UN Special Rapporteur on Counter Terrorism

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25 Articles

UN Human Rights Expert Extends Chinese Government’s Impunity

A special rapporteur's unusual visit and her finding that sanctions have harmed the country ignores legions of evidence and analysis.
A gate leading to the UN buffer zone in Cyprus and featuring the UN Seal is shown slightly ajar, with the Turkish flag visible in the background.

New UN Special Rapporteur’s Report Underscores Risks of Abusive Counterterrorism

A report from Ben Saul, the new UN expert on counterterrorism and Human Rights, outlines his priorities for the coming years.
A woman who is covered except for her eyes carries a child in her arms as she walks along a dirt road in front of ramshackle tents, a slightly older child at her side. The heads of two young boys show in the foreground of the image.

Deaths, Torture, and Arbitrary Detention in the Wake of the Islamic State in Syria: The US Responsibility to Act

More than 56,000 people, including 30,000 children, are being held with US support and many face systematic torture and grossly inhumane conditions.
A white sign with blue writing on it reads "Camp Justice" with a blue sky behind it and a U.S. flag flying above.

Another Lost Year on Guantanamo

Guantanamo continues to cause profound damage both inside and outside of its walls. The steps to close the facility are there for the taking.
A guard tower is shown with a U.S. flag in the middle and bared wire next to the tower.

Accountability and Legacy at Guantanamo: Some Progress, Still A Long Way to Go

As we mark the 22nd anniversary of Guantanamo, we have an obligation to look to the long-term to support the victims of torture.
A picture shows the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp, which holds relatives of suspected Islamic State (IS) group fighters in the northeastern Hasakeh governorate. Children are pressed against a chain link fence during a security operation by the Kurdish Asayish security forces and the special forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces, on August 26, 2022. (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Extended Detention Compounds Trauma for Thousands of Child Victims of Terrorism in Syria Camps

Countries must accelerate repatriation of their citizens, but governments need assistance to enhance their support systems for families.
barbed wire fence

Takeaways from the UN Special Rapporteur Report on Guantanamo

The United States should make good on its commitment to follow through on the Special Rapporteur's Guantanamo report.

Repatriating Alleged ISIS-Linked Men from Northeast Syria: The Start of Judicial Responses to the Political Stalemate

Recent rulings may force countries to reckon with their denial of due process to the accused and justice to the victims.
Large surveillance desk with someone watching a wall of monitors. (Photo: Getty Images)

UN Counterterrorism and Technology: What Role for Human Rights in Security?

A key UN committee opened its doors to civil society and experts, but the resulting Delhi Declaration contains little of that input thus far.
Protesters wearing face masks display anti-terror bill placards during a rally at a university campus in Manila on July 4, 2020. Then-President Duterte signed a contentious anti-terrorism bill into law that critics feared would be used to silence dissent and give the government a new weapon to target opponents.  (Photo by AC DIMATATAC/AFP via Getty Images)

The UN’s Counterterrorism Office Wants a Seven-Fold Budget Increase. First, Tackle Underperformance and Risks.

Failure to act now on human rights shortfalls in an already well-funded area could expose the UN to repercussions from a record of repression.
Women in long coats hold placards and march

Connecting the Dots: The Surge in Reprisals Against Women and the Rise of Counterterrorism

Addressing reprisals against women means addressing the role of counterterrorism law.
Members of the Kenyan polices General Service Unit (GSU) take part in a joint exercise hosted by the US embassy to build counter-terrorism capabilities, in Nairobi, Kenya, on October 30, 2021. They wear camouflage and headgear and carry large guns while walking past a truck with police lights.

An Undefined Defining Moment: Marking 20 Years of Counterterrorism Without Ever Agreeing What Terrorism Is

UN Security Council Resolution 1373 in 2001 created a sprawling global system that, rather than solving the problem, spawned widespread abuse.
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