A/HRC/30/64 evidence, which could pose challenges in terms of human rights. Thus, appropriate rule of law-based approaches aligned with the principles of necessity and proportionality must be identified. He also mentioned that UNODC had integrated human rights good practices in its curricula and believed that more engagement with parliamentarians was important. 43. A number of delegates cautioned that attempts to prevent terrorism were unnecessarily and disproportionately infringing on human rights — particularly civil and political rights. One delegate noted that the freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression and association facilitated a range of other human rights and were key elements of open and democratic societies because the ability to share and challenge ideas, and to organize was vital to the health of any society. A society without those rights would stagnate. Under human rights law, any limitations on the freedom of expression must be provided by law and be necessary for respect for the rights or reputation of others or the protection of national security, public order, public health or morals. Any limitations must be in accordance with an appropriate, transparent and legal framework and national security agencies must have appropriate authority and oversight to allow States to respond quickly to threats to national security while respecting their human rights obligations. Another delegate said that State efforts should not constrain civil society and that, when States committed human rights violations in the name of counter-terrorism, they played into the hands of terrorist groups. Other delegates noted that social media had often been used to spread radical messages and for purposes such as incitement to terrorism. 44. Representatives of NGOs and national human rights institutions provided specific examples of instances in which the freedoms of speech, expression and association had been curtailed as States attempted to combat terrorism. Concern at laws on terrorism that lacked the requisite specificity was voiced and reference was made to overly broad counterterrorism measures which had a negative impact on and arbitrarily restricted human rights and which were in breach of the principle of legality. States should not use counterterrorism as a smokescreen to stifle dissenting voices and Governments had a responsibility to protect those under their jurisdiction from extremist attacks, but should not use counterterrorism as a reason to prosecute alleged terrorism offences in mass trials, conduct mass surveillance or pass legislation with large discretionary powers. 45. One delegate, speaking on behalf of a regional group of States, referred to the problematic use of the death penalty in counter-terrorism efforts. Concern was expressed that States resorted to the death penalty for authors of acts of terrorism, even when the offence of terrorism was broadly and vaguely defined. The fact that intergovernmental organizations provided assistance to States that applied the death penalty was highlighted, and the panellists were asked about the steps that United Nations agencies had taken to ensure that the support and assistance they provided did not render them complicit in executions. In response, the Deputy Director of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre stated that the Secretary-General continued to condemn the death penalty in all circumstances and that the work of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office was conducted within the international human rights legal framework. The Chief of Implementation Support Section III stated that UNODC technical assistance interventions integrated protection of human rights in all areas. He noted that UNODC had suspended cooperation with countries that had not respected human rights or democratic principles. 46. One delegate highlighted the need for women’s rights to be central to all efforts to counter terrorism, noting that extremists had placed the subordination of women and the denial of their rights at the heart of their strategy. It advocated for the Human Rights Council to continue to advance the promotion and protection of women’s full and equal enjoyment of all human rights. 11