DEC/16/116 Panel on the human rights of victims of terrorism

GE.11-12755

Human Rights Council Sixteenth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Decision adopted by the Human Rights Council*

16/116 Panel on the human rights of victims of terrorism

At its 45th meeting, on 24 March 2011, the Human Rights Council decided to adopt the following text:

“The Human Rights Council,

Reaffirming the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and in particular article 3 thereof, which states that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person,

Recalling previous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on human rights and terrorism and on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism,

Recalling also all General Assembly resolutions on the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, including resolutions 46/51 of 9 December 1991, 60/288 of 8 September 2006, 62/272 of 15 September 2008 and 64/297 of 8 September 2010, and reaffirming the four categories of measures contained in the Strategy,

Reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever committed, regardless of their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable, and renewing its commitment to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism,

Reaffirming also that acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights,

* The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of

the Council on its sixteenth session (A/HRC/16/2), chap. I.

fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening the territorial integrity and security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the steps necessary to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism,

Reaffirming further that the promotion and protection of human rights for all and the rule of law are essential to the fight against terrorism, and recognizing that effective counter-terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are not conflicting goals, but are complementary and mutually reinforcing,

Reaffirming that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group,

Deploring the suffering caused by terrorism to the victims and their families, expressing its profound solidarity with them, and stressing the importance of providing them with assistance,

Recognizing the work of the Working Group on Supporting and Highlighting Victims of Terrorism of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, including its workshop in Siracusa, Italy, held on 2 and 3 December 2010, on best practices on supporting victims of acts of terrorism, and taking note of other efforts made by the United Nations in this field, including the meetings of the Expert Group of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, held on 26 and 27 May 2010, in Vienna, and on 26 and 27 January 2011, in Bogotá, on the criminal justice response to victims of terrorism,

Taking note of the work on victims of terrorism of the Special Rapporteur on Terrorism and Human Rights of the Subcommission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,

Recognizing, therefore, the need to reflect on the question of human rights of victims of terrorist acts,

1. Decides to convene, within existing resources, at its seventeenth session, a panel discussion on the issue of the human rights of victims of terrorism, taking into account, inter alia, the recommendations of the Secretary-General’s Symposium on Supporting Victims of Terrorism, held on 9 September 2008, in New York;

2. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to liaise with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism and all concerned parties and stakeholders, including relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, with a view to ensuring their participation in the panel discussion;

3 Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report on the outcome of the panel discussion in the form of a summary.”

45th meeting 24 March 2011

[Adopted without a vote.]