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I welcome the convening of this important workshop on human rights and the rule of law within the context of countering terrorism.  I thank the Government of Nigeria for its interest and support to this initiative of the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force.

The terrorist threat posed by Boko Haram is evolving in new and unpredictable directions, posing one of the most serious challenges facing Nigeria, and increasingly the sub-region, today.  Boko Haram’s recent horrific and appalling use of young girls as suicide bombers has added even further urgency to the need for a response.  There is no more craven crime than forcing innocent children to sacrifice their lives to commit atrocities against others.

Boko Haram has brutally murdered thousands of innocent people.  It has kidnapped hundreds of women and children, burning whole villages and towns.

Stopping this violence and bringing the perpetrators to justice demands multifaceted action that addresses the immediate security challenges, the political context, and the underlying, long-term grievances.  Our collective response must aim to ensure that all counter-terrorism policies and actions are consistent with international human rights and humanitarian laws.  You have a firm basis for action in Security Council resolution 1624 (2005) on strengthened steps against terrorism and the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, particularly Pillar IV on measures to ensure respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis of the fight against terrorism.

All counter-terrorism efforts must be firmly rooted in human rights and the rule of law.  Terrorism strikes at the core values that the United Nations seeks to promote and protect.  For our collective responses to terrorism to be legitimate, they must uphold human rights.  Experience across the world has shown that if our counter-terrorism response fails to respect the values embodied in the United Nations Charter, our actions could further exacerbate the problem by alienating the people and communities we are supposed to be protecting.

Â鶹´«Ã½ fully supports Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and its efforts to protect and respect the human rights of all people.  Â鶹´«Ã½ Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force will continue – and, in response to requests from the national authorities, increase – support to address this threat.

Together, we must take a comprehensive, consistent approach to create a more stable and peaceful future where all people can live in security and dignity.

In this spirit, I wish you every success.