United Nations: Human rights expert visits South Africa and the United States

In a visit to South Africa in April, Special Rapporteur Martin Scheinin examined the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act of 2005. In a preliminary report on his visit to the United States, the expert raised a number of issues related to the treatment, detention and trial of terrorist suspects as well as the use of the word “war” to qualify the fight against terrorism. He reaffirmed the applicability of international human rights law even during an armed conflict and said the United States must therefore comply with humanitarian law and international human rights law in its fight against terrorism.