The obligation to suppress terrorism as a means to protect human rights

Abstract

Terrorism has a devastating impact on the enjoyment of human rights. The UN Security Council, as the organ responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, indicates a primary duty of states to protect anyone within their jurisdiction against terrorism. However, a breach of the obligation to suppress terrorism may lead to a situation when individuals bring claims directly against states before international human rights bodies arguing that the states were not able or unwilling to prevent and suppress terrorist acts or didn’t take all the necessary measures to prosecute those who had committed terrorist crimes.