23rd Special Session of the Human Rights Council

“In light of the terrorist attacks and human rights abuses and violations committed by the terrorist group Boko Haram”

Wednesday, 1st April 2015

Statement by India

Mr. President,

1. Allow me to offer our deep condolences to the untimely death of Ambassador Yusuf Bari-Bari during a dastardly terrorist attack in Mogadishu.

2. India welcomes the convening of this Special Session of the Human Rights Council to address human rights abuses and violations committed by the terrorist group Boko Haram, and to support the efforts of the African Group and countries concerned to fight this grave challenge.

3. Terrorism today constitutes the most serious challenge to international peace and security. India has been a victim of this scourge for several decades.Acts of terror committed by Boko Haram against the innocent civilians represent gross abuse of and blatant violations of human rights. We are convinced thatthe ideology and activities of Boko Haram pose a threat to all civilized and forward-looking societies. The networking of Boko Haram with terror groups in other countriesbears witness to the fact that not only are terrorists waging an asymmetric warfare against the international community but they have also evolved into a genuinely global phenomenon.

Mr. President,

4. The perpetrators of terror today have established a strong and geographically widespread network of recruitment, funding and actual operations. They appear to have developedregional logistical and supply chains and transnational financial systems; they have at their command, the latest and most sophisticated technologies that could be put to abuse across continents on a real-time basis.

5. It has been our firm belief that no cause or grievance could ever justify terrorism. We must adopt a holistic approach aimed at zero-tolerance towards terrorism. A selective war on terror is a delusional enterprise destined for failure. The scourge of terrorism has to be comprehensively fought and eradicated in all its forms and manifestations.This global menace calls for a concerted global response. We believe that more can be done to reinforce our collective efforts.

6. Technical assistance, capacity building and sharing of best practices are vital components of successful collective strategies. There has to be a genuine international collaboration in the sharing of information, countering the financing of terrorism, building capacity in our anti-terror mechanisms, and strengthening our mutual legal assistance and extradition regimes.

7. When dealing with terrorism, the normative framework of international conventions and protocols is found to be deficient. It does not reflect well on our collective wisdom that a phenomenon which has imperiled global harmony for several decades does not even have an agreed definition in international law. There has been an inordinate delay in adopting a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. We hope for an early adoption of this Convention which would help us in formulating a legal and normative basis for an effective counter-terrorism cooperation framework.

8. The scale of this scourge calls for defeating terrorism decisively and comprehensively. On our part, India stands ready to play her role in this global endeavour.

I thank you.

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