United Nations (UN)

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Iranian President-Elect Ebrahim Raisi holds a press conference at Shahid Beheshti conference hall on June 21, 2021 in Tehran, Iran.

Will Iran’s New President be Held Accountable?

Raisi was directly involved in the summary execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Is there a path to justice today?
Onlookers, including children, stand next to the backpacks and books of victims following yesterday's multiple blasts outside a girls' school in Dasht-e-Barchi on the outskirts of Kabul on May 9, 2021.

As Troops Withdraw from Afghanistan, the UN Needs to Act

It is time for the U.N. Human Rights Council to establish an independent international investigation into human rights atrocities in Afghanistan.
A police officer carrying zip ties.

The Méndez Principles: The Case for US Legislation on Law Enforcement Interviews

Americans are increasingly interested not only in reallocating police resources, but also making policing more effective and more ethical.

The Méndez Principles: Beware Crossing the Line to Psychological Torture

As the UN marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, a reminder of the many forms of such abuse that are prohibited.
Police fire water cannons at demonstrators. A cannon hits a demonstrator flinging them through the air. The air is orange and hazy.

Duque’s War in Colombia: High Stakes For UN, OAS, and Biden Administration as Human Rights Crisis Spins Out of Control

Amid widespread protests, continued US support for Duque will further erode implementation of the peace accords and spur deeper conflict.
The Courtroom of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg with empty chairs. A banner at the front reads, “European Court of Human Rights” and the carpet in front of the bench shows the circle of stars against blue such as is on the European Union flag.

The Méndez Principles: A Focus on the Exclusionary Rule

To eliminate interrogation abuses, consistently bar all information gained via torture or cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.
Security Council meeting on peace and security in Africa, with a focus on countering terrorism and extremism in Africa.

Why UN Counterterrorism Needs Human Rights Oversight Now

There is clear evidence that the growth of U.N. counterterrorism activity has been accompanied by significant deterioration of human rights protections.
A displaced Syrian family breaks their fast together for the sunset "iftar" meal during Ramadan. They sit in the middle of the rubble of their destroyed home. May 4, 2020, Ariha, Idlib province

The UN Has Options Beyond the Security Council for Cross-Border Aid to Syria

Security Council approval for cross-border aid expires July 10. Can the UN continue aid operations without Council authorization?
Somali refugees who recently crossed the border from Somalia into southern Ethiopia gather between two food tents as they wait to be called to collect food aid at the Kobe refugee camp on July 19, 2011.

UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy and Humanitarian Action: A Case for Saving Lives

Counterterrorism measures are increasingly restricting humanitarian action, negatively impacting aid delivery, and posing security and legal risks to humanitarian actors and their…
A dark room with a table, chairs, and a camera on a tripod. A briefcase and photographs are spread out on the table.

The Méndez Principles: Sharpening the View on Interrogation and Utilitarianism

Philosopher-jurist Jeremy Bentham's “ticking bomb scenario,” often cited to justify torture, has spawned wild misconceptions.
Children walk out of a building during the handover of orphaned children, whose parents were suspected of belonging to the Islamic State group to a Russian delegation by Syrian Kurdish officials, at the headquarters of the department for foreign affairs of the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration in Syria's northeastern city of Qamishli on April 18, 2021.

Foreign ISIS Suspects, Families: Why a Single “R” Word Matters at the UN

Whether governments should repatriate ISIS suspects and family members is under heated debate at the United Nations as it renews its Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS).
A gate with the United Nations seal in front of the UN headquarters in New York City.

Time for a Course Correction on Counterterrorism and Civic Space

A defining feature of the U.N. counterterrorism eco-system is its lack of openness to outside expertise and civil society voices.
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