A/HRC/22/26 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 19/19, the Human Rights Council took note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (A/HRC/16/50), as well as the work to implement the mandate given to her by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/80 and the General Assembly in its resolution 60/158, and requested the High Commissioner to continue her efforts in this regard. The Council also encouraged the United Nations bodies, agencies, funds and programmes involved in supporting counter-terrorism efforts to continue to facilitate the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as due process and the rule of law, while countering terrorism. 2. The present report is submitted in accordance with Council resolution 19/19. It highlights relevant developments that have taken place since the submission of the High Commissioner’s previous report, notably through initiatives of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session, including the review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the high-level meeting on the rule of law at national and international levels; relevant developments within the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF); other recent activities of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); as well as relevant recent activities of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism (CounterTerrorism Committee) and its Executive Directorate. In follow-up to the High Commissioner’s previous report to the Council on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, a number of specific concerns are then raised, related to due process and the right to fair trial in the counter-terrorism context. Many of these concerns were addressed during the course of discussions at three regional expert meetings recently organized by the CTITF Working Group on Protecting Human Rights While Countering Terrorism. Highlights of those discussions are therefore reflected in section III. Conclusions and recommendations related to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism are summarized in section IV. II. Recent developments A. Activities of the General Assembly Review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy 3. Through the adoption of resolution 66/282 of 28 June 2012, the General Assembly concluded its third biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The High Commissioner welcomes the reaffirmation of the Global Strategy as a clear commitment by Member States to ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law as the fundamental basis of the fight against terrorism. Resolution 66/282 emphasizes the importance of an integrated and balanced implementation of all four pillars of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. In so doing, it reasserts the fundamental role played by the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as reflected in pillar IV, in the implementation of all pillars of the Strategy. The High Commissioner is also encouraged by the explicit recognition by Member States of the role that civil society can play in the implementation of the Strategy, as well as their commitment to supporting victims of terrorism. 3