In the Special Rapporteur' s opinion, “[f]irm measures to bring an end to impunity are fundamental to all sustainable and effective strategies for human rights protection and promotion … . The increasing difficulties in securing justice alienate the people from the State and may drive them to take the law in their own hands, resulting in a further erosion of the justice system and a vicious circle of violence and retaliation” (ibid., para.

Some of the countries that have introduced, are planning to introduce (subject to necessary legislative amendments), or that have carried out trials involving biometric passports include European Union members (europa.eu.int/idabc/en/document/4288/194), the United States (www.state.gov/m/irm/rls/43047.htm), Australia (www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/ budgethome2005.nsf/Page/Media_Statements), Canada (www.pptc.gc.ca/faq/index_e.asp#735), Japan (www.mofa.go.jp/policy/i_crime/people/action.html), Singapore (http://app.ica.gov.sg/ pressrelease/pressrelease_view.asp?pr_id=254), the United Arab Emirates (http://82.195.132.90/ news/default.asp?ID=5) and other Gulf States.