A/HRC/10/3 page 4 Introduction 1. This report is submitted to the Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 62/159 and Human Rights Council resolution 6/28. The main report highlights the activities of the Special Rapporteur from 1 November 2007 to 31 December 2008 and focuses thematically on the role of intelligence agencies and their oversight in the fight against terrorism. The addenda contain a communications report1 and the report on the fact-finding mission to Spain from 7 to 14 May 2008.2 2. Regarding upcoming country visits, the Special Rapporteur hopes to conduct a mission to Tunisia prior to presenting this report. The Government extended an invitation in June 2008 but has not replied to the request to provide specific dates for the visit. There are outstanding visit requests to Algeria, Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan and the Philippines. The Special Rapporteur has recently requested visits to Chile, Peru and Thailand. I. ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR 3. The Special Rapporteur, in accordance with his mandate, undertook a number of activities from 1 December 2007 to 31 December 2008. The highlights are reflected below. 4. From 11 to 14 December 2007 the Special Rapporteur presented his reports to the sixth session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He met with the Permanent Missions of Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia and the United States of America and participated in two parallel events, namely on “Re-examining international responsibility: inter-State complicity in the context of human rights violations” and “Beyond Guantanamo: protection of human rights while countering terrorism”. 5. From 13 to 14 January 2008 the Special Rapporteur participated in a Joint Arab-European Human Rights Dialogue Working Group Meeting for National Human Rights Institutions on counter-terrorism measures in Cairo. He also met with the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights. On 5 March 2008 he met with the Minister of State for Legal and Parliamentary Councils of Egypt in Geneva to discuss challenges faced by States to ensure the protection of human rights when drafting counter-terrorism legislation. 6. On 13 February 2008 the Special Rapporteur was in Brussels to make a presentation to the European Union Council Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM) and to meet with the European Union Counter-terrorism Coordinator. 7. On 18 February 2008 the Special Rapporteur met with the Permanent Missions of Egypt and El Salvador in Geneva. 1 A/HRC/10/3/Add.1. 2 A/HRC/10/3/Add.2.