UN Expert Urges States Not to Label Organized Crime Groups as Terrorists

UN expert urges states not to label organized crime groups as terrorists

A new UN report released Thursday urged states to avoid unjustifiably labeling drug cartels and gangs as terrorist organizations, warning that a renewed “war on narco-terrorism” could violate human rights. The report was authored by Ben Saul, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. Saul said organized drug violence and drug misuse threaten the rights to life, …

US ambassador blasts UN rapporteur for attacking narco-terrorists

Mike Waltz accuses UN rapporteur Ben Saul of undermining the US fight against narcoterrorist groups, citing Chinese funding and his repeated criticism of counterterrorism operations.