Published on: 2026-09-10
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
September 10, 2026 Human Rights
On the eve of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, independent UN experts reminded about the thousands of deaths in the US and millions of people worldwide affected both by terrorist violence and by the “excessive measures” of states adopted under the pretext of combating terrorism.
According to independent UN experts, after September 11, 2001, many countries provided effective assistance to victims of terrorism, enhanced their security, and at the same time maintained respect for human rights. However, in a significant number of cases, the response was “unjustified and disproportionate,” leading to a systemic weakening of democracy, civil society, and the rule of law.
In their statement, human rights defenders listed a wide range of violations identified worldwide over the past 25 years: aggressive wars, illegal occupations, mass war crimes, torture, extrajudicial executions, kidnappings, secret prisons, and unfair military tribunals. The statement says that some states have “stretched the fundamental norms of international law to the breaking point,” justifying excessive use of force on grounds of self-defense.
State violence and external interventions, according to experts, contributed to the spread of terrorism, as happened with the emergence and growth of the “Islamic State” after the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Pressure on civil society and vulnerable groups
A separate section of the statement is dedicated to how anti-terrorism measures are used to suppress civic activism. Human rights defenders, journalists, scientists, artists, environmentalists, representatives of minorities, migrants, and refugees come under attack. Restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and participation in public life have become “routine” in several countries.
Abuses, according to UN human rights advocates, also affected children, women, and members of various ethnic groups, who were subjected to arbitrary detentions, stigmatization, and discrimination. In some states, temporary emergency measures became permanent, and excessive anti-terrorism laws became instruments of political pressure.
Technologies Beyond Control and the Role of the Security Council
The statement emphasizes that new technologies, including mass surveillance tools, artificial intelligence, drones, and other autonomous weapon systems, have become a “key factor in violations” as they are used without sufficient safeguards and oversight.
The criticism of experts was also directed at the UN Security Council, which, in their opinion, demanded that states implement “excessive invasive measures” without providing clear definitions of terrorism and the necessary legal protections.
Human rights defenders have called on states to review anti-terrorism legislation, ensure independent oversight, stop violations, and guarantee protection both for victims of terrorism and for those harmed by unlawful measures in the fight against it.
Independent experts are appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. The experts act in a personal capacity and independently of governments and any organizations.
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