Canada: UN experts criticize terrorism laws

The UN Human Rights Committee has expressed concern about Canada’s counter-terrorism laws and policies, in particular the broad definition of terrorism, a law preventing disclosure of certain security evidence, and the unlimited length of administrative detention of foreigners certified as security risks without effective judicial review. Other concerns related to respect for the principle of non-refoulement and allegations that Canada cooperated with agencies known to use torture with the aim of extracting information from individuals detained in foreign countries. Two official reviews of the counter-terrorism laws are underway.