A/RES/57/219 committed, regardless of their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable, and renewing its commitment to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Stressing that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 3 without distinction of any kind, including on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Recalling that, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 4 certain rights are recognized as non-derogable in any circumstances and that any measures derogating from the provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlining the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations, 1. Affirms that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law; 2. Encourages States, while countering terrorism, to take into account relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions on human rights, and encourages them to consider the recommendations of the special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the relevant comments and views of United Nations human rights treaty bodies; 3. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, making use of existing mechanisms: (a) To examine the question of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, taking into account reliable information from all sources; (b) To make general recommendations concerning the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms while taking actions to counter terrorism; (c) To provide assistance and advice to States, upon their request, on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, as well as to relevant United Nations bodies; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. 77th plenary meeting 18 December 2002 _______________ 3 4 2 Resolution 217 A (III). See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.