U.S. and Guantánamo Bay Detention Facility

From 6 February to 6 May 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, undertook a technical visit to the United States and the detention facility at the U.S. Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The visit comprised three parts: the rights of victims of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, the rights of detainees at the Guantánamo Bay detention facility, and the rights of former detainees. The rights of victims of terrorism and victims of counter-terrorism have been central to the work of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur since it was established in 2005 by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/80.

Throughout the technical visit, the Special Rapporteur met with victims, survivors, and families of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, U.S. Government stakeholders including military and civilian personnel, detainees including “high value” and “non-high value” detainees, defense lawyers, human rights and humanitarian organizations, repatriated and resettled detainees and their families, and government personnel and relevant stakeholders in other countries.

Documents

• UN counterterrorism expert to visit the United States and Guantanamo detention facility
• Expert welcomes historic visit to United States and Guantánamo detention facility and affirms rights of victims of terrorism and victims of counter-terrorism (English | العربية)
• Technical Visit to the United States and Guantánamo Detention Facility (English | العربية)
• U.S. Government Reply (PDF)