UN Human Rights Council 40th Session
Item 3: Individual ID with the SR on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
1st March 2019
Intervention by ESTONIA
Mr. President,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement by the European Union.
Estonia would like to thank the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism for her report and the presentation today on the timely topic on the role of measures to address terrorism and violent extremism on closing civic space and violating the rights of civil society actors and human rights defenders.
The high number of counter terrorism measures that restrict the civic space is unacceptable.
Estonia has on several occasions emphasized that terrorism has no place in our world. At the same time we fully agree with the statement in the report that civil society restrictions do not make a country safe from terrorist attacks. These can be a contributing factor to unrest and violence. As civil society becomes increasingly dependent on digital technology, we are concerned about the fact that many governments adopt laws, regulations and policies or misuse counterterrorism, national security (and cybersecurity) laws in order to restrict civic space.
We have often heard in this Council that there should be no naming and shaming. However, the report shows, that in many parts of the world any form of expression that articulates a view contrary to the official position, addresses human rights violations and opines on ways to do things better in accordance with international human rights obligations, constitutes a form of terrorist activity, violent extremism, or a very broad “threat to national security”. Isn’t that also naming and shaming?
Madam Special Rapporteur, you point at the lack of comprehensive definition of terrorism and violent extremism as one of the main drivers behind the misuse of counter terrorism measures. The question: how to better safeguard the civic space in our common fight against terrorism?
Thank you!