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

part in hostilities the object of those acts of violence.

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“3. The above offence was committed with the primary purpose of spreading terror 
among the civilian population.” 
26
See further the reports of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: 
UNHCR, “Addressing security concerns without undermining refugee protection – a UNHCR 
perspective” (November 2001); UNHCR, Ten refugee protection concerns in the aftermath 
of September 11, press release, 23 October 2001.
27
UNHCR, “Guidelines on international protection: application of the exclusion clauses: 
article 1F of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees” (HCR/GIP/03/05);
UNHCR, “Background note on the application of the exclusion clauses: article 1F of the 1951 
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees” (2003).
28
See UNHCR, “Note on the cancellation of refugee status” (22 November 2004).
29
A more secure world…, para. 21.
30
See, for example, Annual Report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 
1990–1991, chap. V, sect. II, and Digest of jurisprudence ….
31
See, for example, General Assembly resolution 60/158, para. 1,
32
See Security Council resolutions 1456 (2003), annex, para. 6, and 1624 (2005), 
para. 4.
33
See Human Rights Committee, general comment N° 31, para. 6, and Siracusa Principles 
on the limitation and derogation of provisions in the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights (E/CN.4/1985/4, annex).
34
See, for example, Human Rights Committee general comment N° 29; Siracusa Principles 
(E/CN.4/1985/4, annex, paras. 15 and 17); “Report of the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Human Rights and Follow-up to the World Conference on Human Rights–Human rights: 
a uniting framework” (E/CN.4/2002/18, annex, paras. 3 (a) and 4 (a)); Council of Europe, 
Guidelines on human rights and the fight against terrorism (2002), Guideline III; and 
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, “Report on terrorism and human rights” 
(OEA/Ser.L/V/II.116, Doc. 5 rev. 1 corr., para. 53).
35
As held, for example, by the European Court of Human Rights in Sunday Times v. 
United Kingdom, N° 6538/74, Judgement of 26 April 1979, para. 49.
36
In the context of terrorism offences, these requirements have been emphasized by 
the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental 
freedoms while countering terrorism (E/CN.4/2006/98, para. 49).
37
There are, however, exceptions. See, for example, article 18 of the International 
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects the right to freedom of thought, 
conscience, religion and belief, and does not include national security as a permissible 
ground for limitations.
38
The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and 
fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism has emphasized that offences created under 
counter-terrorist legislation, along with any associated powers of investigation or prosecution, 
must be limited to countering terrorism (E/CN.4/2006/98, para. 47). See also “A preliminary 
framework draft of principles and guidelines concerning human rights and terrorism” 
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/39, para. 33).
39
See, for example, Siracusa Principles (E/CN.4/1985/4, annex, para. 17); Council of 
Europe, Guidelines…, Guideline III (para. 2); and Inter-American Commission on Human 
Rights, “Report on terrorism and human rights” (paras. 51 and 55).

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40
See, for example, E/CN.4/2002/18, annex, para. 4 (d); Council of Europe, Guidelines…, 
Guideline III (para. 2); and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, “Report on 
terrorism and human rights” (paras. 51 and 55).
41
See, for example, the approach of the Supreme Court of Canada to this effect: Lavigne 
v. Ontario Public Service Employees Union [1991] 2 SCR 211 and Figueroa v. Canada (Attorney