UN Security Council asks for proposal to counter terror

The UN Security Council on Wednesday requested that the body's Counter-Terrorism Committee prepare a proposal with steps to counter terrorist organizations, groups and individuals.

The proposal should with a deadline of April 30, 2017, will include a "comprehensive international framework" with guidelines and possible practices to counter "their narratives to encourage, motivate, and recruit others to commit terrorist acts," according to a statement by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who is the council president for May.

The statement noted that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion or civilization and can be defeated only by a "sustained and comprehensive approach involving the active participation and collaboration of all states, international and regional organizations and civil society."

The Security Council also urged member states to refrain from providing active or passive support for entities and individuals involved or associated with terrorist acts.

The statement noted concerns that Daesh and al-Qaeda "craft distorted narratives that are based on the misinterpretation and misrepresentation of religion to justify violence, which are utilized to recruit supporters" by using the Internet and social media.

The council suggested that victims of terrorism can counter terrori narratives and online recruitments by developing social media campaigns.