Talking About Terrorism: Risks and Choices for Human Rights Organisations

Abstract

Have human rights organizations responded adequately to the threat of international terrorism and official responses to that threat? This report reaffirms that the core mission of human rights advocates is to make sure that governments respect human rights and the rule of law. But fresh thinking is also needed. Human rights organizations should participate in efforts to agree a sound definition of terrorism in international law. A victim-centred approach might enable them to apply human rights to a wider range of issues, making their advocacy more relevant to those who suffer because of terrorist violence. The report discusses how advocates might develop principled but also more understandable positions when they talk about terrorism to officials and the public or those who sympathize with it.

Keywords: human rights, terrorism, rule of law