CSO Coalition on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism Statement on the adoption of the 9th Review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

Today’s adoption of the UN’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy marks an unwanted milestone: it has now been five years – and two consecutive negotiating cycles – with almost no substantive updates, despite continued calls from civil society.

The strategy is supposed to set the direction for the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, and UN counterterrorism efforts more broadly. However, it consistently falls short of adequately supporting human rights.

We are hugely disappointed this review did not produce stronger language on accountability, transparency, and oversight of the UN counterterrorism architecture itself despite existing evidence of the need for it. UN counterterrorism measures that allow for the erosion of human rights and due process, the suppression of civil society, and undermine the rule of law are profoundly problematic and dangerous.

Together with partners, Amnesty International is calling for UN Member States to ensure human rights violations in the name of counterterrorism are urgently addressed, and that the UN counterterrorism system is brought into line with international human rights law.

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