Event information

14 March 2023, 13:00-15:00

Downloads

Concept Note >

Addressing the Situation of All individuals Detained in North-East Syria

Event

Al-Hol Camp, Syria Al-Hol Camp, Syria

Side event on the margins of the 52nd session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council

This side event – organized by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism with the support of the Geneva Academy – will focus on the human rights of men, women and children who are currently still detained in North-east Syria, with an aim to propose concrete human rights- compliant solutions to these ongoing human rights violations.

The event will address in particular the situation of boys, who are in a situation of cradle-to-grave detention as a form of gender discrimination, the situation of men, who are in a situation of indefinite arbitrary detention that is often sustained by their home countries, and the situation of all those who cannot be subject to voluntary and human rights-compliant repatriations. This concept note provides detailed background information about detention in North-east Syria and the position of the UN Special Rapporteur.

Moderation

  • Anne Charbord, Senior Legal Adviser to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

Panelists

  • Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
  • Theo Boutruche, Head of the Rule of Law and Transitional Justice Unit, UN Human Rights Office for Syria, OHCHR
  • Letta Tayler, Associate Crisis and Conflict Director, Human Rights Watch
  • Katherine Cornett, Head of Syria and Iraq Detention Project, Reprieve
  • Rasha Muhrez, Response Director, Save the Children

Registration

Participants are kindly requested to register for the event at:https://indico.un.org/event/1004679/

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Geneva Academy at the EU DElegation in Geneva News

Spotlight on IHL: Geneva Academy Briefs EU Delegation on Alarming Conflict Trends

10 April 2025

Alarming conflict trends from the IHL in Focus report were presented to members of the UN at the EU Delegation in Geneva by members of the Geneva Academy.

Read more

ICRC Conference Booth News

Challenging Preconceptions About International Humanitarian Law

13 November 2024

At the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, we hosted a booth with Geneva Call and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.

Read more

Event

Strengths and Challenges of Inter-State Applications Before the European Court of Human Rights

22 May 2025, 18:30-20:00

In this Geneva Academy Talk Judge Lətif Hüseynov will discuss the challenges of inter-State cases under the ECHR, especially amid rising conflict-related applications.

Read more

Warzone Event

Advanced IHL Seminar for Academics and Policymakers

25-29 August 2025, 09:00-17:30

Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.

Read more

A session of the UN Human Rights Council Project

IHL Expert Pool

Started in January 2022

The IHL-EP works to strengthen the capacity of human rights mechanisms to incorporate IHL into their work in an efficacious and comprehensive manner. By so doing, it aims to address the normative and practical challenges that human rights bodies encounter when dealing with cases in which IHL applies.

Read more

Surveillance Camera Project

COUNTER-TERROR PROJECT: A LEGAL EMPIRICAL APPROACH

Started in June 2019

The ‘Counter-Terror Pro LegEm’ project combines legal analysis with social science research to (1) examine the effectiveness of counterterrorism measures and their effects on human rights and (2) analyse the structure of terrorist networks such as Al Qaeda or the Islamic State and see whether they qualify as ‘organized armed groups’ for the purpose of international humanitarian law.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2023

published on July 2024

Read more

Cover of Report Publication

Artificial Intelligence And Related Technologies In Military Decision-Making On The Use Of Force In Armed Conflicts: Current Developments And Potential Implications

published on May 2024

Anna Rosalie Greipl, Neil Davison, Georgia Hinds

Read more