15/L.20 Impunity for terrorist hostage-takers, ransom payments and human rights

GE.10-16337

Human Rights Council Fifteenth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Cuba, Nigeria (on behalf of the African Group), Yemen*: draft decision

15/… Impunity for terrorist hostage-takers, ransom payments and human rights

At its …….. meeting, on …….., the Human Rights Council decided to adopt the following text:

“The Human Rights Council,

Recalling previous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Council on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, human rights and terrorism and hostage-taking;

Reaffirming, in particular, that peace and security, development and human rights are the interrelated pillars of the United Nations system, reaffirming also its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods, practices and financing of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, regardless of their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable, and renewing its commitment to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism;

Recognizing that effective counter-terrorism measures and the protection of human rights are not conflicting goals but are complementary and mutually reinforcing;

Expressing concern at the increase in incidents of kidnapping and hostage- taking committed by individuals, groups, undertakings and entities included in terrorism-related sanctions lists and at the payment of ransoms to, and/or the release of, individuals involved in acts of terrorism, which are tantamount to financing terrorism and promoting impunity for human rights violations, thus exposing an increased number of innocent individuals to such human rights violations;

* Non-Member State of the Human Rights Council.

Recognizing, therefore, the need to reflect on the issue of human rights in the context of hostage-taking, ransom payments and impunity for the terrorists involved;

1. Decides to convene, within existing resources, at its sixteenth session, a panel discussion on the issue of human rights in the context of hostage-taking, ransom payments and impunity for the terrorists involved;

2. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to liaise with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism and all concerned parties and stakeholders, including relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, with a view to ensuring their participation in the panel discussion;

3. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report on the outcome of the panel discussion in the form of a summary.”