ODIHR trains Spanish police on human rights while countering terrorism

Complying with human rights standards, while effectively countering terrorism, was the focus of two training courses organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 2 - 3 and 5 - 6 November 2015 in Madrid, Spain.

The courses brought together 38 mid and senior-level officers of the Spanish National Police, Guardia Civil, the Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO), the Penitentiary Institutions and Regional Police of Spain, along with ODIHR staff and experts from the United Kingdom and Spain. Both courses adopted an operational approach and focused on the importance of respecting human rights to successfully counter terrorism. Among other topics, the participants discussed the adverse impact of human rights violations on counter-terrorism officers themselves and on public trust in police efforts to tackle terrorism.

“The respect of human rights in the fight against terrorism is not only a legal obligation, it is a precondition for counter-terrorism measures to be successful,” said Lucile Sengler, Adviser on Anti-Terrorism Issues at ODIHR. “These courses provided participants with an opportunity to understand the short- and long-term negative effects of human rights violations on the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures.”

The training activities built on ODIHR’s new curriculum for police on complying with human rights standards and effectively countering terrorism. It is one of ODIHR tools to assist OSCE participating States in developing and implementing human rights-compliant counter-terrorism measures and practices.