The UN must do more to prevent counter-terrorism laws from being misused to quash legitimate dissent and limit freedom of expression, says UN-appointed expert on counter-terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin.

Ms. Ní Aoláin, whose official title is Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, also warned in her September report to the General Assembly that the increased use of Security Council resolutions to deal with counter-terrorism issues, is having a negative effect on meaningful protection of human rights.

Conor Lennon from UN News spoke to Ms Ní Aoláin at UN headquarters in New York, and started by asking her why human rights in the counter-terrorism sphere had become more fragile since the 2001 terror attacks on the US.