Event information

14 December 2022, 18:30-20:00
Register start 5 December 2022
Register end 13 December 2022

Downloads

Flyer >

Towards Greater Accountability with Open-Source Information

IHL Talks

Open-source information is increasingly referred to as a landmark innovation in efforts to promote accountability. When it is gathered accurately, used responsibly and stored safely, such data can greatly contribute to documenting, investigating and prosecuting international crimes and serious human rights violations, including during armed conflict.

Reliance on open-source information also raises concerns, however, for instance around information veracity, the right to privacy, conditions for courtroom admissibility and protecting the fundamental rights of the accused.

This IHL Talk will explore the practices, opportunities and challenges stemming from the open-source character of information and will notably discuss the following issues:

  • Understanding technology: To add value to accountability processes, digital open-source information must be collected, analysed and managed according to strict standards. This raises important questions around both opportunities (data overlays, geolocation and identity verification), as well as challenges (safeguarding, manipulation and mishandling) for using open-source data in legal processes.
  • Open-source data in international organizations and⁄or NGOs: Open-source information is already being used by international commissions of inquiry, different special procedures and NGOs to document international crimes and serious human rights violations. Important lessons should be gleaned from such experiences, including around sourcing and verification methodologies, how a ‘do no harm’ approach is integrated into data collection, and how findings are fed into accountability processes or otherwise used in practice.
  • User-generated evidence: While user-generated evidence may play an important role in the prosecution of international crimes, key procedural questions remain. These include the threshold for admissibility, what status is attributed to the owners of such information and the level of credibility attached to such evidence in determinations.

Moderation

  • Ana Srovin Coralli, Teaching Assistant, Geneva Academy
  • Francesco Romani, Research Fellow, Geneva Academy

Panelists

  • Jacqueline Geiss, Chief Executive Officer, Videre Est Credere
  • Sam Dubberley, Managing Director, Digital Investigations Lab, Human Rights Watch
  • Samborska Iryna, Prosecutor of the First Unit, Division for Procedural Management of Pre-trial Investigation and Maintenance of Public Prosecution in Criminal Proceedings on Crimes related to Sexual Violence, Department of Combating Crimes Committed in Conditions of Armed Conflict, Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine

About IHL Talks

The IHL Talks are a series of events, hosted by the Geneva Academy, on international humanitarian law and current humanitarian topics. Academic experts, practitioners, policymakers and journalists discuss burning humanitarian issues and their regulation under international law.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Training course on the UPR News

A Successful First Year for the GHRP Training Hub

16 December 2022

In 2022, the new Training Hub of the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) conducted seven training courses – two regular courses and five customized courses – in Geneva, online and in the field.

Read more

A session of the PhD Forum predecessor, the Geneva Academy Wednesdays News

The PhD Forum: A Space for Exchange for Researchers and PhD Students

11 November 2022

The Geneva Academy PhD Forum is a space that gathers PhD researchers and experts – in Geneva and beyond – who work in the scientific focus area of the Geneva Academy.

Read more

Central African Republic,  Bangui. Soldiers of the Democratic Republic of Congo patrol the Multinational Force of Central African States - Event

Duties to One's Own Population and Combatants in War: Is there an ‘Internal’ Jus in Bello?

11 May 2023, 18:30-20:00

In this talk, Professor Frédéric Mégret will seek to excavate an understanding of IHL as partly about protecting one’s population rather than minimizing harm to ‘other’ populations.

Read more

Portrait of Professor Chiara Giorgetti Event

International Law Responses to Russia’s Aggression – Building an International Reparation Mechanism for Ukraine

18 April 2023, 18:30-21:00

In this lecture organized with the MIDS, Professor Chiara Giorgetti will discuss current efforts to create a reparation mechanism for Ukraine in order to hold Russia liable for its violations of international law.

Read more

Yemen,  Sana'a, Faj Attan district. Destruction. Short Course

From Use of Force to Responsibility to Protect

24 May - 6 June 2023

This online short course provides an overview of the content and evolution of the rules governing the use of unilateral force in international law, including military intervention on humanitarian grounds and the fight against international terrorism. It focuses on the practice of states and international organizations.

Read more

Syria, Harasta, destroyed buildings Training

Advanced IHL Seminar for Academics and Policymakers

28 August - 1 September 2023

Organized by the Geneva Academy and the ICRC, the Advanced IHL seminar for academics and humanitarian policymakers aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research IHL and contemporary issues arising during armed conflict, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates and their relevance to decision-making.

Read more

Central African Republic, Ouham province, village of Ouogo. International Humanitarian Law dissemination session to members of the Peoples' Army for the Restoration of Democracy. Project

From Words to Deeds: A Study of Armed Non-State Actors’ Practice and Interpretation of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Norms

Completed in January 2017

This project aimed at compiling and analysing the practice and interpretation of selected international humanitarian law and human rights norms by armed non-state actors (ANSAs). It had a pragmatic double objective: first, to offer a comparative analysis of IHL and human rights norms from the perspective of ANSAs, and second, to inform strategies of humanitarian engagement with ANSAs, in particular the content of a possible ‘Model Code of Conduct’.

Read more

Computer screen with warning: civilian infrastucture: do not attack Project

Digitalization of Conflict Joint Initiative: Humanitarian Impact and Legal Protection

Started in September 2020

This project will explore humanitarian consequences and protection needs caused by the digitalization of armed conflicts and the extent to which these needs are addressed by international law, especially international humanitarian law.

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

The Emergence of Digital Human Rights Tracking Tools and Databases

published on March 2023

Domenico Zipoli

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Assessment Tool for Special Procedures' Impact Evaluation – Developing an Initial Framework

published on January 2023

Jonathan Andrew

Read more