Human rights protection key to effectively preventing violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, say participants at OSCE/ODIHR event

Measures being undertaken in the OSCE region to prevent violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) are counter-productive when they fail to comply with human rights, said participants in a side event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during the OSCE’s annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on 22 September 2016.

The discussion took place in the context of increasing attention to the prevention of VERLT and the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. OSCE participating States have pledged to protect human rights and the rule of law in all their measures to address these phenomena and have stressed the vital role that communities and civil society organizations, including victims, women and youth organizations, can play.

“The discussion today underlined once again that measures to prevent VERLT and the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters must address their root causes, including human rights violations, discrimination and the lack of rule of law,” said Omer Fisher, Acting Head of the ODIHR Human Rights Department.

Participants, including speakers from the Geneva Academy on International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Human Rights Watch and Ensan Diamond, a Kyrgyzstani-based NGO, also discussed the role of civil society organizations in efforts to prevent VERLT and the potential challenges they face.

The side event was organized as part of ODIHR assistance to OSCE participating States in developing and implementing measures  in this area in line with international human rights standards and OSCE commitments.