Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, which affected people from the United States and over 90 countries. He expressed solidarity with their families, survivors, first responders, and all those impacted. Guterres emphasized the need to renew the commitment to building a future free from terrorism, noting that 2026 will mark 20 years since the adoption of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy by Member States.
However, more than 30 UN independent experts, appointed by the Human Rights Council, highlighted that many countries' responses to terrorism have led to serious violations of rights, civic space, democracy, and the rule of law. They stated that “wars on terror” have stretched international law to its limits, resulting in violations including wars of aggression, unlawful occupations, widespread war crimes, crimes against humanity, and allegations of genocide. The experts cited practices such as targeted killings, torture disguised as interrogation, secret detention, enforced disappearances, and unfair military trials, including those at the US-operated Guantanamo Bay facilities.
To address these concerns, the experts recommended that states review their counter-terrorism laws and measures to ensure compliance with international human rights, humanitarian, and refugee law.