NEW YORK, US – The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) of the UN Security Council adopted the “Abu Dhabi Guiding Principles” and published them as an official document of the Council during the United Arab Emirates’ presidency of the CTC.
This important achievement establishes a set of guidelines that address the challenges posed by the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for terrorist purposes.
The document is the first of its kind at the United Nations to address the increasing challenges posed by UAS in the context of counter-terrorism.
It consists of four guiding principles, each focusing on a different aspect and these are.
The integration of UAS threats into national counter-terrorism strategies and establishment of legal frameworks; increased understanding and awareness of UAS threats; developing measures to detect, identify, deter, and respond to UAS threats; and capacity development and information exchange to promote international cooperation.
Within the framework of the Delhi Declaration on Countering the Use of New and Emerging Technologies for Terrorist Purposes, the CTC took the lead in developing these non-binding guiding principles, recognizing the urgent need to counter the evolving threat posed by the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist activities.
As the current chair of the CTC, the UAE facilitated this crucial initiative, reflecting its commitment to global peace and security.
“In today’s constantly shifting technological landscape, the historic adoption of the Abu Dhabi Guiding Principles is a crucial step for the UN towards countering terrorist acquisition and the use of UAS through strategies like enhanced cooperation and capacity building,” stated Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the UAE’s Permanent Mission to the UN.
“As part of a comprehensive approach, it will fundamentally enhance the capabilities of Member States and stakeholders to facilitate the detection, identification, deterrence, and response to such threats,” she said.
The UAE looks forward to continued collaboration with the international community to promote and implement the Abu Dhabi Guiding Principles, reinforcing the collective efforts to safeguard global security and counter the use of unmanned aircraft systems for terrorist activities.