Protecting human rights while countering terrorism: Sub-regional workshop

This sub-regional workshop will take stock of ongoing and emerging human rights challenges in the development and implementation of counter-terrorism laws, policy and practice, including when addressing the threats and challenges of returning “foreign terrorist fighters”, in a number of European states - Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. 

The workshop aims to promote dialogue and facilitate exchange of information, experiences, lessons learnt and good practices between state and non-state actors. In particular, the workshop will focus on the impact of criminal justice and other responses to terrorism:

• on domestic rule of law and human rights frameworks, civil liberties and fundamental freedoms
• on the enjoyment of human rights without discrimination by members belonging to specific groups in society

Why it is important

Human rights and the rule of law are crucial for the effectiveness of counter-terrorism efforts, both in the short and long-term. Yet, countering terrorism is in practice still often seen as a “hard” security topic, which overrides “soft” human rights considerations. In the wake of terrorist attacks and when the threat of terrorism is perceived to be high, such as in discussions about returning “foreign terrorist fighters”, political and public pressure often calls for the adoption of new security measures. 

These frequently introduce potentially far-reaching human rights restrictions; for example: increased surveillance; expanding police powers to control persons considered to pose terrorism-related risks; restrictions on freedom of movement; preventive detention or house arrest; deprivation of citizenship and revocation of passports or residence permits. Despite OSCE commitments emphasizing that terrorism must not be identified with any ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, in practice there are concerns that counter-terrorism efforts often have a disproportionate or even exclusive focus on specific groups in society, namely Muslim communities. 

Participants 

The workshop will bring together representatives of relevant government authorities, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), civil society and other experts from the countries concerned. Participants will be invited to share their expertise and discuss their experiences with a view to identify recommendations and good practices for cooperation. These will be of use in the review and implementation of counter-terrorism law and practice - in order to avoid potential negative human rights implications and ensure full compliance with international standards. The results of the meeting will feed into a short outcome report, which will be published by ODIHR on its website after the event.

Registration

Participation is by invitation only.

Background

ODIHR is organizing the event within the framework of its ongoing work on human rights and counter-terrorism issues and as part of the follow-up to its Guidelines for Addressing the Threats and Challenges of “Foreign Terrorist Fighters” within a Human Rights Framework.  Questions related to the workshop can be directed to ODIHR’s Human Rights and Anti-Terrorism Programme - to either:

• Mr. Johannes Heiler, Adviser on Anti-Terrorism Issues (johannes.heiler@odihr.pl) 
• Ms. Mona Koehler-Schindler, Associate Human Rights Officer on Anti-Terrorism Issues (mona.koehler-schindler@odihr.pl)