UNITED NATIONS CCPR
International covenant on civil and political rights
Distr. GENERAL
CCPR/C/GBR/CO/6
30 July 2008
Original: ENGLISH
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
Ninety-third session
Geneva, 7-25 July 2008
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 40 OF THE
COVENANT Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee UNITED
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
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1. The Committee considered the sixth periodic report submitted by the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (CCPR/C/GBR/6) at its
2541st, 2542ndd and 2543rdd meetings, held on 7 and 8 July 2008
(CCPR/C/SR.2541, 2542 and 2543). The Committee adopted the following
concluding observations at its 2558th and 2559th meetings, held on 18 July
2008 (CCPR/C/SR.2558 and 2559).
26. The Committee notes with concern that the offence of "encouragement of
terrorism" has been defined in section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in broad
and vague terms. In particular, a person can commit the offence even when he
or she did not intend members of the public to be directly or indirectly
encouraged by his or her statement to commit acts of terrorism, but where
his or her statement was understood by some members of the public as
encouragement to commit such acts. (art. 19)
The State party should consider amending that part of section 1 of the
Terrorism Act 2006 dealing with "encouragement of terrorism" so that its
application does not lead to a disproportionate interference with freedom of
expression.
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Mark Perkins MLIS, MCLIP
www.markperkins.info
https://keyserver.pgp.com/
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