Counterterrorism, emergencies, and human rights

Terrorism thus challenges the State not only in the violence, death, destruction, and fear that it causes, but also in the complex considerations it presents for how the State can and should respond. Any such responses implicate the authority of the State under both domestic and international law, but also affect the rights and protections of individuals, including the suspected terrorists. This chapter provides an overview of counterterrorism and human rights protections in the context of international conflict and security law, focusing on the international legal measures to combat terrorism. After introducing the broad range of applicable treaty regimes and the robust United Nations Security Council counterterrorism regime, this chapter addresses the core protections that human rights law provides against state action in counterterrorism operations and other responses to emergencies.