A/HRC/19/38
on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism in
his report submitted to the General Assembly in 2009.4 She also recalled that the country
visits she carried out as Special Rapporteur on violence against women demonstrated that,
in situations affected by terrorism or armed conflict, women are often caught between being
targeted by terrorist groups and the State’s counter-terrorism measures, which may fail to
prevent, investigate, prosecute or punish these acts. Ms. Ertürk referred to counter-terrorism
measures that use gender stereotypes as a proxy for profiling on the basis of race, national
or ethnic origin or religion. In this regard, she mentioned the practice of some countries of
arbitrarily detaining women using headscarves or regarding them as suspects of terrorist
acts. She pointed to the parallel danger of women rights being instrumentalized in
environments affected by terrorism. She concluded her presentation by referring to the
growing and comprehensive international framework on gender issues and women’s human
rights, including the creation of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the
Empowerment of Women and the Convention on preventing and combating violence
against women and domestic violence adopted in 2011 by Member States of the Council of
Europe.
III. Summary of the discussion
A.
Need for a strengthened focus on the human rights of victims of
terrorism
11.
Many delegations condemned the acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations. Several Member States recalled that, for years, international
discourse focused on the perpetrators of terrorist acts and the human rights of victims of
abusive counter-terrorism measures. In this connection, many delegations welcomed the
fact that the panel discussion was specifically dedicated to the issue of human rights of
victims of terrorism. Several delegations stated that terrorist acts infringed on a number of
human rights, while some of them added that this was regardless of whether such acts were
committed by State or non-State actors.
12.
In accordance with the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, delegations pointed out
that terrorism was a global phenomenon that could not and should not be associated with
any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group. In this context, some delegations
recalled that addressing the root causes of terrorism was a key issue, pointing to the
particular relevance of preventive measures. Delegations also emphasized the importance of
strengthening international cooperation to protect the human rights of victims of terrorism
and recalled the provisions of relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the
Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council. In particular, they pointed
to the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy that recognized the need to promote and protect
the rights of victims of terrorism.
13.
Member States expressed support for the work accomplished to date, in particular
the efforts made by the Working Group on Supporting and Highlighting Victims of
Terrorism of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. In this regard, delegations
emphasized the specific role of victims and the important contribution of civil society to
help to address the conditions conducive to terrorism by sensitizing society, building
community resilience to terrorism and bringing alleged perpetrators to justice. Delegations
also acknowledged the work undertaken by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
4
A/64/211.
7
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