on the eve and with the occasion of International Human Rights Day. 

9:00 Washington D.C. / 11:00 São Paulo
15:00 Ginebra / 21:00 Bangkok

Organised by Amnesty International, Conectas Brazil, the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

The concept of ‘Narcoterrorism’ was coined in the 1980s and has long been associated with extreme responses to drugs. In recent months, the term has regained prominence amongst governments in the Americas, raising concerns about a resurgence of ‘war-on-drugs’ policies that have proven both ineffective and deeply damaging for human rights.

The most notable case has been that of the United States. Upon taking office, the Trump Administration 

 several trafficking organisations as terrorist groups. Since September 2025, it has initiated a campaign of military strikes against civilian vessels in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific, alleging their involvement in drug trafficking activities. In scarcely two months, this has resulted in more than 80 people killed (see WOLA tracker 

 serious concerns that these attacks may constitute violations of international law and potentially amount to international crimes, whilst the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has 

 for prompt, independent, and transparent investigations. Some Member States have also expressed concern at potential violations of international law.

The renewed invocation of ‘narcoterrorism’ is not unique to the USA. Throughout the Americas, elected officials have employed this label to declare states of emergencies and to justify the use of military and paramilitary forces, often resulting in extrajudicial killings. This is despite clear evidence that conflating drug trafficking and terrorist groups is factually inaccurate, and can lead to misguided and harmful responses.

This online event, convened to mark the 2025 International Human Rights Day, will examine contemporary uses of the narcoterrorism narrative and explore how the international community can respond to this troubling development to safeguard the integrity of international human rights law, with particular attention to mechanisms for investigation and accountability. 

- UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights

 - Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

, International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)

The ‘narcoterrorism’ threat: Exploring avenues to uphold human rights amidst a new 'war on drugs'

The 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs is expected to take place on 9-13 March 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)

“Accelerating crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: protecting people and planet and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the digital age.”

The Fifteenth Crime Congress will be held from 25 to 30 April 2026 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates under the overall theme “Accelerating crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: protecting people and planet and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the digital age”, in line with the General Assembly resolution 

High-level segment (Heads of State, Ministers, etc.)

Single declaration, later reviewed by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Regional preparatory meetings starting in 2025

Emphasis on participation of least developed countries, civil society, academia, and NGOs

Encourages early preparation by Member States and creation of national preparatory committees

15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Scientific progress over the 40-plus years of the HIV response has transformed HIV into a manageable condition if you have access to treatment. By the end of 2024, the number of AIDS-related deaths had dropped by 54% and new HIV acquisitions by 40% since 2010. HIV treatment is now so effective that the virus can be undetectable and, therefore, untransmittable. We have highly successful long-acting HIV prevention options, including the injectables, lenacapavir and cabotegravir, with a long-acting oral prevention technology on the horizon.

Despite these gains, UNAIDS data suggests stagnant progress in recent years: 1.3 million people acquired HIV and 630,000 people died of AIDS-related causes in 2023 and again in 2024. There continue to be huge gaps in HIV prevention and treatment: 9.2 million people living with HIV were not getting life-saving medicines in 2024. This is because old barriers to HIV services persist. Among them are stigma and discrimination, criminalization and structural inequalities between populations and countries.

In early 2025, the suspension of US foreign aid, including PEPFAR, triggered a funding crisis that threatens to widen those gaps. This underscores the urgent need for countries to strengthen domestic financing, improve efficiencies and prioritize sustainability.

We have to work together to prevent the current crisis from rolling back progress.

Join the International Aids Society at the 26th annual AIDS conference in Rio de Janeiro and virtually from July 26-31, 2026, for vital conversations to rethink, rebuild and rise.

AIDS 2026 - 26th International AIDS conference

The reconvened 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs is expected to take place on 3-4 December 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

Events

The ‘narcoterrorism’ threat: Exploring avenues to uphold human rights amidst a new 'war on drugs'

69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)

15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

AIDS 2026 - 26th International AIDS conference

Reconvened CND 69th Session