Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, CELAC.

The Community has witnessed a dramatic evolution in the nature of the terrorist threat. Last year, terrorist attacks carried out by violent extremists killed, maimed and displaced many thousands of civilians.

Terrorism constitutes, more than ever before, a serious threat to individual member States and the international community as a whole. While disrupting social structures and cohesion within national societies, terrorism also represents a threat to the stability of entire regions and to global security.

 It causes physical wounds and psychological trauma in those who are directly affected, and represents a tremendous blow in the lives of those who are not the direct target of specific attacks. Terrorism also inflicts a deep sense of insecurity and distress in a society as a whole. Moreover, the Group reiterates once again its belief that it is necessary to increase the awareness in regard to the protection of its victims. Acts of terrorism have a dramatic impact on the lives of thousands, if not millions, of people around the globe.

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States reiterates its strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, and stresses the need to bring their perpetrators to justice.

CELAC reaffirms the commitment of our countries to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in strict observance of international law, including human rights law, international humanitarian law, and the international law of refugees.

Mr. Chairman,

Being a transnational phenomenon, terrorism can only be successfully and effectively contained by means of enhanced international cooperation. The United Nations must continue to be at the centre of the international fight against terrorism.

In this sense, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States strongly supports the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and actively participated in the Fourth Review of the Strategy that took place last June.

Mr. Chairman

During the review, it was affirmed the importance of the integrated and balanced implementation of all pillars of the Strategy and recognized the importance of redoubling efforts for even attention paid to and even implementation of all the pillars of the Strategy. Some important efforts have been put in place, but there is still a long way to go until the strategy is implemented in a balanced manner.

In addition, CELAC countries are deeply concerned with the increasing flow of international recruits to terrorist organizations, including foreign terrorist fighters, and with the threat it poses for all Member States including countries of origin, transit and destination. We encourage all Member States to address this threat by enhancing their cooperation and developing relevant measures to prevent and tackle this phenomenon.

In this regard, the Community noted Secretary General´s Report A/68/841 on the Activities of the United Nations system in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which includes important inputs from all members of the Task Force, and concludes with a number of observations and recommendations.

CELAC stresses the importance of keeping the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy relevant and contemporary in light of emerging new threats and evolving trends of international terrorism.

CELAC would like to take this opportunity to thank the UN Secretary-General for his latest report on the matter (A/69/209). The report consolidates useful information concerning the measures taken at the national and international levels by States and International Organizations regarding the prevention and suppression of international terrorism; the status of related International Legal Instruments; and information on workshops and training courses focused on the fight against international terrorism related crimes. For these reasons, we encourage all Member States to submit answers and information for the Report of the Secretary-General, taking into account that one of the pillars in the fight against terrorism is cooperation between states.

In this context, CELAC underscores that the measures to combat terrorism must always be conducted in strict observance of international law, including human rights law, international humanitarian law and the international law of refugees. Only those measures adopted in accordance with the UN Charter and other relevant international norms can be successful and garner broad support from the international community. Actions taken outside the international legal framework are unjustifiable, illegal and unacceptable. CELAC recalls, in this sense, General Assembly Resolution 68/178 on the "Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism", adopted by consensus on 10 December 2013.

Among the many relevant issues addressed by said Resolution, CELAC countries would like to highlight the right to privacy, which is essential to human dignity and a fundamental human right, and whose protection is crucial in safeguarding individuals against the abuse of power. We are deeply concerned about the negative impact that State surveillance and/or interception of communications, including extraterritorially, may have on the exercise and enjoyment of human rights.

Furthermore, any interference or restriction on the right to privacy should be adequately regulated by law, subject to effective oversight, and to appropriate redress, including through judicial review or other means, to ensure measures are not arbitrary.

Our countries also reiterate the rejection of unilateral elaboration of blacklists accusing States of allegedly supporting and sponsoring terrorism. This practice is inconsistent with International Law.In this context, the Community deplores the inclusion of any of its members in unilateral lists of States allegedly sponsoring international terrorism, and recalls CELAC Special Communiqué of 5 June 2013

CELAC evokes, with deep sorrow, that our region has also been victim of terrorist acts that have taken the lives of innocent civilians. The Community strongly condemns those attacks, as well as the circumstances that have allowed the persons responsible of these heinous crimes to evade justice. Our countries stress that those responsible must be held accountable, and in this sense we urge all States to comply without delay with their obligations under international law to cooperate actively in order to bring perpetrators to justice and avoid impunity.

Concerning the establishment of the Al Qaeda sanctions regime by the Security Council as a measure in the fight against terrorism, the Community recognizes the steps taken by the 1267/1989 Sanctions Committee towards more fair and clear procedures.  In this regard, CELAC strongly supports the role of the Ombudsperson, which has significantly improved the fairness and transparency of the delisting process. We believe the Ombudsperson position should be made permanent and due process further enhanced in the Security Council sanctions regimes, especially given the preventive nature of the measures.

Mr. Chairman,

Prevention is crucial in the fight against terrorism. It is essential to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism including but not limited to prolonged unresolved conflicts, dehumanization of victims of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, lack of rule of law and violations of human rights, ethnic, national and religious discrimination, political exclusion, socio-economic marginalization, and lack of good governance, while recognizing that none of these conditions can excuse or justify acts of terrorism. 

We recognize the need to continue to take measures to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism. In this regard Member States should seek further judicial cooperation and information among their financial and police intelligence bodies. Likewise, we encourage United Nations entities to cooperate with Member States and to continue to provide assistance, upon request, to help them to fully implement their respective international obligations to combat the financing of terrorism.

CELAC wishes to recognize the role of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in particular its Terrorism Prevention Branch, in delivering technical assistance to counter terrorism and welcomes its counter terrorism capacity building initiatives.

Mr. Chairman,

In order to make the international counter-terrorism legal framework more vigorous and efficient, CELAC welcomes the General Assembly Resolution 67/99  and the report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996. Moreover it recalls resolution 68/119 whereby it decided to establish at the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly a working group with a view of finalizing the process on the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism as well as discussions on 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.

CELAC remains committed to contribute towards the prompt conclusion of an agreement on a comprehensive convention against international terrorism, resolving all pending issues that have been an obstacle for the achievement of this Convention, in particular those related to the legal definition and the scope of the acts addressed by this Convention.

We strongly encourage all member States to cooperate during the next meeting of the said Ad Hoc Committee, and to show flexibility so that we can move forward. CELAC calls upon all Member States to continue the negotiations and efforts to achieve a comprehensive convention on terrorism, and hope substantial results can be attained shortly in order to convene a high-level conference on terrorism.  Our countries are determined to contribute the best way we can in this endeavor.

Finally, Mr. President,

Our countries reassert the need to avoid the impunity of those who commit terrorist acts. In this regard we call upon Member States to fully cooperate in the fight against terrorism, in accordance with International Law.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman