Amnesty International joins 57 NGOs in a written statement to the UN Human Rights Council about initiatives for “countering and preventing violent extremism”. While welcoming the UN Secretary-Geneval’s recent Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extrmism for speaking of human rights protections and the rule of law, the statement expresses concern that “violent extremism” is undefined, and offers some governments opportunity to use the ambiguity to repress political opponents, journalists, or human rights defenders. It also expresses concern about the potential for the negative impact of measures on rights such as non discrimination, freedom of expression and the right to privacy.
