UN: ICJ and ARTICLE 19 call on Council to promote human rights centred appraoch to countering terrorism

The ICJ and ARTICLE 19 urged today the Council to work to promote a human rights centred approach to countering terrorism, during the interactive dialogue with the Advisory Committee of the UN Human Rights Council.

“Madam President,

The ICJ and ARTICLE 19 take note of the report by the Advisory Committee on the negative effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights and welcome the significant modifications agreed by the Committee that have addressed several concerns we had previously expressed, by applying a holistic approach to the human rights dimensions of terrorism and counter-terrorism.

We fully share the concern of the Advisory Committee and of the Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights that the definition of “violent extremism” “remains opaque and deeply contested” (para 7).

We underscore the concern expressed by the Special Rapporteur that the lack of precise definition in terrorism and counter-terrorism and the blurring of lines between counter-terrorism and international humanitarian law by a number of States has a pernicious effect on human rights protection.

Finally, we applaud this report’s recommendation to provide guidance on the human rights of victims of terrorism.

As the report highlights, addressing the negative effects of terrorism and human rights violations that are brought upon by and through counter-terrorism measures are complementary and not competing objectives of human rights protection. This is a necessary way forward.

I thank you.”

Contact:

Massimo Frigo, ICJ UN Representative, e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org, t: +41797499949

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