Comparing Terrorism and Chronic Diseases

The assignment compares terrorism and chronic diseases from a legal perspective, highlighting similarities in their treatment under international law. It discusses how both issues are addressed differently by international law but share similar characteristics, suggesting that a unified approach could be beneficial. The analysis draws on various references to demonstrate the parallels between combating terrorism and managing chronic diseases.

Running Head: International Law 1
International law

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Introduction:
During the period of second half of the twentieth century the international community
facing the issue related to the terrorism, and this result in adoption of different treaties which
deals with different types of issues such as terrorist acts and obligations of states in this context.
Previously these legislations only deals with the acts which affect the civilians, but now scope of
these legislations extended and now they cover terrorism acts against military personnel and
installations. This contribution mainly attempt to assess the consequences related to this
evolution and also the protection of armed forces engaged in the so-called ‘‘war on terrorism’’.
Different terrorist activities in the world are considered as terrible way to remember that
terrorism is also an medical issue, because whenever something like this happen we are forced to
think about deaths. There are number of people who get injuries in the skin or in the soul, and
then results for those who survive after the deaths of their families and friends (Medicinenet,
n.d.). This approach mainly encourages the policy makers to deal with the terrorism in the
appropriate manner and not as a hypothetical situation. It mainly provides the policy makers as a
useful model which helps them in dealing with the terrorism in a comprehensive manner. It also
ensures policies which restrict future attacks and in case they occur than then respond them in
proper manner (Price, 2017). This paper defines the way through which International Law treat
the terrorism and diseases in different manner. It further states the possibility to imagine them as
interchangeable, and also apply similar legal tools towards their combatting. This report is
divided into three arguments, first argument states different treatments conducted by
international law for terrorism and diseases? Second argument deals with the fact whether there
is any similarity between international law and diseases, or there is any possibility to use these
terms interchangeably? This paper state the alternative framework which theorizes the threat
related to the terrorism on the basis of epidemiological approach which considers it as a chronic
disease like cancer instead of a military, ideological, or socio-economic problem. Last and third
argument states whether it is possible to use similar tools for dealing with the terrorism and
diseases in context of international law? After highlighting the similarities in the terrorism and
diseases, it present a staging system and tools which can be used by the policy makers for the
purpose of educating the public in this regard and allocate counterterrorism resources in more
efficient manner. Lastly, paper is concluded with brief conclusion.

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Argument 1: Different treatments conducted by international law for terrorism and diseases?
Terrorism is not considered as new phenomenon, during the period of second half of the
twentieth century, there are number of countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia
challenge movements of different kinds which include violence against the innocent civilians for
the purpose of achieving their goals. For the purpose of responding these movements,
international community adopts series of treaties which deals with particular types of issues and
terrorist acts. These treaties also impose obligations on states to take action against such acts.
Presently, almost 13 international treaties are adopted by the international community against the
terrorism, as well as there are number of regional treaties also. It must be noted that, process of
drafting a general treaty against international terrorism is almost complete. Different conflicts
around the world have been described as part of a “war on terrorism” (Donnell, 2006).
These treaties deals with almost 50 type of offences which include 10 crimes against civil
aviation, 16 crimes against shipping or continental platforms, 12 crimes against the person, 7
crimes involving the use, possession or threatened use of ‘‘bombs’’ or nuclear materials, and 2
crimes related to the financing of terrorism. These treaties are considered as established code
against the terrorist offences. The most reliable evidence of this fact is the 1999 Convention
against the financing of terrorism, which deals with the crime of donating or collecting funds
(yamei, 2017). These treaties also define the duties of state parties in context of crime related to
the financing the activities related to the terrorism, and thee activities are defined in the treaties
listed in the annex is independent of their ratification of them. These treaties also allowed the
states parties which are not even the parties of the treaties for making reservations by limiting the
scope of their obligations under 1999 convention in context to the financing of the activities
prohibited by any non- ratified treaty or treaties. In 2002, organization of American States
adopted a second treaty against the terrorism which uses similar approach. The inter-American
convention is considered as series of obligations imposed on the state parties in context of crimes
defined in ten treaties. The 1999 convention in context of financing of terrorism and other 9
international treaties listed in the annex. The 1977 European Convention for the Suppression of
Terrorism which is amended by the Protocol of 2003 also adopts same approach. This treaty also
establishes the series of obligations related to the acts of terrorism which are defined in other 10
international treaties. This idea is also supported by the UN Security Council Resolution 1566

