European Union
Concept Note
Enhancing the Role of Parliamentarians in Building Effective
Counter-Terrorism Systems within a Rule of Law Framework
Parliamentary Workshop
Istanbul, 20 - 21 April 2016
States’ responsibility to protect citizens from terrorism-related threats require the establishment of a
consistent rule of law framework that assigns primary responsibilities to legislatures. Parliamentarians’
work in the field of counter terrorism increases the effectiveness of counter terrorism policies that will
benefit from enhanced accountability mechanisms, civic participation, and adherence to international
best practices. Moreover, the transposition of the counter terrorism international legal framework into
domestic legislation requires parliaments to enjoy accurate assistance for national security goals to be
pursued in accordance with the international law. Legislators also directly impact the effectiveness of
an anti-terrorism regime through allocation of national budget resources, oversight of justice sector
institutions and existing legislation, public statements, and overall setting of national policy. Their
independent role requires informed judgment to guarantee a transparent anti-terrorism legislation
and national policy aiming at securing individual rights and the rule of law.
In recognition of the critical role of parliamentarians, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule
of Law (IIJ), in the framework of a project funded by the European Commission (EC), announces the
second regional workshop on “Enhancing
the Role of Parliamentarians in Building Effective Counter-
Terrorism Systems within a Rule of Law Framework”
to be hosted by the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey (GNAT) on 20-21 April 2016 in Istanbul. The event marks the fourth stage of the overall series
inaugurated in Valletta on 5-6 May 2015 and followed by the first regional workshop addressing
legislators hosted by the Parliament of Morocco in October 2015, and the Symposium held in Brussels
on 1-2 March.
In the course of the project, a set of draft good practices to assist the work of legislators on counter
terrorism emerged. These address the following key topics:
1) incorporating requirements of international instruments against terrorism into domestic law and
enacting timely anti-terrorism laws respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms;
2) investigating the sources of terrorism, including radicalisation of individuals;
3) establishing effective justice sector institutions and interagency bodies;