Source: The International Commission of Jurists
December 2008

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST

• Lebanon: Special Tribunal for Lebanon to begin work
• Iraq: UN Mission in Iraq highlights terrorism related human rights violations
• Israel: Universal Periodic Review addresses human rights in countering terrorism

AMERICAS

• USA: Five Guantánamo detainees offer and then withdraw guilty plea
• USA: Circuit Court allows aggravating circumstance of terrorism for assault of correctional officer
• USA: Senate report finds high-level responsibility in detainee abuses
• Colombia: Anti-terrorism prosecutor fired after eavesdropping revelations
• Colombia: Universal Periodic Review debate addresses stigmatising of human rights defenders as terrorists

ASIA - PACIFIC

• China: UN Committee Against Torture urges human rights protection in countering terrorism
• India: Parliament passes two anti-terrorism laws
• Nepal: UN Human Rights Committee finds enforced disappearance of terrorist suspect violates ICCPR
• Philippines: Three suspects charged under the Human Security Act 2007
• Malaysia: Terrorism suspects released after years of indefinite detention

EUROPE & COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES

• UK: Open verdict at the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes
• France: Anti-Terrorism Law adopted by the National Assembly
• France: Use of French terrorism offence on railroad saboteurs draws criticism
• Italy: Rendition trial suspended due to constitutional questions on secret of state
• Spain: El Pais reveals document demonstrating Spanish complicity in extraordinary renditions
• Portugal: Minister urges resettlement of Guantánamo detainees in Europe; says Portugal will accept some detainees
• Belgium: UN Human Rights Committee finds implementation of UN terrorism blacklists violates ICCPR
• Turkey: Kurdish activist sentenced to 10 years in prison for "terrorist organisation" membership
• Kazakhstan: UN Committee Against Torture concerned at Kazak anti-terrorism practices
• Russian Federation: Duma approves bill to end jury trial for terrorism suspects

UNITED NATIONS & REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS

• UN: Third Committee approves resolution on human rights and counter-terrorism
• UN: Joint Declaration on freedom of expression and counter-terrorism issued by four regional and international independent experts
• EU: The Court annuls, for the third time, a Council decision freezing the funds of PMOI
• EU: Justice and Home Affairs Council urges terrorism early warning mechanism
• EU: European Data Protection Supervisor issues opinion on transatlantic information sharing
• Council of Europe: European Commissioner for Human Rights publishes report on right to privacy and counter-terrorism

IN BRIEF
Article 19 denounces violation of freedom of expression by anti-terrorism laws in Swaziland HRW publishes report on police violence in Turkey