By Staff Reporter WINDHOEK Namibia is not only securing domestic interests in its envisaged legislation aimed at tackling and combating terrorism, but the country also complies with its international obligations to foster international peace and cooperation. According to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, the country’s Terrorism Bill is at an advanced stage in the process of enactment into law. Speaking at the opening of a training workshop for members of that ministry, entitled ‘International Cooperation in the Fight against Terrorism and its Financing’, Iivula-Ithana said the Bill seeks to address terrorist organisations, foreign military assistance, money laundering, terrorist financing and forfeiture of ill-gotten proceeds, among others. Namibia is a member of the United Nations, and as such is bound by the resolutions of the Security Council. Following the events of September 11, 2001, Resolution 1373 (2001) determined that international terrorism posed a threat to international peace and stability. The resolution recognizes the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence. It further calls on the international community to redouble their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts, including increased cooperation and full implementation of the relevant international anti-terrorist conventions and Security Council resolutions. Since the adoption of Resolution 1269 (1999) and subsequent resolutions, all member states have a mandate to sign and ratify 13 UN conventions relating to terrorism. At the same time the UN recognises the right of a state to act in self-defence. Resolution 1373 of 2001 of the Security Council compels all member states to adopt measures that are designed to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, as well as criminalise the willful provision or collection of funds for such acts. States should further prohibit persons in their territories from making funds, financial assets, and economic resources, financial or other related services available to persons who commit or facilitate or participate in the commission of terrorist acts, and ensure that anyone found guilty of any form of terrorist act be brought to book. This resolution also established the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), which comprises all 15 members of the Security Council. Its brief is to motivate and monitor the implementation of the contents of the said resolution. “[There] is no justification for terrorist acts in a democracy where all citizens are allowed to express their views and concerns, real or perceived, through democratic means available in a given situation,” Iivula-Ithana continued. “In our quest to uphold the rule of law, no democratically elected government would allow itself to be held at ransom by a terrorist group, otherwise the principle of the rule of law and the right of a state to exist would be superficial and worthless.” International laws have been augmented and further developed to fight against terror campaigns, with multilateral treaties in place. The workshop, which is closed to the media and other interested parties, is jointly held between the ministry, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.