UN experts from the Human Rights Council have analyzed millions of Jeffrey Epstein files released by the US Justice Department, concluding they point to a “global criminal enterprise” involving systematic sex trafficking and abuse of over 1,200 women and girls. These acts, set against racism, corruption, and misogyny, may qualify as crimes against humanity due to their scale, organization, and international scope.
Key Findings from the Experts
- Crimes Described: Documents detail commodification and dehumanization of victims, with Epstein’s network operating transnationally.
- Call for Action: They demand independent investigations into the crimes and how they persisted unchecked, plus probes into botched redactions that exposed victim data.
- Victim Impact: Survivors report retraumatization from incomplete disclosures and “institutional gaslighting.”
Background Context
Epstein, convicted in 2008 for soliciting an underage girl, faced federal sex trafficking charges in 2019 before dying by suicide in jail. The files expose his ties to high-profile figures in politics, finance, and beyond. A bipartisan US law from November mandates full public release of related documents, though compliance issues persist.
This underscores ongoing demands for accountability in elite networks, echoing past scrutiny of figures like Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in 2021 for aiding Epstein’s trafficking. No immediate Justice Department response was noted.
