Human Rights Council 40: UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism
The UK thanked the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of her report, and reaffirmed support for her mandate.
The Human Rights Council takes place in Geneva.
We would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of her report. We reaffirm our support for her mandate, and call on all states to cooperate with requests from special procedures. We welcome the opportunity for this interactive dialogue today.
The UK is fully committed to the fight against terrorism, which continues to be a significant and complex global threat. We also firmly believe that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, must be at the centre of all counter terrorism activity.
We agree with the Special Rapporteur that healthy and vibrant civil society has an important role in countering terrorism. As she says, through promoting transparency and accountability, civil society can build trust between communities and counter terrorism actors; and through promoting more inclusive, equal societies civil society can help foster resilience to terrorist and violent extremist narratives.
We would like to ask the Special Rapporteur, what more could the Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and other UN mechanisms do to promote implementation of the relevant Council resolutions in a way which respects and protects civil society?
Secondly, in the Special Rapporteur’s report she mentions the need to develop and strengthen national and international CT oversight mechanisms. What form does she see those oversight mechanisms taking?