Thank you, Mr. President, 

Terrorism is a grave matter whose full repercussions on the human rights of individuals and communities can only be fully understood only by those who have suffered and continue to suffer from it.

In this regard, we welcome the invitation for the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, to pay attention to the negative effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and to make recommendations in this regard.

During this session, the Philippines called attention to the perpetration of systematic atrocities by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), long declared as a terrorist organisation by both the EU and the US, resulting in the gross violation of the human rights of indigenous peoples, women, children, and other vulnerable sectors of our society. We have presented evidence on how this group has sustained terrorism and crime on the ground for decades, with the support and financing from unwitting international donors who engage their front organizations. Deceit is a facet of terrorism that should be exposed.

We align with the call for States to do all they can to prevent any political, material, or financial support from reaching terrorist groups, and in condemning terrorist acts and all acts of violence committed by terrorist groups and the continued systematic and widespread abuses of human rights perpetrated by such groups.

A deeper understanding of the complexity of terrorism, particularly in countries that continue to grapple with it, should enable the Council to have a more informed discourse on the subject, and the international community to coherently address the many facets of this grave issue.

Thank you, Mr. President. END.