Independent experts appointed by the United Nations human rights council have stated that millions of files related to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein suggest a “global criminal enterprise” that carried out acts potentially meeting the legal threshold of crimes against humanity, as reported by The Guardian. This is a truly shocking development, and it really highlights the horrific nature of the information coming out.
These experts believe the crimes detailed in documents released by the US Justice Department were committed against a backdrop of supremacist beliefs, racism, corruption, and extreme misogyny. They explained that the acts demonstrate a commodification and dehumanization of women and girls. The scale and systematic nature of these atrocities against women and girls, along with their transnational reach, are so grave that many of them could reasonably meet that legal threshold for crimes against humanity.
The panel of experts is calling for an independent, thorough, and impartial investigation into the allegations contained in these files. They also said inquiries should be launched to understand how such crimes could have been committed for such a long time without being stopped. It’s a critical question that many of us are probably wondering about.
Beyond the crimes themselves, the UN experts also raised serious concerns about how the documents have been handled
They pointed to “serious compliance failures and botched redactions” that have unfortunately exposed sensitive victim information. It’s heartbreaking to think that over 1,200 victims have been identified in the documents released so far, and then to have their privacy compromised on top of everything else.
The experts stated that the reluctance to fully disclose information or broaden investigations has left many survivors feeling retraumatized. They describe this as “institutional gaslighting,” which sounds incredibly frustrating and painful for those who have already suffered so much.
A law approved by Congress with broad bipartisan support in November required all Epstein-related files to be made public, leading to these revelations. The release of these documents by the Justice Department has revealed Epstein’s ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia, and business. These connections existed both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl.
Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. He was later found dead in his jail cell, with his death ruled a suicide. The US Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the UN experts’ statements.
Published: Feb 18, 2026 01:30 pm