A/HRC/28/28 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 19 December 2014 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-eighth session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Summary The present report highlights developments since the last report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, in particular the relevant developments within the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, other recent activities of the Office of the High Commissioner, and relevant recent activities of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate The challenges to human rights in the context of counter terrorism, including legislative measures adopted by States, are examined, as are human rights issues related to the phenomenon of foreign fighters. The High Commissioner emphasizes the importance of ensuring that States integrate compliance with their obligations under international human rights law into their efforts to stem the flow of foreign fighters by stepping up initiatives to address the conditions conducive to terrorism and take measures to counter violent extremism; combat impunity and ensure accountability for any gross violation of international human rights law and serious violation of international humanitarian law; and ensure that any measures they adopt in their efforts to stem the flow of foreign fighters and prevent the commission of criminal acts comply with their obligations under international human rights law. GE.14-24753 (E) 