A/HRC/8/13 page 18 56. In the same vein as the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law (General Assembly resolution 60/147), and the Principles for the protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/20/Rev.1 and E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1), the elaboration of a statement of human rights principles and guidelines drawing on national and international best practice that would comprehensively address the victims of terrorism is both appropriate and deserving of serious consideration. III. CONCLUSIONS 57. I recall again the importance of placing human rights at the core of international cooperation in counter-terrorism and the obligation of all States to ensure that measures taken to combat crimes of terrorism comply with their obligations under international human rights law, in particular the right to recognition as a person before the law, due process, and non-refoulement. Compliance with international human rights standards is essential, never more so than where counter-terrorism measures involve the deprivation of individual liberty. 58. I am concerned with the practical obstacles to truly effective international and judicial cooperation in counter-terrorism which arise from unlawful interferences with privacy, search, seizure and surveillance; the insufficient remedies for violation of human rights in the context of evidence-gathering and information-sharing; the transfer and/or admissibility of evidence gathered by unlawful means; insufficient respect for the principle of legality in relation to the definition of terrorist offences; the protection of witnesses; and inappropriate redistributions of burdens of proof in particular legal proceedings in this area. My Office will continue to reflect on these issues with a view to assisting States in strengthening the effectiveness of mutual legal assistance, respect for human rights and upholding the rule of law in effectively countering terrorism. 59. I encourage all States that have not ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and the Disappearances Convention to do so. That said, ratification itself will not have full meaning unless it is accompanied by the compliance of national legislation with international human rights standards, the regular submission of periodic reports to the respective monitoring bodies and the implementation, at the national level, of their recommendations. Only through this way, can it be evenly guaranteed that all measures will comply with human rights law. 60. Targeted sanctions such as asset freezing and travel bans may be useful tools in States’ efforts to combat terrorism and might be helpful in preventing terrorist activity, but such procedures must be improved fully to meet human rights standards. 61. States should increase awareness and support for victims of terrorism, by pointing to the importance of the work that is required in order to give victims a voice that can help to humanize them and provide an important counterpoint to a narrative of hate and violence.