Assessing Damage, Urging Action human rights or international humanitarian law? If so, what has been the impact? • How has the government justified such counter-terrorism measures and do you consider that past or current terrorist threats have justified these measures? • What has been the impact of the “war on terror” in your country? • What lessons should today’s policy-makers learn from any experiences your country has had in the past with terrorism and counter-terrorism? In some Hearings, a more extensive questionnaire and list of issues gave guidance to contributors about issues of particular interest to the Panel.8 c. Persons Who Gave Evidence It was an explicit policy of the Panel to invite both governmental and nongovernmental participants to engage with the public Hearings. In the course of the Hearings, oral evidence and written representations were submitted to the Panel by various persons, including representatives of Bar Councils and Law Societies; leading lawyers in private practice; representatives of national human rights institutions, human rights organisations and civil society; journalists; academics; and members of the public, including both victims of terrorist violence and of counter-terrorism measures, and often from government representatives as well.9 d. Private meetings and written representations Recognising the benefit of detailed exchanges in bilateral meetings, and appreciating that some people may not have wanted to give evidence in public, arrangements were also made for private meetings to be held in each of the countries that the Panel visited. In the course of these meetings, members of the Panel had the opportunity to hold discussions on relevant issues with high ranking officials, including ministers, national security advisors, inspector generals of intelligence services, senior judges, attorney generals and directors of public prosecutions. Members of the Panel also had private meetings with the International Committee of the Red Cross (specifically in relation to international humanitarian law principles), and with senior representatives of the United Nations and the European Union. The Panel also received written and oral evidence from representatives 8 See, for more information, http://www.icj.org. 9 See Annex 3 for those who gave oral evidence to the Panel, and Annex 5 for those who provided written submissions. 9