Q. “Terrorism has become a significant threat to global peace and security.” Evaluate the effectiveness of the United Nations Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) and its associated bodies in addressing and mitigating this threat at the international level.

Model Answer:

UN Security Council established the Counter Terrorism Committee

The UN Security Council established the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) in 2001 to address the growing threat of global terrorism. The CTC, along with its Executive Directorate (CTED) and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), works to strengthen member states’ ability to prevent and combat terrorism.

Effectiveness of the CTC and associated bodies:

1. Policy development:
• Successfully established international norms and guidelines for counter-terrorism
• Facilitated adoption of key resolutions, providing a framework for national strategies

2. Capacity building:
• Conducted technical assistance programs to improve member states’ counter-terrorism capabilities
• Helped enhance border security, legal frameworks, and financial intelligence units

3. Information sharing:
• Created platforms for exchanging best practices and intelligence among countries
• Improved global coordination in counter-terrorism efforts

4. Challenges:
• Lacks enforcement power, limiting ability to ensure compliance with recommendations
• Uneven cooperation among member states hinders uniform implementation
• Struggles to keep pace with evolving threats like lone-wolf attacks and online radicalization

5. Coordination efforts:
• Improved collaboration with regional organizations and other UN agencies
• Some duplication of efforts still exists, reducing overall efficiency

6. Impact assessment:
• Raised global awareness of terrorism threats
• Difficult to measure direct impact on reducing terrorism due to complex nature of the threat
• Some success in disrupting terrorist financing and improving legal frameworks

While the CTC has made significant contributions to global counter-terrorism efforts, its effectiveness is limited by its advisory nature and the varying commitment of member states. The committee has been more successful in norm-setting and capacity building than in direct threat reduction.