On 27 February 2009 the ICJ release the final report of the Eminent Jurists Panel EJP). The EJP conducted a worldwide investigation into the impact of counter-terrorism laws and practices on human rights. The report Assessing Damage, Urging Action is the result of a three-year investigation that draws on sixteen hearings covering forty countries in all regions of the world, including Australia.

The report concludes that many governments have confronted the threat of terrorism with ill-conceived measures that have undermined cherished values and resulted in serious violations of human rights. It illustrates the devastating effects that notorious counter-terrorism measures such as extraordinary rendition, torture, arbitrary detention, and unfair trials have had on human rights worldwide. It warns of the increasing secrecy preventing accountability, and the danger of “temporary” measures becoming permanent features of law and practice in many states, including in democratic societies. Click here to access a copy of the report.