Summary

In the present report, the recently appointed Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul, outlines his approach to his mandate, reviews the state of human rights protection in global counter-terrorism efforts, identifies areas of continuity with his predecessor and sets out new thematic priorities. The Special Rapporteur will continue the advocacy work on the impacts of counter-terrorism laws and practices on civil society, arbitrary detention in north-eastern Syrian Arab Republic, protection for detainees and transferees from the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, human rights in the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture and new technologies. New themes for future reports include the protection of human rights in countering terrorism by regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, administrative measures in countering terrorism, the roles of non-State actors and specialized international bodies in countering terrorism and accountability and reparation for large-scale violations of human rights resulting from counter-terrorism measures. The Special Rapporteur highlights the ways in which many human rights violations identified by his predecessors over the past 18 years have not only not been remedied but have worsened, and he calls upon States to redouble their efforts to place human rights at the centre of efforts to counter terrorism.