MPs unite on fighting terrorism globally

Hanoi, 31 March 2015

IPU Members strongly condemned all terrorist acts in an emergency resolution. ©Vietnamese News Agency

Parliamentarians from across the world have united in their call for a series of measures to counter the growing tide of terrorism sweeping the world.
 
In an emergency resolution adopted today at the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Organization’s Members strongly condemned all terrorist acts and the steady escalation in such violence.
 
Acknowledging that terrorism was not limited to any one religion, nationality or ethnic group, the MPs expressed concern at the on-going threat terrorism poses to international peace and security. They highlighted the need for attention to be paid to civilians, in particular women and girls, in countries where organizations such as Boko Haram and the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Daesh, were active.
 
The MPs also condemned the deliberate destruction and systematic looting of cultural property and asked for those responsible to be brought to justice.
 
Parliaments were urged to enact laws to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and to pressure governments on taking punitive action on those financing ISIL and Boko Haram.
 
The IPU resolution also called for inter-State cooperation between intelligence and security forces to be developed so as to facilitate the exchange of information. Emergency measures similarly needed to be adopted by United Nations entities to support West and Central African countries fighting Boko Haram.
 
The IPU resolution called for parliaments to adopt a common strategy on citizens joining terrorist groups, on countering propaganda and the recruitment of combatants through the internet and social media networks.

Picture editors: Photos from the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians will be available for download and free use at: http://www.ipu.org/132pics from 29th March.