A/HRC/12/22 page 19 V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 54. Terrorism has a serious impact on all human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. Counter-terrorism measures must be adopted in compliance with the obligations of States under international human rights law, humanitarian law and refugee law. These measures must be adequate, proportionate, reasonable, non-discriminatory, non-arbitrary, effective and justified, and they must not overly affect the enjoyment of human rights, particularly of groups most vulnerable to human rights violations, such as indigenous people, minorities, migrants, women and children. 55. When adopting exceptional counter-terrorism measures, including measures in the framework of states of emergency, in particular long-standing ones, States must pay particular attention to their impact on human rights, in particular economic, social and cultural rights. These can have a particularly damaging effect on vulnerable communities, including the potential risk of leading to radicalization. 56. States are encouraged to become parties to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights once it is open for signature, and to develop national mechanisms to address the issue of remedies and reparations for victims of violations of economic, social and cultural rights. 57. In developing counter-terrorism legislation, policies and measures, States should examine their impact on economic, social and cultural rights in order to ensure that all the requirements relating to their protection are respected. Particular attention should be paid to allocating sufficient resources to economic, social and cultural rights. 58. The United Nations human rights system continues to address the question of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism with a view to assisting Member States to abide by their international human rights obligations while effectively combating terrorism. My Office will continue to examine the question of the protection of economic, social and cultural rights while countering terrorism and to make general recommendations about the obligations of States in this regard. -----