A/HRC/19/38 in particular practice 6, which stipulates that “damage to natural and legal persons and their property resulting from an act of terrorism or acts committed in the name of countering terrorism shall be compensated through funds from the State budget, in accordance with international human rights law.” The practice further provides that “natural persons who have suffered physical or other damage or have suffered violations of their human rights as a result of an act of terrorism or acts committed in the name of countering terrorism shall be provided with additional legal, medical, psychological and other assistance required for their social rehabilitation through funds from the State budget.” The Special Rapporteur emphasized that the work undertaken in the field of remedies for gross violations of human rights was applicable and presented best practices in relation to the promotion of the human rights of victims of terrorism, and referred in particular to 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. Furthermore, he discussed his country visits to Turkey and Peru, where he found valuable examples for effective collective and individual reparation programmes addressing the needs of both the victims of terrorism and the victims of abusive counter-terrorism measures by State authorities. The Special Rapporteur concluded his presentation by emphasizing that the strategy to bring together victims of terrorism and victims of counterterrorism measures would help build bridges across political, geographical, religious and ethnic lines to achieve effective and sustainable results in combatting terrorism. 7. The President of the Foundation for Victims of Terrorism of Spain, Ms. Pagazaurtundúa, stated that counter-terrorism policies must scrupulously respect the rule of law. She emphasized that victims of terrorism and the analysis of their human rights were not considered a priority. As a consequence, she called upon the Human Rights Council, supported by OHCHR, to establish the necessary mechanisms to address this shortcoming. She referred to the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which states that “the acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy.” Ms. Pagazaurtundúa called for the adoption of provisions at the international level establishing a legal status for victims of terrorism, encompassing a catalogue of human rights and obligations for States regarding the provision of reparation, access to justice, the prohibition of impunity and victims’ participation in judicial proceedings. Such a step was necessary to avoid discrimination of the victims of terrorism vis-à-vis other categories of victims. Highlighting the need for the United Nations and Member States to increase their efforts in the protection of the human rights of victims of terrorism, she called upon the Council to continue its work to developing new standards in that field. The Foundation for Victims of Terrorism would support a resolution of the Council to ensure that the issue of the human rights of victims of terrorism is considered by United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures. In particular, she called for the establishment of a special procedures mandate to examine the consequences of terrorist acts, the methods and practices of the strategies of terrorist groups and the situation of the human rights of victims of terrorism. In addition, she suggested that the international community fully recognize a universal right to be free of terrorists and terrorist acts of all kinds, and requested States to assess national practices that lead to impunity for terrorist acts and create obstacles for victims of terrorism to obtain reparation. 8. Professor Letschert pointed out that, while the issue of terrorism had been on the international agenda for years, less attention had been paid to the rights of the victims of terrorism. She referred to specific instruments that included provisions on the rights of victims of terrorism, such as the 2002 Framework Decision on combating terrorism of the European Union, the legislative initiative recently adopted by the European Commission aiming at the strengthening of victims’ rights, and the Council of Europe Guidelines on the Protection of Victims of Terrorist Acts, adopted in 2005. She introduced the work of a 5