Country : Italy Committee : SEC Security Council

Countering Terrorism

Terrorism! A term that is circulated a lot nowadays all over the world. “Terrorism is
defined as acts that cause serious harm to a country or international organization and that are
carried out in order to frighten people, oblige public authorities or destroy the political,
constitutional, economic and social structures of a country.” (Giuseppe Pisanu, the Italian
Interior Minister, 2005) In Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria and Pakistan, the number of
terrorism-related deaths is always rising. There has been a nearly 600% increase in deaths from
terrorism since 2014.(Global Terrorism Index, 2017) Italy has experienced terrorism as well, but
most of these acts took place between 1960 and 1980. These acts were mainly committed by the
far-left, far-right, nationalist Palestinian extremists as well as by youth in student movements or
communists. Their intentions were different. For example the right wing wanted to spread panic
among people and blame the left wing for terrorist acts. Italian history remembers the following
attacks: 1.The Piazza Fontana Bombing (1969) 2. The Piazza dell’ Loggia massacre (1974) 3.
The dell’ Italicus massacre (1974) On the other hand, the left wing intended to overthrow the
democratic institutions using armed force.Their strategy was to injure or kill judges and
journalists by organizing traps, filming the event, and sending a message to civilians (Kenneth R.
Langford,1985).

Unfortunately we cannot go back in time to stop these acts, but we can reflect on the
influences that terrorism has had and still has in Italy and worldwide. In recent years
Islamic extremism has posed a growing threat to Italy. However, the country has not suffered an
attack on the scale of those in France, Germany, and Belgium because of the work that Italy’s
government and agencies are doing. (Luca Sofri,2017) According to a market research poll, in
2014, Italians were more concerned about poor economic conditions than about terrorism. They
were principally worried about the financial future of younger generations. (Nicola Piepoli,
2014) Similarly, a 2012 poll found that at least 90 percent of Italians consider economic issues,
including welfare and retirement pensions, as their principal concerns. (Pagnoncelli,2012) The
Italian government introduced its first counterterrorism legislative package on October 18, 2001.
The legislation permitted authorities to punish any individual promoting, creating, organizing, or
financing terrorism and authorized the use of software to track the attempts for radicalization in
the internet. (Yonah Alexander, 2001) In February 2015, the Italian government approved new
legislation with regard to the United Nations Security Council Resolution to disunite the flow of
foreign fighters, making it illegal to take part in a conflict in a foreign territory to support a
terrorist organization. Authorities are also now authorized to temporarily withdraw terrorist
suspects’ passports. In addition, the law permits the Ministry of the Interior to maintain a list of
websites that are used for terrorist recruiting activities, and gives authorities permission to block
access to such websites. Italy complies with all EU counterterrorism regulations, and is a
signatory to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism. It also ratifies all
international United Nations conventions against terrorism. Italy is a member of the Financial
Action Task Force (FATF) and is an observer in the Eurasian Group on Combating Money
Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG). In 2015, Italy cooperated with the United States
and Saudi Arabia to form the Coalition’s Counter-ISIS Finance Group, a group of 36 states and
multilateral bodies created to extend information sharing and coordinate countermeasures to
disrupt ISIS financing. Italy is one of 30 countries that founded the Global Counterterrorism
Forum (GCTF), an intergovernmental organization that collects international counterterrorism
experts in order to reduce the threat of terrorism worldwide. Italy has also participated in
counterterrorism efforts through the G-8 Roma-Lyon Group, an international body composed of
the G8 partners which convenes annually to develop strategies to fight terrorism and crime. Italy
looks forward to reviewing project outcomes at the 2018 Review Conference, which would
provide a model for collaborative actions to prevent terrorists from accessing illegal weapons.
(Ambassador Inigo Lambertini, 2017) Italy’s Ministry of Justice Penitentiary Police finances
counter-radicalization programs in the Italian prison system. Through these programs, the
Penitentiary Police provide de-radicalization training to over 100 government agents working in
the four Italian prisons where terrorists are imprisoned .These prison employees are trained to
recognize signs of radicalization among the prison population. These programs also focus on
identifying high-risk prisoners and separating them from other prisoners who are likely to be
influenced to radicalization.

“With guns you can kill terrorists, with education you can kill terrorism.” (Malala
Yousafzai,2012) In January 2017, the Ministry of the Interior announced that it would begin
funding courses on the Italian constitution for imams throughout the country. Course participants
will be taught about the importance of freedom of religion and speech. Through these courses,
the Ministry aims to “develop a dialogue between religions and cultures, contributing to the
construction of a peaceful and non-violent society.” (Frederica Botti, 2017). Italy seeks the help
of the UN to organize anti-terrorism trainings for people and prevent them being the possible
future terrorist. These trainings can be implemented in schools by employing special teachers
well informed on terrorism preventions. Educating people in a way that promotes tolerance and
respect for diversity and differences will definitely go a long way in combating terrorism. Italy
seeks the help of UN to open a centre with professional staff that helps and educates the people
that are already involved in radical groups to return to a normal life. Italy strongly believes that
its own proposals and legislations could be implemented in different countries around the world
that are facing terrorism. Italy has proved that these acts have been effective in reducing
terrorism; still Italy is experimenting with other solutions to combat terrorism, not only in Italy
but worldwide, and is looking for support from other countries and the UN to realize these
resolutions.
REFERENCE LIST
1.Analysis of Left and Right Wing Terrorism in Italy, Kenneth R. Langford,(June 1985)
Guardian
2.DECRETO-LEGGE (18 ottobre 2001) n.374, Counterterrorism Strategies, Yonah Alexander,
3. United States Department of State, Country Reports on Terrorism 2015 - Italy, (2 June 2016)
4. DECRETOLEGGE (18 febbraio 2015), n. 7, Library of Congress, U.S. Department of State
5. Ministerio degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale ,Parlamento Italiano, Farina
(16 Aprill 2007) 6. Citta di Firenze, (Statistica 2014)
7. Combatting Terrorism Center, Corriere Della Sera (January 13, 2017)