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that crimes stated in the existing international treaties form part of a code of terrorist offences
(Security council, n.d.). After considering the above facts, it can be said that not only terrorist
offences but other acts also which adopt similar approach are covered under the code established
by the international community. All these facts stated the way through which terrorist activities
are treated by international community (UNODC, 2009). On the other hand, two main aims of our
national public health agenda are to increase the quality and number of years of healthy life, and also to
eliminate the health disparities. In case of chronic diseases, these goals facilitates a comprehensive
strategy which mainly includes interventions for prevention and control of categorical diseases and their
risk factors, changes occurred in behavior of individual, environmental change, improvements in clinical
and preventive services, and organizational change. It mainly promotes the patient compliance and health
providers by establishing best practices in all the persons, and they not consider the racial/ethnic
background, sex, geographic determinants, or socioeconomic status of the person. These interventions can
be accomplished through different mechanisms which include health education, development and use of
information systems, and development and implementation of policies and guidelines. These
interventions can be accomplished through different types of mechanisms which include health education,
development and use of information systems, and development and implementation of policies and
guidelines. Policies related to this are implemented as regulations, ordinances, and other laws and as
organizational practices (Magnusson, 2010). It must be noted that achievement of these predominant
national objectives requires strengthening of the infrastructure in context of public health and also the
development of adequate capacity for the purpose of undertaking the core public health functions of
assessment, development of policy, and assurance. In all these areas, international law play very
important role. This can be understood through example, identifying and strengthen the important factors
of the public health infrastructure such as development of health workforce which is diverse and
competent, information and communication system, and health department surveillance and laboratory
capacities. All these facts are considered as important factors of proper legislation. It must be noted that
legislations play very important role by helping the state and local governments with the power to
encourage or influence the health care providers, associated health professionals, and those business
organizations which promote and protect the health of the public in order to increase the quality and
number of years of healthy life. These laws play most important role in the elimination of disparities for
the purpose of accessing and delivering quality health care. Additionally, appropriate laws take help from
the local public health agencies for the purpose of assessing the burden of chronic diseases and to deal
with these diseases (Mensah, Goodman, Zaza, Moulton, 2004).

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Argument 2: Whether there is any similarity between international law and diseases, or there
is any possibility to use these terms interchangeably?
War related to cancer is almost similar to the war related to the terrorism; because both
the wars are difficult and it is possible to apply lessons learn from one war on other. In political
context cancer is considered as socioeconomic disease which mainly affects the poorest people.
And in similar way terrorism find a home in those nations which are not developed. Possibly,
improvement in global economic well-being will help. It is necessary to detect the cancer at early
stage, because it is an agreeable fact that local treatment of this this disease is effective at that
time also when there is no advanced treatment of this disease. Pap smear play important role in
reducing the cervical cancer mortality and, more recently, the effectiveness of prostate specific
antigen screening in reducing prostate cancer mortality are cases in point. In case of war on
terrorism, investment at global level in intelligence gathering and dissemination will be needed
for early detection of activated cells and infiltrated nodes (National Intelligence Council, 2000).
Some other similarities are also there, because there is need to make sustained and considerable
investment before the first signs of progress appear. After conducting number of research and
spending billions of dollars there is reduction in the rate of mortality from common solid tumors
of adulthood like lung and breast cancer. On the other side, terrorism can also be prevented from
with this similar approach, which means it is necessary to apply treatment before the first signs
of progress appear. For both the approaches, experts stated that these wars can only be won by
making investment in the specific area such as etiology, causation, prevention, screening, early
detection, focusing on a particular target, make efforts to destroy this issue with little associated
damage, and implementing regulations and protocols for resolving these issues. In actual, it is
necessary to take strict action in both the cases because any point of leverage will turn into a big
problem. But, it is possible to win both the wars by ensuring talent and commitment of the
people involved, as well as the political will to see each challenge to its end. After considering
the above facts, it can be said that there are lot of similarity between these two, as stated Cancer
is to the patient and their family what terrorism is to a free society. Therefore, it is necessary to
overcome from this threat (Curt, n.d.).

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Argument 3: Whether it is possible to use similar tools for dealing with the terrorism and
diseases in context of international law?
It must be noted that not only terrorism behave like chronic disease, but there are many
other challenges such as preventing and treating cancer are exactly same to those associated with
the terrorism. Scholars of terrorism stated different analysis of the international law framework
under which similar tools can be used for treating these two issues such as comprehensive
analysis of rule of law framework applied on counter-terrorism response such as human rights
approach at international level, humanitarian, criminal, and refugee/asylum law and it also
includes strengths, lacunae, pressure points, and interrelationship between its legal principles. In
similar manner these approaches can also applied to won war of cancer. Another tool is
determining the pressure between the causes and preventions used to overcome with these
causes. In similar manner, it is necessary to evaluate the pressure between the security imperative
and complying with the rule of law that are related to the governmental and institutional policies
and practices. Really multinational, multidisciplinary coverage related to the global expertise
from legal practitioner, judicial, policy-making, military, policing, civil society, academic and
institutional experience. In similar manner, in context of cancer it is necessary to ensure global
expertise for preventing this disease which includes medical practitioners, experts, institutions,
etc (Norman, 2017). It is necessary to implement the recommendations made by experts and
international forums in both contexts for the purpose of ensuring best practices in both (Oxford
university press, n.d.). It must be noted that international community use the similar tools to deal
with the cancer and terrorism, because there are number of people who use the diseases as
terrorist weapons for the purpose of destroying societies. This can be understood through
example, in the early period of 1990, disclosures related to the Soviet Union's and Iraq's
biological weapons programs caused many experts to focus on explosion of the biological
weapons in the community at international level. At the time when intelligence department of US
suspected that the Soviet Union and Iraq had developed biological weapons, but they are not able
to estimate the huge scale and sophistication of the Soviet and Iraqi programs. Different
evidences related to the Soviet and Iraqi bioweapon increase the fears that explosion of
biological weapons had become big issue at international level. Various experts show concern
that possession of biological weapons by rogue states as big issue, but also state that exploration
of biological weapons make the things easier for terrorists to gain access to pathogenic microbes

