Topic: 2025 – Reducing Recruitment Capabilities of Terrorist Groups
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Shephard Bower
Disarmament and International Security Committee
Reducing the Recruitment Capabilities of Terrorist Groups
Japan
Shephard Bower
Forest Hills Eastern
The recruitment of new members by terrorist groups poses a severe threat to global security, as it allows these organizations to expand their influence, carry out attacks on a larger scale, and pose a threat to communities on the international stage. Extremist terrorist groups have increased in global prevalence since the start of the 21st century, and with this prevalence, their efforts to recruit members have increased. These groups often target vulnerable populations, including those facing poverty, lack of education, or human rights violations. Extremists often end up targeting younger generations, as they are more susceptible to these factors and through the groups’ use of social media. As the issue is recent, the UN has not done much to combat it, but the UN has attempted to mitigate it by passing multiple resolutions, including the UN resolution 2178. Addressing this problem requires a more thorough approach that tackles the root causes of vulnerability, counters extremist messages, and engages local communities to build resistance against this recruitment.
Japan has had a minor history of terrorist attacks, the majority coming in the late 20th century. The most prominent of these attacks was the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack, where the sarin nerve toxin was released into the Tokyo subway line, killing 12 and injuring thousands. Most of these attacks, including the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack, had been committed by the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult, which recruited its members by targeting vulnerable, young adults. Japan eventually stopped this group through coordinated police raids and mass arrests of members of the cult. Since the late 20th century, Japan has shifted its counter terrorist efforts to a more international level. For example, in 2006, Japan launched the Grant Aid for Cooperation on Counter-Terrorism and Security Enhancement, which was aimed at supporting other countries in their counter-terrorist efforts by supplying them with more advanced technology. Japan has also ratified and implemented all of the 13 international counter-terrorism conventions and protocols from the UN. Finally, Japan supports anti-terrorist recruiting efforts online primarily through its investment in the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) and other projects focused on preventing radicalization online.
To limit terrorist recruiting, Japan proposes an infrastructure-based solution. First, Japan advocates for improved education through UN-backed education programs in vulnerable regions to improve literacy, critical thinking, and economic opportunities, thereby reducing the likelihood that children and young adults will be coerced into extremist groups. Additionally, Japan suggests enhancing international monitoring of Online Extremism through a potential UN cyber monitoring program. Finally, Japan calls for the UN to find ways to involve local leaders of areas impacted by terrorist recruiting by teaching them proactive ways to counter extremist viewpoints and recruiting methods.
