Human rights and the fight against terrorism : the Council of Europe guidelines

Faced by the threat of international terrorism, there may be a temptation for governments to react with force to address the problem, and in doing so, to set aside the legal safeguards which exist in a democratic state.

However, these guidelines are based on the belief that the need to respect human rights is not an obstacle to the adoption of effective measures to combat terrorism, and they aim to serve as a practical guide for anti-terrorist policies and legislation which reconcile both requirements, Issues dealt with include: the collection and processing of personal data, prohibition of torture, measures which interfere with privacy, arrest and police custody, pre-trial detention, legal proceedings, extradition and compensation of victims.