A/72/287 Rapporteur notes that a few countries have included explicit references to human rights and non-discrimination in their national policies on counter -terrorism. For example, the counter-terrorism strategy of Switzerland is aimed, inter alia, at preventing the stigmatization of minorities and disc riminatory profiling practices. 69 In other countries, the principles of equality and non -discrimination have been integrated into various codes of conducts. In Mexico, the code of conduct for federal civil servants includes a non-discrimination provision. 70 In France, the code of conduct for the national police prohibits the discriminatory use of ethnicity, religion and national origin in targeting persons a s suspects. The code applies to all national law enforcement officials, including those carrying out immigration an d counter-terrorism functions. 71 2. Oversight and accountability mechanisms 62. The Special Rapporteur notes with interest that some Stat es have adopted measures designed to ensure the compliance of their domestic counter -terrorism frameworks with international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. Such measures include the establishment of mandatory review procedures for proposed and existing counter-terrorism legislation and polices as well as the creation of oversight mechanisms for agencies involved in combating terrorism. Review of draft legislation 63. The Special Rapporteur is pleased to note that a number of States have introduced procedures for assessing the potential human rights impact of draft legislation, including any adverse impact of counter-terrorism laws on certain groups. For example, the Attorneys General of New Zealand and Canada are required to report to Parliament where a bill appears to be inconsistent with the country’s human rights obligations under domestic law. 72 Under the Human Rights Act 1998 of the United Kingdom, the Minister in charge of a bill is obliged to provide Parliament with a written statement as to the compatibility of the bill with the Europ ean Convention on Human Rights. 73 The Special Rapporteur considers such mechanisms to be important, as they ensure that the legislature is aware of the potential human rights implications when enacting or amending counter -terrorism legislation. 64. The Special Rapporteur highlights the important advisory role of national human rights institutions and equality bodies, which can lend the ir expertise to Governments by providing in-depth human rights impact assessments of draft counter-terrorism laws and policies. 74 The opinion of 17 March 2016 of the French Commission nationale consultative des droits de l’homme on the draft law on fighting organized crime and terrorism is a good example. In this opinion, the Commission expressed concern regarding the expansion of law enforcement powers with respect to identity checks. The Commission criticized, inter alia, the failure to include safeguards against the discriminatory application of these powers. 75 __________________ 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 16/23 Switzerland, Federal Council, “Strategie der Schweiz zur Terrorismusbekämp fung” (September 2015), sect. 5.1 (in German). A/71/301, para. 77. Commission nationale de déontologie de la sécurité, saisine No. 2009.77. Canada, Department of Justice Act, sect. 4.1 (1985); New Zealand, Bill of Rights Act, sect. 7 (1990). United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Human Rights Act, chap. 42, sect. 10 (1998). See Council of Europe, “National human rights structures: protecting human rights while countering terrorism”, 6 December 2016. Available from https://perma.cc/TV74-629K. Légifrance, “Avis sur le projet de loi renforçant la lutte contre le crime organ isé, le terrorisme et leur financement, et améliorant l’efficacité et les garanties de la procédure pénale”, 4 June 2016. 17-13397

Select target paragraph3