Citation

Davis J. Hum. Rights Q. 2016; 38(1): 58-84.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Johns Hopkins University Press)

DOI

10.1353/hrq.2016.0000

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

When those swept up in counter-terrorism operations try to hold governments accountable for rights violations, legal secrecy doctrines such as the "state secrets privilege" and "public interest immunity" frequently derail their efforts. This article shows the effects of legal secrecy doctrines on efforts to hold officials accountable for rights violations in counter-terrorism cases. It sets out the limits imposed by international human rights law on these secrecy doctrines, and it explores how these limits are handled in US and British courts. Finally, it sets out requirements in order for legal secrecy practices to comply with international human rights law.

Language: en