International Conference for Criminalization of cyber-terrorism issues Abu Dhabi declaration

ABU DHABI, 16th May, 2017 (WAM) -- The International Conference for the Criminalisation of Cyber-Terrorism, held in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, concluded with the "Abu Dhabi Declaration for Criminalising Cyber-Terrorism", which was read by Dr. Ali Rashid Al Noaimi, Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee.

The Abu Dhabi Declaration includes three clauses, to be co-ordinated and rapidly executed by UN member countries to combat the global threat of cyber-terrorism.

The declarations first clause highlights the the increasing pattern of terrorist threats in cyberspace and the dangers to individuals, communities and countries, as well as the co-ordination between terrorist groups with the aim of exchanging information and planning to execute terrorist crimes. It also highlights the spread of extremist speech with the goal of recruiting, committing and praising terrorist acts, as well as the spread of hate speech, violence and discrimination based on national, racial, religious or sectarian factors.

Its second clause highlights the principles and aims of United Nations, UN, charters and international agreements and treaties related to respecting, protecting and strengthening human rights, guided by the decisions of the international Security Council, the UN General Assembly and regional organisations and international authorities where there is a pressing need for co-ordinated and rapid movements by UN member countries, to combat the threat and dangers of cyber-terrorism. This will be done by adopting a binding international agreement prohibiting all forms of cyber-terrorism, including attempts to promote, praise, recruit for and not report terrorist activities, as well as promoting violence, hate, racial and religious discrimination.

UN member countries are also obliged to adopt the requirements of this binding agreement and the details of its principles, to integrate them in their internal laws, place a special law related to cyber-crimes and establish national authorities for cyber information, freedom and security, to put in place policies and strategies under the rule of law to monitor and deal with digital content with the threat of terrorism.

The UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, hosted the International Conference for the Criminalisation of Cyber-Terrorism on 15th and 16th May, 2017 with the participation of an elite of international academics, legal experts and specialised experts, and international and regional organisations and civil community organisations.