Event information

3 July 2019, 12:00-13:00

Downloads

Flyer >

Human Rights and Digital Technologies: New Insights

Event

The photos display the command dir in ms-dos, a command line environment The photos display the command dir in ms-dos, a command line environment

Digital technologies continue to transform almost every facet of our lives: innovations are shaping our democracies through impacts on political participation and electoral processes; reshaping access to education; reframing employment and notions of the workplace; revolutionising healthcare; stimulating communities within civil society and galvanising greater activism; and fostering new opportunities for economic development.

Notwithstanding the many positive effects of such a transformation, the pace of change, rapid advancement and swift implementation of many new technologies have to date highlighted significant concerns as to whether the existing framework at the international level to protect and promote human rights is apt to confront the nascent challenges society must resolve.

This panel discussion, co-organized with the Geneva Internet Platform, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Special Procedures, aims at generating debate and drawing attention to current challenges in the digital sphere. It also seeks to foster interest in developing effective strategies and methodologies that may serve to address future issues stemming from digitisation and advancements in tech and determine how best we can oversee the implementation of digital technologies so that they continue to realise their best possible contribution to the full enjoyment of human rights.

Panelists will notably:

  • Exchange views with regard to strengthening understanding amongst states, the tech industry, civil society and academia as to how innovations in digital technologies are reframing current conceptual approaches to human rights
  • Identify opportunities for states, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to determine effective strategic approaches to facilitate preparation for the future impacts of emerging digital technologies
  • Provide practical suggestions as to how to expand and accelerate more impactful research on the interaction of digital technologies with human rights, developing the existing discussions currently considering specific themes and technologies
  • Identify and elaborate on the role of new tools and methodologies that could potentially assist in the assessment of the human rights impacts of digital technologies.

Moderator

  • Stephanie Borg Psaila, Interim Director, Diplo Foundation and Geneva Internet Platform

Panelists

  • Jonathan Andrew, Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
  • Yuval Shany, Vice-Chair, UN Human Rights Committee and Hersch Lauterpacht Chair in Public International Law, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Clément Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association
  • Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director, Secretariat of the UN High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation

Outcome

A summary report on the discussions held and recommendations made during the panel discussion will be prepared.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

neurotech image News

Human Rights Concerns in Neurotechnology Examined in New Research Brief

15 April 2025

Our research brief 'Neurotechnology - Integrating Human Rights in Regulation' examines the human rights challenges posed by the rapid development of neurotechnology.

Read more

MENA Training GHRP News

Strengthening MENA Engagement with UN Human Rights Mechanisms: Second Edition of our Tailored Training

24 July 2025

Participants from six countries across the Middle East and North Africa region joined our customized training on the Geneva-based United Nations human rights mechanisms

Read more

Special Rapporteur Sign Event

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in an Era of Escalating Armed Conflict: Where Can International Human Rights Law Help?

25 September 2025, 18:30-20:00

This evening dialogue will present the publication: International Human Rights Law: A Treatise, Cambridge University Press (2025).

Read more

Enforced Disappearances Event

'Short-term' Enforced Disappearances

23 September 2025, 13:00-14:00

This side event will bring together stakeholders to discuss the growing concerning recurrence to short-term enforced disappearances worldwide, and the challenges they pose for victims and accountability.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

15-19 September 2025

Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

Un plate with Rapporteur Spécial written on it Project

Support to UN Special Procedures

Started in June 2020

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

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more