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The use of the Internet

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102<br />

THE USE OF THE INTERNET FOR TERRORIST PURPOSES<br />

measures against terrorism, in conformity with international law, including international<br />

human rights and humanitarian law. In addition to incorporating this fundamental<br />

principal at a political level, <strong>the</strong> United Nations, through its Special Rapporteur on <strong>the</strong><br />

promotion and protection <strong>of</strong> human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering<br />

terrorism, regularly reports to <strong>the</strong> Human Rights Council and to <strong>the</strong> General Assembly<br />

on areas <strong>of</strong> concern related to <strong>the</strong> human rights aspects <strong>of</strong> criminal justice measures<br />

targeting terrorism and makes recommendations for remedial action by relevant actors.<br />

Issues raised by <strong>the</strong> Special Rapporteur have included those related to <strong>the</strong> detention<br />

and charging <strong>of</strong> suspects. 158<br />

341. <strong>The</strong>re are several publications dealing specifically with, and aimed at, promoting<br />

respect for human rights and <strong>the</strong> rule <strong>of</strong> law within <strong>the</strong> remit <strong>of</strong> prosecutors and criminal<br />

justice <strong>of</strong>ficers involved in terrorism prosecutions. In 2003 <strong>the</strong> Office <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> United<br />

Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights produced <strong>the</strong> Digest <strong>of</strong> Jurisprudence <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> United Nations and Regional Organizations on <strong>the</strong> Protection <strong>of</strong> Human Rights while<br />

Countering Terrorism. Within <strong>the</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> Europe, which has fully recognized and<br />

integrated <strong>the</strong> obligation to implement <strong>the</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> human rights as a fundamental<br />

principle into its instruments dealing with crime prevention and criminal justice issues,<br />

including terrorism, this principle is reaffirmed in <strong>the</strong> Guidelines <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Committee <strong>of</strong><br />

Ministers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> Europe on Human Rights and <strong>the</strong> Fight against Terrorism,<br />

adopted by <strong>the</strong> Committee <strong>of</strong> Ministers on 11 July 2002. 159 <strong>The</strong>se documents provide<br />

valuable guidance for prosecutors working in <strong>the</strong> counter-terrorism field.<br />

C. Role <strong>of</strong> prosecutors in terrorism cases<br />

342. <strong>The</strong> role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prosecutor in <strong>the</strong> conduct <strong>of</strong> criminal proceedings, including<br />

terrorism cases, varies between countries. In some countries, particularly civil-law jurisdictions,<br />

prosecutors have formal responsibility for overseeing <strong>the</strong> conduct <strong>of</strong> criminal<br />

investigations, supervising teams <strong>of</strong> investigators throughout, making decisions on search<br />

and surveillance activities and <strong>the</strong> laying <strong>of</strong> charges or indictments and dealing with<br />

international cooperation issues and <strong>the</strong> conduct <strong>of</strong> proceedings before <strong>the</strong> courts.<br />

343. In an inquisitorial judicial system like <strong>the</strong> French one, for example, <strong>the</strong> prosecutor<br />

is generally tasked with beginning <strong>the</strong> legal action and with initiating preliminary<br />

investigations, defining <strong>the</strong> scope <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> crimes; however, an examining judge, or juge<br />

d’instruction, will lead <strong>the</strong> formal judicial investigation, collecting and examining evidence.<br />

When <strong>the</strong> culpability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> subject can be excluded, <strong>the</strong> examining judge will<br />

close proceedings; o<strong>the</strong>rwise, <strong>the</strong> subject will be committed for trial before a different<br />

judge. In terrorism cases, in addition to presenting <strong>the</strong> prosecution case to a judge, <strong>the</strong><br />

chief prosecutor may petition or submit a motion for fur<strong>the</strong>r investigation.<br />

158 Ibid.<br />

159 Any text created within <strong>the</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> Europe, irrespective <strong>of</strong> whe<strong>the</strong>r it is a binding convention or a “s<strong>of</strong>t law”<br />

instrument, such as a recommendation or resolution issued by <strong>the</strong> Parliamentary Assembly or <strong>the</strong> Committee <strong>of</strong><br />

Ministers, including any guidelines on various topics, must always be in compliance with <strong>the</strong> extensive case law <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

European Court <strong>of</strong> Human Rights on <strong>the</strong> respective issue.

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