A/HRC/8/13 page 5 counter-terrorism strategies and international cooperation must include measures to prevent the spread of terrorism, and must also include measures to prevent ethnic, national or religious discrimination, political exclusion, and socio-economic marginalization, as well as measures to address impunity for human rights violations. 5. There is a broad recognition that not only is respect for human rights an essential element of an effective counter-terrorism strategy, but disrespect for human rights actually undermines counter-terrorism efforts. Terrorism often thrives in environments in which human rights are violated, where human rights are curtailed, where non-violent channels to express discontent are lacking and where discrimination and exclusion are rampant. In the same vein, resort to excessive use of force and indiscriminate attack by police, security and army personnel when seeking to combat terrorism tends to strengthen terrorists’ support base, thus complicating the very goals that States set out to achieve. 6. The full impact of terrorism and counter-terrorism measures on the enjoyment of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights has not been sufficiently clarified. I note with interest the report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism that was submitted to the Council,2 but further examination and analyses of this complex issue is still needed. The impact of security measures taken to combat and prevent terrorism on resources normally allocated to social and economic programmes, development assistance and poverty reduction is also significant but not yet measured in detail. The particularly severe impact of repressive security measures on the economic, social and cultural rights of specific populations, such as women; human rights defenders; indigenous peoples and minorities and people living in situations of armed conflict has also taken on greater focus and warrants closer study. II. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS A. Implementation of the Secretary-General’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy 7. Through the Secretary-General’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, Member States committed to adopting measures to ensure respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis of the fight against terrorism. They further resolved to take measures aimed at addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, including lack of rule of law and violations of human rights, and to ensure that any measures taken to counter terrorism comply with their obligations under international law, in particular human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law. The General Assembly plans to review the Global Strategy by September 2008. 8. In July 2005, the Secretary-General established the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) in an effort to ensure coordinated and coherent approach across the United Nations system to counter-terrorism. The CTITF formed a working group on “Protecting Human Rights While Countering Terrorism” led by OHCHR and comprised of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, 2 See A/HRC/6/17.