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MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION TO DISCUSS UPHOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS WHILE COUNTERING TERRORISM
21 October 2008
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21 October 2008
In the first event of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, more than 60 delegates representing governments, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations from 17 countries will take part in a Regional Seminar on Upholding Human Rights While Countering Terrorism from 27 to 29 October 2008 in Amman, Jordan.
"As countries across the world are increasingly turning their attention and resources to countering terrorism, it is essential to reaffirm states' obligation to protect human rights in this respect", said Adam Abdelmoula, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Unit at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), announcing the Seminar, which has been organized in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme in Jordan, under the auspices of the Kingdom of Jordan.
OHCHR will approach significant partners in the region including governments, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations, relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and programmes, to initiate a regional discussion on the human rights obligations of States while undertaking measures to counter-terrorism. The discussion also aims at promoting the exchange of information and good practices between relevant actors on the protection of international human rights standards within effective counter-terrorism laws.
The Seminar will focus on key issues of specific interest to the region regarding human rights and counter-terrorism. The first session will focus on the principle of legality and certainty in defining terrorism-related offences. The second session will examine issues related to the treatment of individuals suspected of terrorist activity, in particular fundamental rights concerning detention and transfer and limitations on freedoms of expression, religion and association. The final session will explore the impact of limitations on economic, social and cultural rights of counter-terrorism measures.
The Amman gathering comes as the third event organized by OHCHR on upholding human rights while countering terrorism. The first seminar was convened on human rights, counter-terrorism and states of emergency in Switzerland in June 2005. The second was organized jointly with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Office for Democratic Institutions on Human Rights and international cooperation in countering terrorism, in Liechtenstein, in November 2006.
An outcome document summarizing all discussions will be issued at the end of the Seminar to provide additional guidance on conformity with international human rights standards when combating terrorism.
Arabic version ...
_________
For use of the information media; not an official record
In the first event of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, more than 60 delegates representing governments, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations from 17 countries will take part in a Regional Seminar on Upholding Human Rights While Countering Terrorism from 27 to 29 October 2008 in Amman, Jordan.
"As countries across the world are increasingly turning their attention and resources to countering terrorism, it is essential to reaffirm states' obligation to protect human rights in this respect", said Adam Abdelmoula, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Unit at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), announcing the Seminar, which has been organized in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme in Jordan, under the auspices of the Kingdom of Jordan.
OHCHR will approach significant partners in the region including governments, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations, relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and programmes, to initiate a regional discussion on the human rights obligations of States while undertaking measures to counter-terrorism. The discussion also aims at promoting the exchange of information and good practices between relevant actors on the protection of international human rights standards within effective counter-terrorism laws.
The Seminar will focus on key issues of specific interest to the region regarding human rights and counter-terrorism. The first session will focus on the principle of legality and certainty in defining terrorism-related offences. The second session will examine issues related to the treatment of individuals suspected of terrorist activity, in particular fundamental rights concerning detention and transfer and limitations on freedoms of expression, religion and association. The final session will explore the impact of limitations on economic, social and cultural rights of counter-terrorism measures.
The Amman gathering comes as the third event organized by OHCHR on upholding human rights while countering terrorism. The first seminar was convened on human rights, counter-terrorism and states of emergency in Switzerland in June 2005. The second was organized jointly with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Office for Democratic Institutions on Human Rights and international cooperation in countering terrorism, in Liechtenstein, in November 2006.
An outcome document summarizing all discussions will be issued at the end of the Seminar to provide additional guidance on conformity with international human rights standards when combating terrorism.
Arabic version ...
_________
For use of the information media; not an official record