PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK Statement on Countering Terrorism [March 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 March 2024.

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. UK statement at HRC55.

Thank you, Madame Vice-President.

I would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his work and reaffirm our support for his mandate.

The UK strongly believes that to be truly effective and sustainable, our Counter Terrorism and Counter Violent Extremism efforts must respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. Failing to do so risks exacerbating the conditions conducive to terrorism, and undermining the very values that the UN was established to promote.

We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s undertaking to consider the impact of new technologies in countering terrorism. We reaffirm that all measures to deliver security must conform with international human rights law.

Furthermore, we highlight your recommendations that the United Nations counter-terrorism bodies engage with diverse civil society organisations, and your efforts to maintain focus on the impact that counter-terrorism and violent extremism measures have on a civic space.

Special Rapporteur,

What more could be done by States to assess the human rights implications of new technologies on counter-terrorism and counter violent extremism efforts?

Thank you.