2.8 Training law enforcement to integrate human rights protection into counter-terrorism activities Counterterrorism policy and practice in OSCE participating States increasingly reflect a trend in the OSCE area of deprioritizing the protection of human rights in the name of combating security threats. This can lead to restrictions to human rights related to the normalization of emergency measures, increasingly broad police powers with little judicial supervision, and administrative measures that circumvent legal safeguards. ODIHR’s training for law enforcement officers in the OSCE region on protecting human rights while countering terrorism and violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism (VERLT) are based on the fundamental principles set out in OSCE terrorism-related commitments, and work to counter the view by some police officers that human rights pose a practical obstacle to the performance of their work. ODIHR has been tasked by participating States to offer technical assistance and advice on the human rights aspects of countering the threats posed by terrorism and VERLT. In 2019, ODIHR focused on training law enforcement officers in the OSCE region on protecting human rights while countering terrorism, with specialized courses offered in Uzbekistan, Albania and Spain. All courses focused on the intrinsic link between the protection of human rights and the operational effectiveness of measures to prevent and counter terrorism and VERLT. Participants gained a better understanding of fundamental human rights norms and principles related to their work, and 42 DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE OSCE how employing these principles make their work more effective. ODIHR’s courses are interactive, dynamic and practical, combining individual and group exercises closely linked to the operational duties of participants, and are facilitated by a multidisciplinary training team made up of an ODIHR human rights trainer together with a former law enforcement officer with a counterterrorism background. The training builds in space for dialogue, and engages participants in an open and frank discussion about the importance of human rights in preventing and countering terrorism and how to mitigate the associated risks. One training programme supported three participating States to improve implementation of their human rights commitments. All ODIHR’s current courses in this area include the possibility of developing tailored follow-up activities, including training-of-trainers and other workshops. Ideally, these involve previous participants as multipliers to increase the training’s reach within their institutions and, ultimately, solidify the impact of the training on human rights-compliant policing. This is an integral part of ODIHR’s work to promote a comprehensive response to terrorism and VERLT, which needs to have a human rights compliant security sector at its very centre in order to translate the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security into practice on the ground.