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(Zwaagastra, 2016). These fears results in the establishment of protocol related to the Biological
Weapons Convention of 1972 ("BWC") in the first half of the 1990. This protocol results in
verification mechanism in context of BWC's prohibition on the development, production, and
stockpiling of biological weapons. Adding momentum to this effort completed the Chemical
Weapons Convention in 1993, which also contained verification mechanism for the purpose of
improving the compliance with the Convention's prohibitions. Another attack in context of
disclosure on biological weapons and bioterrorism-proposals is the anthrax attacks, and in this
development, production, or possession of a biological weapon by any individual or state is
considered as crime at international level, and this crime is punishable by applying universal
jurisdiction. Above stated facts clearly stated that these conventions restrict both terrorism and
diseases at the same time. Therefore, it is possible for the international community to use same
tools to deal with both diseases and terrorism. The Sussex program initiated by Harvard related
to the Chemical and Biological Warfare Armament and Arms Limitation created this idea in this
proposed convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Developing, Producing,
Acquiring, Stockpiling, Retaining, Transferring or Using Biological or Chemical Weapons. It
must be noted that, making the use, development, or possession of a biological weapon a crime
under international law in context of principle related to the universal jurisdiction result in
increased enemies of human kind (Fidler, 2000).
Conclusion:
After considering these facts, it can be said that terrorism and diseases are similar
because both leave same kind of impact on the society and family of the victim. As stated,
various activities related to the terrorism conducted in the world are considered as terrible way to
remember that terrorism is also an medical issue, because whenever something like this happen
we are forced to think about deaths. Various people who get injuries in the skin or in the soul
either because of terrorism or because of disease suffer a lot and then consequences for those
who survive after the deaths of their families and friends. Currently, both the issues are treated
differently by international law but various evidences present which shows that these issues are
similar in nature and for dealing with these issues, international law can use similar approach and
tools.

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References:
Curt, G. Terrorism and Cancer. Retrieved on 28th March 2018 from:
http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/6/5/401.long.
Donnell, D. (2006). International treaties against terrorism and the use of terrorism during armed
conflict and by armed forces. Retrieved on 28th March 2018 from:
https://www.icrc.org/en/download/file/20147/irrc_864_7.pdf.
Fidler, D. (2000). Bioterrorism, Public Health, and International Law. Chicago Journal of
International Law, Volume 3(1).
Magnusson, R. (2010). Global health governance and the challenge of chronic, non-
communicable disease. Journal Law Medical Ethics. Volume 38(3):490-507.
Medicine.net. Terrorism is a Medical Matter. Retrieved on 28th March 2018 from:
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=31423.
Mensah, G. Goodman, R. Zaza, S. Moulton, A. …………Marks, J. (2004). Law as a Tool for
Preventing Chronic Diseases: Expanding the Spectrum of Effective Public Health
Strategies. Retrieved on 28th March 2018 from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC544536/.
National Intelligence Council, (2000). The Global Infectious Disease Threat and Its Implications
for the United States, NIE 99-17D.
Norman, M. (2017). For the British public, the threat of terrorism isn't a deathly disease, but an
incurable condition we will learn to live with. Retrieved on 28th March 2018 from:
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/london-bridge-attack-terrorism-britain-
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Oxford university press. Counter-Terrorism. Retrieved on 28th March 2018 from:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/counter-terrorism-9780199608928?
cc=in&lang=en&.

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Price, B. (2017). Terrorism as Cancer: How to Combat an Incurable Disease. Retrieved on 28th
March 2018 from:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09546553.2017.1330200.
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https://www.un.org/sc/ctc/resources/international-legal-instruments/.
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2018 from: https://www.unodc.org/documents/terrorism/Publications/FAQ/English.pdf.
Yamei, (2017). Spotlight: Terrorist attacks are plaguing Europe like cancer. Retrieved on 28th
March 2018 from: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-09/11/c_136600301.htm.
Zwaagastra, D. (2016). Preventing Bioterrorism, Risk and Legal Instruments. Retrieved on 28th
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risk-and-legal-instruments/.