"There can be no real security without human rights"Strasbourg, 09.12.2002 - Statement by Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Peter Schieder on the eve of the International Human Rights Day (10 December):
"Fifteen months after the attacks of 11 September, the world continues to face an unprecedented terrorist threat. We must protect ourselves in unprecedented ways. But, in doing so, we must not sacrifice the very foundations of the society terrorists are trying to destroy. By giving up on human rights, we hand them victory.
The Assembly's position on the fight against terrorism and the protection of human rights may be summarised in five points.
Firstly, there can never be any justification for resorting to terrorism. No cause can ever be served by the deaths of innocent people.
Secondly, we must not allow human rights to become a victim of terrorism, nor should they be sacrificed in our governments' fight against it.
Thirdly, a successful anti-terrorist policy should stop more terrorists than it helps to create. Terrorist actions, particularly those aimed against civilians, are absolutely unjustifiable. However, disproportionate and indiscriminate retaliation, hurting huge numbers of innocent people, is counterproductive and wrong. It encourages the recruitment of future extremists, creating an army that may sow terror and death for decades to come.
Fourthly, terrorists are afraid of human rights. They thrive under oppression, injustice, censorship and torture. Every time a state authority departs from universally agreed standards of justice and human rights, the work of terrorists becomes easier and their popular support is likely to grow.
Fifthly, attacking the root causes of terrorism is not a sign of weakness. Repression alone will never work. To win in the struggle against terrorism, we must put in place long-term preventive measures dealing with social, political, economic and other circumstances related to terrorism. We must deal with legitimate grievances, quickly and fairly, before they are exploited by the extremists.
We have the right to both freedom and security. By giving up on one, we risk losing both."
Contact:
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit
Tel. +33 3 88 41 33 35 - Fax. +33 3 90 21 41 34
E-mail: assembly.news@coe.int
Source: PACE (T) |
