UK people were among attenders at a recent two-day conference that discussed the need for co-operation among governments, NGOs and international agencies to ensure protection of human rights in the fight against terrorism.
Event organiser in Vienna was the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
"We must reinforce the common goals of those who point to the importance of upholding human rights and those who want to pursue the fight against terrorism", said Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which organised the meeting.
"Nor can we sacrifice the principles of our free societies – democracy, human rights and the rule of law – in the fight against terrorism. That would play into the hands of the very terrorists we fight," he continued, calling on all 55 OSCE participating States to endorse and implement recommendations made during the meeting. The recommendations concern freedom of religion, prohibition of the use of torture and the role of civil society in the fight against terrorism. Over 200 people from governments, NGOs and other bodies attended. Several participants warned against countries alienating their citizens through legislation that restricts freedom of religion and belief. Participants called for accountability and transparency on the part of law enforcement officials and legislators, particularly during detention of terrorist suspects, in order to ensure that torture is not used. There were also calls for proper training of law enforcement officials and a ban on the use of confessions extracted through torture.
"A document from the 17th century talks of "all the lies people say under torture". This is as true now as it was then," said former UK police superintendent John Pearse.
