The threat of terrorism

Terrorism is a significant threat to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. To protect these values, it’s essential to counter terrorism through effective prevention and suppression. However, counter-terrorism measures must not go beyond what is necessary, as overly harsh policies can be counterproductive and harm the very principles they aim to protect.


Our approach

For over 40 years, the Council of Europe has supported its member states in strengthening national laws and fostering international co-operation to combat terrorism. This approach ensures both effective counter-terrorism efforts and full respect for human rights and democracy.

The Council of Europe Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT) co-ordinates and oversees counter-terrorism activities. The CDCT ensures the implementation of key legal instruments and provides a platform for experts to collaborate on addressing new challenges in the area.

The CDCT also works closely with a wide range of international, regional, and national partners, fostering co-operation and sharing expertise to build effective and coordinated responses to terrorism. Learn more about our partnerships here.


Our Instruments

  • The 2005 Warsaw Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism and its Additional Protocol are the main legal tools used by the Council of Europe. These instruments criminalise various terrorist activities, such as joining terrorist groups, receiving training, traveling for terrorism-related purposes, and financing terrorism. They also promote national prevention policies and international co-operation.
  • The framework also entails a number of issue-specific recommendations and guidelines that provide guidance for introducing prevention, enforcement or adjudication tools.
  • These binding and non-binding standards form part of the overarching Council of Europe policy elaborated in the Council of Europe Counter-Terrorism Strategies. The first Counter-Terrorism Strategy 2018-2022 was superseded with the second Counter-Terrorism Strategy 2023-2027.


The Role of the European Court of Human Rights

Alongside this normative and policy work, the European Court of Human Rights plays a crucial role in safeguarding fundamental rights in the context of terrorism. Through its case law, the Court has clarified how States can fight terrorism effectively while respecting the European Convention on Human Rights.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled on a wide range of issues, including detention and fair trial rights, surveillance, extradition, freedom of expression, and the protection of life and personal security in counter-terrorism operations.

For an overview of key judgments and thematic insights on terrorism-related cases before the Court, see the dedicated page on the Knowledge Sharing platform of the European Court of Human Rights.