Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Terrorism and Counter-terrorism Fact Sheet No

II. HUMAN RIGHTS ANd COUNTER- 
TERRORISM
As seen in chapter I, terrorism has a direct impact on the enjoyment 
of human rights. As such, States have a duty to take effective counter- 
terrorism measures. While the complexity and magnitude of the challenges 
facing States and others in their efforts to combat terrorism can be 
significant, international human rights law is flexible enough to address 
them effectively. This chapter will focus on the relationship between 
counter-terrorism and human rights, examining more specifically States’ 
obligation to ensure that all counter-terrorism measures themselves 
comply with human rights standards (sect. A) and the flexibility built into 
human rights law to deal with exceptional circumstances (sect. B).
A. The promotion and protection of human rights 
while countering terrorism
Just as terrorism impacts on human rights and the functioning of society, 
so too can measures adopted by States to counter terrorism. As mentioned 
above, because terrorism has a serious impact on a range of fundamental 
human rights, States have not only a right but a duty to take effective 
counter-terrorism measures. Effective counter-terrorism measures and the 
protection of human rights are complementary and mutually reinforcing 
objectives which must be pursued together as part of States’ duty to 
protect individuals within their jurisdiction.
As referred to in chapter I, section E, the Security Council acted swiftly, 
following the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, to strengthen 
the legal framework for international cooperation and common 
approaches to the threat of terrorism in such areas as preventing its 
financing, reducing the risk that terrorists might acquire weapons of 
mass destruction and improving cross-border information-sharing by law 
enforcement authorities, as well as establishing a monitoring body, the 
Counter-Terrorism Committee, to supervise the implementation of these 
measures. Regional approaches have also been developed in the context 
of the African Union, the Council of Europe, the European Union, the 
League of Arab States, the Organization for Security and Co-operation 
in Europe, the Organization of American States, the Organization of the 
Islamic Conference, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation 
and other organizations.

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There has been a proliferation of security and counter-terrorism legislation 
and policy throughout the world since the adoption of Security Council 
resolution 1373 (2001), much of which has an impact on the enjoyment of 
human rights. Most countries, when meeting their obligations to counter 
terrorism by rushing through legislative and practical measures, have 
created negative consequences for civil liberties and fundamental human 
rights. The most relevant human rights concerns which States should take 
seriously to ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies 
with their obligations under human rights law will be highlighted in 
chapter III.