementing measures to diminish these problems.
The international community has to assist and commit
to follow specific methods to counter terrorism and also
develop solutions for the diamond issue which will beneficiate
the populations of the world.
The African continent needs aid and most countries
around the world have the ability to do something helpful
towards Africa. The problems that occur in the region
are well known and its solutions are not impossible; all
there is to it is having the will to help.
HISTORy OF THE COMMITTEE
While the world had experienced one of the biggest
and most astonishing terrorist attacks, an organism that
worked towards defeating such actions was in great
need of being created. There was also a need of some
type of strategy directed specifically to end these attacks
and consequently bring peace, stability and safety
to the population.
Since the 9/11 attacks in the United States of América,
the country has been trying to anticipate terrorism
and this has been an overall strategy of the United Nations
when working towards prevention rather than
simply responding. As an aftermath of these attacks, the
Security Council created the Counter Terrorism Committee,
in an attempt to decrease terrorism through the
resolution 1373 (2001).
The Security Council members are also the Counter-Terrorism
Committee (CTC) members, and they are
the ones who drafted the resolution, in order to try to
prevent terrorist attacks, both inside and outside their
borders, which means that all cooperate in order to extinguish
the issue.
According to the CTC’s website, these measures
which need to be taken in order to counter terrorism
are to: