Unit 2: Criminal Law

CHAPTER 5: THE CRIMINAL CODE

E-ACTIVITY: UN CONVENTIONS AND PROTOCOLS RELATED TO TERRORISM (p. 152)

Activity: Complete Organizers About UN Conventions and Protocols Regarding Terrorism

As a crime, terrorism often leaps borders. Thus, international organizations such as the United Nations take action against it. What UN conventions and protocols attempt to reduce terrorism and bring terrorists to justice? How does each provide a legal framework or basic tool for thwarting terrorists?

Research conventions and protocols to complete organizers about them.

1. Visit the UN’s Web page regarding agreements to link to information about the following conventions and protocols. In a group of two or three students, research two of the conventions and protocols.
   1. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons
   2. International Convention against the Taking of Hostages
   3. International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings
   4. International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism
   5. Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft
   6. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft
   7. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation
   8. Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material
   9. Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation
   10. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation
   11. Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf
   12. Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection
       
       
2. Use your findings to fill out one organizer (following) with two charts.

Click here if you would like to download the organizer.

3. Share findings as a class, then discuss:
   • What general areas do the 12 agreements focus on?
   • What is Canada’s record in ratifying these agreements?
     
4. As a class, debate the following topic: International cooperation is essential to combating terrorism.

In preparing for the debate, you should examine the role of international terrorist networks and organizations, and explore how terrorists travel throughout the world to plan, prepare, and carry out terrorist acts. You should also consider the pros and cons of the United States acting alone, or unilaterally, to combat terrorism, as opposed to consulting and acting together with other states and/or through the United Nations.