United Nations: In a significant move, the UN Security Council has authorised the creation of an office of Ombudsman, to help deal with the question of delisting of
persons and entities figuring in the council`s al Qaeda and Taliban sanctions list.
In a unanimous resolution, the UNSC revised its
guidelines concerning the listing of individuals and entities
linked to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
It authorised creation of an Office of Ombudsperson, for
an initial period of 18 months, which would help deal with the
question of removing individuals and entities from that list.
The independent "Ombudsperson" will be appointed to
examine complaints of wrongful inclusion in the list, to help
head off legal challenges.
The list, first set up in 1999 has around 500 names, but
over 30 of them are believed to be dead, officials said.
There are also about 30 pending court cases across the
world, filed by people who say they are unfairly targeted by
the sanctions.
Terming it as a very important resolution, the US
Ambassador to UN Susan Rice, said it reaffirms the global
consensus against al Qaeda and the Taliban strengthens
implementation of these critical sanctions; and improves the
fairness and transparency of the regime.
Bureau Report
