The United Nations must project a clear and strong message on terrorism, according to an expert panel that submitted its report almost a year after the terror attacks on the United States.

The report, released on Sept. 10, was prepared for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan by a group of senior officials that included, among others, H.K. Desai, undersecretary general for economic and social affairs, and Jayantha Dhanapala, undersecretary general for disarmament affairs, as well as outside experts. It identifies the policy dimensions of terrorism for the U.N., and offers recommendations on steps the organization can take to tackle terrorism.

The group argues that the U.N. must project a clear message that terrorism, no matter what the stated cause, is unacceptable and deserves universal condemnation. It also notes that terrorist acts are an assault on human rights.

The report calls for more coherence in the way the U.N. liaises with other bodies, including Interpol. It also proposes that discussions of antiterrorism activities feature at the regular meetings at which senior staff coordinate activities across the entire U.N. system.

While counterterrorist activities have been on the U.N. agenda almost since its inception, this report, by the U.N. Policy Working Group on the U.N. and Terrorism, aims to provide a strategic conceptual framework for future efforts.

It emphasizes that the struggle against terrorism “should be carried out in keeping with international human rights obligations.” It warns that the U.N. should be wary of offering, or being perceived to be offering, a blanket endorsement of measures taken in the name of counterterrorism. The working group’s recommendations aim to dissuade groups from embracing terrorism, deny groups and individuals the means to carry out terrorist acts, and promote broad-based international cooperation in the struggle against the menace.

The experts say the U.N. must urge its members to adhere to international antiterrorism treaties. They also suggest the publication of a U.N. digest to guide governments on those elements of human rights law that have the greatest application for counterterrorist activities.

The U.N. should provide more support to its Counter-Terrorism Committee, while the U.N. Department for Disarmament Affairs should consider producing an annual review of the potential use of weapons of mass destruction in terrorist acts. Civilian police on U.N. peacekeeping missions should also receive training to identify and counter terrorist groups.

The report calls for more coherence in the way the U.N. liaises with other bodies, including Interpol. It also proposes that discussions of antiterrorism activities feature at the regular meetings at which senior staff coordinate activities across the entire U.N. system.