The Ottawa Principles on Anti-terrorism and Human Rights/Les Principes d'Ottawa relatifs à la lutte au terrorisme et aux droits de l'homme

• Author: Craig Forcese; Nicole LaViolette
• Pages: 18-93

the ottawa principles18

The Ottawa Principles on Anti-terrorism

and Human Rights*

INTRODUCTION

In June 2006, experts on human rights and terrorism met in their in-

dividual capacities at the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ot-

tawa, Canada to develop the following Principles on Anti-terrorism and

Human Rights. The y shared a common view that the preservation of

human rights—not least the right to life—is the central motivator of

anti-terrorism. They also believed that human rights constitute an ele -

mental and immutable constraint on how anti-terrorism is conducted.

The struggle for collective security must not be an assault on the in-

dividual’s life, liberty and security of the person. This document is the

product of their deliberations.

* Available online at http://aix1.uottawa.ca/~cforcese/hrat/principles.pdf.

les principes d’ottawa 19

Les Principes d’Ottawa relatifs à la lutte

au terrorisme et aux droits de l’homme*

INTRODUCTION

En juin 2006, des spécialistes des droits de l’homme et de la lutte au

terrorisme se sont réunis, à titre individuel, à la faculté de droit de l’Uni-

versité d’Ottawa, à Ottawa, Canada pour élaborer les Principes suivants

relatifs à la lutte au terrorisme et aux droits de l’homme. Ils ont tous

partagé le point de vue voulant que la protection des droits de l’homme

et, au premier chef, le droit à la vie, constitue l’élément moteur de la

lutte au terrorisme. Ils ont également estimé que les droits de l’homme

restreignent de façon essentielle et immuable la manière dont la lutte

au terrorisme est menée. La lutte pour la sécurité collective ne doit pas

constituer une atteinte à la vie, à la liberté et à la sécurité des person-

nes. Ce document est le fruit de leurs délibérations.

* Disponible en ligne à http://aix1.uottawa.ca/~cforcese/hrat/principles.pdf.

the ottawa principles20

Part 1: General Principle on Anti-terrorism and Human Rights

Principle 1.1: Right to non-discrimination and respect for the

rule of law

1.1.1 All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any

discrimination to the equal protection of the law.

1.1.2 All measures taken by states to f‌ight terrorism must respect hu-

man rights and the rule of law, while excluding any form of arbi-

trariness as well as any discriminatory or racist treatment, and

must be subject to appropriate supervision.

1.1.3 State activities to prevent, investigate or prosecute acts of ter-

rorism must not involve discrimination based on race, color, sex,

sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion,

national or social origin, nationality, property, birth, immigration

status, or other status.

1.1.4 In particular, state activities to prevent, investigate or prosecute

acts of terrorism must not subject particular groups to increased

scrutiny or differential treatment on the basis of their status or

personal characteristics. State off‌icials must not use race, ethni-

city, or other personal characteristics as the basis for stopping,

searching, detaining, or in other ways restricting the rights and

freedoms of affected individuals, except in relation to a specif‌ic

suspect description, relevant to a particular offence, place and

time.