The ICJ and ARTICLE 19 have followed the Advisory Committee’s ongoing work on the negative effects of terrorism on human rights and understand that it still finalizing its report on the topic.
We consider that the efforts of the Committee and this Council on this topic should focus exclusively on preventing and addressing human rights violations resulting from counterterrorism measures and promoting and protecting the human rights of victims of terrorism.
The Committee’s earlier report instead dedicated much space to the macro-economic effects of terrorism which do not lead to concrete recommendations to States on the human rights dimensions. This focus proposed by some States diverts the longstanding focus of the Human Rights Council away from core human rights concerns and from States’ duties to prevent, protect, investigate, and redress human rights abuses.
The ICJ and ARTICLE 19 point out that the existing and longstanding normative and institutional framework on counterterrorism and human rights is already sufficient to address relevant impacts of terrorism from a human rights perspective.
We call on the Committee and the Council to bear this in mind as they continue their engagement on this important topic.