A/HRC/6/17
page 22
68. The main focus of the anti-terror package was the implementation of structural measures to
prevent terrorism. One of the strategies chosen was the promotion of economic and social rights
for special groups, for example, youth without job prospects, who, excluded from participation in
social and economic development processes, are susceptible to recruitment by criminal or violent
groups. Such special groups should be integrated more intensively into development cooperation
programmes.
VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Conclusions
69. The Special Rapporteur concludes that counter-terrorism measures have both a direct and
an indirect impact on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. The measures
adopted by States to combat terrorism often pose serious challenges to economic, social and
cultural rights. States therefore need to be mindful of their duty to ensure the conditions allowing
all people living within their jurisdiction to enjoy all human rights, including economic, social
and cultural rights. This is particularly important as the promotion of those rights should be seen
as a means of addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and hence of preventing
acts of terrorism.
70. The social and economic marginalization of and discrimination against vulnerable groups,
such as minorities, indigenous peoples or underprivileged households of women and children
often amount to violations of their human rights, in particular of their economic, social and
cultural rights. These circumstances may also provide fertile soil for recruitment to movements
that promise a prospect for change but resort to the unacceptable means of acts of terrorism.
71. Through their negative impact on the effective enjoyment of economic, social and cultural
rights, insensitive counter-terrorism measures, even when they may have a justification as
permissible limitations to human rights, often result in counterproductive effects that undermine
the long-term beneficial role of the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights in
sustainable strategies to prevent terrorism.
B. Recommendations
72. With reference to his country-specific work, the Special Rapporteur makes the
following recommendations:
(a) Without attempting to be exhaustive, the Special Rapporteur wishes to illustrate
possible strategies and concrete steps in the field of the promotion and protection of
economic, social and cultural rights while countering terrorism, by way of
recommendations based on the experience of countries with which he has engaged in close
cooperation;
(b) Referring to his “desktop study” on Australia (A/HRC/4/26/Add.3), the
Special Rapporteur recommends that, when Australia and other donor countries assist
other States to adopt and develop their counter-terrorism laws and mechanisms, due
attention be paid to securing the compliance of those measures with human rights and to
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