Terrorism and Human Rights

Terrorism aims at the very destruction of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It attacks the values that lie at the heart of the Charter of the United Nations and other international instruments. The destructive impact of terrorism on human rights and security has been recognized at the highest level of the United Nations, notably by the Security Council, the General Assembly, the former Commission on Human Rights and the new Human Rights Council (Rosand, 2003).

As a result of this the United Nations has come up with a number of ways or instruments which it uses to combat the human rights problem, a number of which have optional protocols which should inform State counter-terrorism law, policy and practice, as well as enable individual complaints to be made alleging human rights violations by States parties in respect of their treaty obligations.

Some of these instruments include; Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which was adopted on 18 December 2002 and entered into force 22 June 2006.

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Another one of instrument used by the UN which was adopted from Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which was adopted on 10 December 1984 and entered into force 26 June 1987.

In complying with these obligations set out by the United Nations, States are required to develop national counter-terrorism policies, laws and practices that seek to prevent terrorism, as well as prosecute and punish those responsible for terrorist acts, in a manner that is consistent with the promotion of and respect for human rights.

These activities also require states to work with one another, leading to some countries working closesly with one onether. on the other hand terrorist organizations have also led to conflicts between countries. For example the Boko Harum terrorist orginasation in Nigeria has led much of Nageria'scritisism on the world stage.