Assessing Damage, Urging Action: Report of the ICJ Eminent Jurists Panel on Terrorism, Counterterrorism and Human Rights

On February 27, the Brookings Institution and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) hosted the U.S. launch of the “Eminent Jurists Panel Report on Terrorism, Counterterrorism and Human Rights.” The Eminent Jurists Panel is an independent body comprised of eight distinguished judges and lawyers from around the world, established by the ICJ to conduct a global inquiry into the impact of counterterrorism laws, polices and practices on human rights.

The report is based on sixteen hearings held over a three-year period, covering more than forty countries in all regions of the world. The panel met with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior government officials, judges, lawyers and civil society representatives and examined key issues in the fight against terrorism, including the concept of a “war on terror,” the increased role of intelligence services, the reliance on administrative measures based on intelligence, and the role of the criminal justice system in countering terrorism. The report comes at a time when, seven years after 9/11, there may be new momentum for changes in counterterrorism strategies.

A panel of experts provided an overview of the report and its recommendations, and discussed what the recommendations mean for U.S. law and policy. After each panel, participants took audience questions.

Download the report » (ICJ web site)