RSI advises UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism regarding the definitions of ‘violent extremism’ and ‘extremism’
9th November 2026
Today, RSI responded to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism’s call for inputs on transnational repression in counter-terrorism contexts, and concepts of ‘violent extremism’ and ‘extremism’.
In sum:
- Rights & Security International (RSI) urges the Special Rapporteur not to seek to define either ‘violent extremism’ or ‘extremism’. It is our position that neither term can be defined consistently with international human rights law, and that any attempt to do so would risk legitimising state practices that are incompatible with international human rights obligations.
- International law contains no agreed definition of ‘violent extremism’. We note that it is always open to states to criminalise violent actions under ordinary domestic criminal law, and in some instances, international law obligates states to do this. However, ‘extremism’ is inherently a subjective concept. Further, we are concerned that states are using, or will use, the concept of ‘violent extremism’ to criminalise ideas, opinions, associations and/or protected free expression rather than violent acts.
- Some of the human rights that are relevant in this context are absolute, including the freedoms to hold opinions and to have or adopt a religion or belief. In other words, there is a human right to hold or explore beliefs, ideas or opinions that others might regard as ‘extreme’. What state are permitted to regulate is violence or (in some circumstances) expression, not thought.
- These concerns are even more acute when states or international bodies use the term ‘extremism’ without the qualifier ‘violent’. In the absence of a clear connection with violence, the criminalisation or other regulation of ‘extremism’ creates an even clearer risk of infringing on absolutely protected rights.
For more information, see the full submission below.