What is the primary focus of the ICCTHS?

The conference focuses on the critical balance between counter-terrorism strategies and the protection of human security and rights.

How can one apply to attend the conference?

Information regarding application and registration can be found via the provided apply URL.

International Conference on Counter Terrorism and Human Security (ICCTHS) - Paris

Name: International Conference on Counter Terrorism and Human Security (ICCTHS) - Paris
Start: 2026-05-11T00:00:00Z
End: 2026-05-11T00:00:00Z
Location: Paris

May 11, 2026Paris, FranceIn-person

Registration open

The International Conference on Counter Terrorism and Human Security (ICCTHS) convenes in Paris, FRA, to explore the complex interplay between national security imperatives and the protection of human rights. This gathering aims to foster a nuanced understanding of how counter-terrorism strategies can be implemented effectively while upholding fundamental freedoms and international legal norms. Participants will engage in discussions that bridge the gap between security concerns and human rights advocacy, seeking sustainable solutions to global challenges. The conference provides a platform for academics, policymakers, and practitioners to share research, best practices, and innovative approaches. It emphasizes the need for a balanced perspective, acknowledging the critical importance of combating terrorism while rigorously safeguarding civil liberties and human dignity. The discussions are expected to contribute to the development of more ethical and effective counter-terrorism frameworks worldwide.

Committees & topics

Topics
Privacy in the Age of Mass Surveillance and Counter-Terrorism · Information Security Law and the Governance of Cyberspace

Why it matters

The intersection of counter-terrorism and human security is a critical area of international discourse, directly impacting global stability and individual well-being. As states grapple with evolving terrorist threats, the methods employed to counter these dangers often raise significant human rights concerns. This conference is vital because it addresses the inherent tension between these two essential objectives, seeking pathways for their reconciliation.

Effective counter-terrorism measures are indispensable for protecting populations from violence and maintaining state sovereignty. However, when these measures infringe upon human rights, they risk alienating communities, fueling grievances, and potentially exacerbating the very conditions that can lead to radicalization. The ICCTHS offers a crucial forum for examining these delicate balances, promoting strategies that are both robust in their security objectives and scrupulous in their adherence to human rights principles.

Furthermore, the conference's focus on human security broadens the scope beyond traditional state-centric security paradigms. It acknowledges that true security encompasses not only freedom from violence but also freedom from want, freedom from fear, and the protection of human dignity. By integrating these perspectives, the ICCTHS contributes to a more holistic understanding of security, one that recognizes the interconnectedness of human rights, development, and peace.

How to prepare

Delegates preparing for the ICCTHS should focus on developing a comprehensive understanding of international human rights law and its application in counter-terrorism contexts. This includes familiarity with relevant treaties, conventions, and customary international law. Research into case studies where counter-terrorism operations have either successfully integrated human rights protections or faced significant challenges in doing so would be highly beneficial. Understanding the nuances of how different states interpret and apply these legal frameworks is crucial for informed participation.

Consideration of the various stakeholders involved in counter-terrorism and human security is also paramount. This involves not only state actors and security agencies but also civil society organizations, human rights advocates, victims of terrorism, and affected communities. Applying principles from the /learn/lessons/what-is-stakeholder-mapping and /learn/lessons/stakeholder-workshop lessons can help in identifying their diverse interests, concerns, and potential contributions. Delegates should be prepared to engage with a multitude of perspectives, some of which may be conflicting.

Finally, delegates should be ready to propose and discuss practical, actionable solutions that bridge the divide between security and human rights. This might involve exploring innovative technologies, community engagement strategies, judicial oversight mechanisms, or rehabilitation and reintegration programs. The conference aims to move beyond theoretical discussions to foster concrete recommendations, requiring participants to think critically and creatively about policy and implementation.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 1 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

France

As the host nation, FRA is deeply invested in both robust counter-terrorism measures and the protection of human rights, often navigating complex domestic and international challenges in this balance.

Role in topic

FRA has been a significant target of terrorist attacks and has implemented extensive counter-terrorism legislation and operations. Concurrently, it is a strong proponent of human rights within international forums. Its role as host provides a critical backdrop for discussions on balancing security imperatives with civil liberties, reflecting its own experiences and ongoing policy debates.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Privacy in the Age of Mass Surveillance and Counter-Terrorism

The modern right to privacy is anchored in Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and Article 17 of the ICCPR, but its contours have been radically reshaped by the post-9/11 counter-terrorism era. The expansion of bulk data collection, biometric databases, and cross-border intelligence sharing — exemplified by programs revealed in the 2013 Snowden disclosures — triggered global debate over the proportionality of state surveillance. The European Court of Justice's Schrems I (2015) and Schrems II (2020) rulings invalidated successive EU-US data transfer frameworks, while the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (2018) set a new global benchmark for individual data rights. The core dispute pits security imperatives — preventing terrorist attacks, tracking foreign fighters, disrupting financing networks — against the right to be free from arbitrary interference with one's communications and personal data. States diverge sharply: the EU treats privacy as a fundamental right with strict purpose limitation; the United States operates a sectoral model with broad national-security exceptions under FISA Section 702; China and Russia have built data-localization regimes that prioritize state access; and many developing states lack comprehensive privacy legislation altogether. UN Special Rapporteurs on the right to privacy and on counter-terrorism have repeatedly warned that surveillance powers granted in emergencies tend to become permanent. Today the frontier issues are biometric mass surveillance (facial recognition in public spaces), AI-driven predictive policing, commercial spyware such as Pegasus used against journalists and activists, and the use of passenger name records (PNR) and SWIFT financial data for counter-terrorism screening. The 2024 Council of Europe AI Convention and ongoing negotiations over a UN Cybercrime Convention have made privacy safeguards a central — and contested — element of any counter-terrorism cooperation framework.

Key players

Information Security Law and the Governance of Cyberspace

Information security law has evolved from a patchwork of national computer-misuse statutes — beginning with instruments like the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (1986) and the Council of Europe's Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (2001) — into a contested domain of international law. The Budapest Convention remains the only binding multilateral cybercrime treaty, but Russia, China, and several developing states have long rejected it as Western-drafted, pushing instead for a UN-led instrument. That campaign culminated in the adoption of the UN Convention against Cybercrime by the General Assembly in December 2024, after three years of negotiations, with human-rights organizations warning that its broad scope could legitimize transnational surveillance. Parallel to criminal law, states have negotiated norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace through the UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) and the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICTs. Consensus reports in 2015, 2021, and 2023 affirmed that international law — including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law — applies in cyberspace, but states remain divided on how. Major incidents such as NotPetya (2017), the SolarWinds compromise (2020), and continuous attacks on critical infrastructure during the war in Ukraine have exposed the gap between norms and enforcement. Counter-terrorism overlays add further complexity: the Christchurch Call (2019) and the Tech Against Terrorism initiative address online radicalization, while the EU's Terrorist Content Online Regulation (2021) and Digital Services Act (2022) impose binding takedown duties on platforms. The contemporary debate centers on attribution and accountability for state-sponsored attacks, the legality of "hack-back" operations, due-process safeguards in cross-border evidence requests, the regulation of dual-use cyber tools and zero-day markets, and the human-rights compatibility of content-removal mandates. For counter-terrorism specifically, the key question is whether emerging information-security law will strengthen genuine cooperation against terrorist use of ICTs or instead provide cover for the criminalization of dissent and journalism.

Key players