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UK Parliament
Counter terrorism

Counter-terrorism and human rights

26 March 2014

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The JCHR keeps counter-terrorism laws and policy under review for human rights compatibility as part of its ongoing work monitoring the Government’s response to recommendations made to the UK by the UN Human Rights Council in its Universal Periodic Review, and by the UN treaty bodies such as the UN Committee Against Torture. 

Witnesses

At 9.45am, Wednesday 26 March 2014, in Committee Room 3A, Palace of Westminster

  • David Anderson QC, Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, and
  • Ben Emmerson QC, UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights.

Themes

The Committee will ask the witnesses what they consider to be the most significant and urgent human rights issues in counter-terrorism law and policy, including:

  • the implications of the Miranda judgment on the power to stop and search without reasonable suspicion at ports
  • the adequacy of legal protections for “journalistic material” when national security is in issue
  • the proposals of the post-Woolwich task force on extremism
  • deprivation of citizenship leaving people stateless
  • the legal framework for communications surveillance after the Snowden disclosures
  • the adequacy of the current system for monitoring and oversight of the human rights compatibility of counter-terrorism law and policy
  • the legal framework governing the UK’s involvement in drone strikes
  • the implications of the decision to entrust to the Intelligence and Security Committee the official inquiry into allegations of the UK’s complicity in rendition and torture
  • issues concerning counter-terrorism in Northern Ireland, including the ongoing justification for certain powers and the human rights implications of amnesties in relation to the past
  • Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures.

Further information