Topic: 2024-Balancing Human Rights
Country: Denmark
Delegate Name: Casey Nelson
Submitted to: Special Political and Decolonization Committee
From: Denmark
Topic: Balancing counter-terrorism and human rights
The Kingdom of Denmark has always been a strong ally in the constant fight against terrorism worldwide. Denmark has always supported the core values of the UN Charter such as maintaining global peace and security and strengthening respect for human rights. These values are what this committee has been asked to assess and balance. Seeing how both currently and historically the fight against terrorism can lose all regard for human rights, the Kingdom of Denmark urges this committee to define what counter-terrorism is and provide parameters for when it is and is not acceptable for a government to intervene and with what level of force in an effort to promote safety for all of its citizens..
While the Kingdom of Denmark fights adamantly against terrorism and would like to see the fight continue in the name of peace, history has shown that it is possible for the pursuit of peace to lead to chaos and discourse. It is important to define guidelines and regulations for balancing counter-terrorism with human rights, but it is also important to remember a nation’s right to autonomy.
Additionally, the Center for Terror Analysis uses a 5-point scale to determine the threat to a certain country. This scale could be further clarified to include guidelines as to a proper form of retaliation against terror based on the threat at hand. A scale like this could help guide countries to make good decisions and minimize the needless loss of life that counter-terrorism can cause, while still respecting their autonomy. Other possible solutions could include placing sanctions on countries that are losing regard for human rights could potentially be an avenue worth working on.
In past Security Council resolutions, terrorism has been defined as criminal acts, including, against civilians, committed with intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or taking of hostages, with the purpose of provoking a state of terror in the general public or a group of persons or particular persons, intimidate a population or compel a government or an international organization to do or to abstain from doing any act. It’s important to look at the precedent of this topic and decide what has worked and what has not and to further define what counterterrorism is.
The Kingdom of Denmark has always put peace at the forefront of its international affairs, and it also urges this committee to draw the line and balance counter-terrorism and human rights so that we can save countless future lives.
Works Cited
Denmark. (2023, November 29). United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/country-reports-on-terrorism-2022/denmark/#:~:text=Overview%3A%20The%20Kingdom%20of%20Denmark,United%20States%20on%20counterterrorism%20initiatives
Terrorism and violent extremism. (n.d.). UM-ENEN. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://um.dk/en/foreign-policy/terrorism-and-violent-extremism
KKIENERM. (n.d.). Counter-Terrorism Module 4 Key Issues: Defining Terrorism. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/terrorism/module-4/key-issues/defining-terrorism.html#:~:text=criminal%20acts%2C%20including%20against%20civilians,a%20government%20or%20an%20international
UNSC resolutions 1373 and 1566
