Event information

15 March 2018, 12:30-14:30

Downloads

Flyer >

Accountability in Syria: The Role of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism

Geneva Academy Talks

Aleppo. Buses await to enter Eastern Aleppo to evacuate civilians while sporadic fighting continues and houses are burning. Aleppo. Buses await to enter Eastern Aleppo to evacuate civilians while sporadic fighting continues and houses are burning.

full IBA logo BLUE 400px wide 2

In December 2016, five years into the armed conflict in Syria, the UN General Assembly created the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism on international crimes committed in the Syrian Arab Republic (IIIM). Complementing the long-term work of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, the objective of the IIIM is to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings for violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights perpetrated during the conflict.

This IHL Talk, co-organized with the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), will discuss the IIIM’s work related to the existing and future national, regional or international investigations and prosecutions of the most serious crimes committed in Syria. It will also focus on the IIIM’s role regarding victims, by addressing issues such as collection of evidence, witness protection, psychosocial or medical support, and how the IIIM can contribute to the overall goal of ensuring justice for all victims and preventing future violations.

Moderator

  • Robert Roth, Professor of International Criminal Law at the University of Geneva and Director of the Geneva Academy

Panelists

  • Michelle Jarvis, Deputy Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism on international crimes committed in the Syrian Arab Republic (IIIM)
  • Bénédict de Moerloose, Head of Investigations & Criminal Law Division, TRIAL International
  • Ibrahim Al Kasem, Syrian lawyer

About IHL Talks

The IHL Talks are series of events, hosted by the Geneva Academy, on international humanitarian law and current humanitarian topics. Every two months, academic experts, practitioners, policy makers and journalists discuss burning humanitarian issues and their regulation under international law.

Video

Accountability in Syria The Role of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism

Watch the video of our IHL Talk on accountability in Syria and the role for the International, Impartial & Independent Mechanism (IIIM) co-orgamized with with IBAHRI, with:

  • Benedict de Moerloose, TRIAL International
  • Michelle Jarvis, IIIM Deputy Head 
  • Ibrahim Al Kasem, Syrian Lawyer

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

News

New Working Paper Explores AI for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

30 January 2025

A new working paper, 'AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring', has been published by the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

Read more

Human Rights Tiles News

From Signals to Action: Strengthening the UN's Conflict Prevention Efforts

31 March 2025

Our recent research brief series explores how the United Nations' human rights system can enhance its role in early warning and conflict prevention.

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

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

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

Practical Training on Human Rights Council Procedures for SIDS/LDCs

4-5 June 2025

This hands-on training is designed specifically for diplomats from Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries who are current or prospective members of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Read more

A destroyed camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Khor Abeche, South Darfur, Project

Understanding the Relationship between Conflict, Security and the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment

Started in May 2023

This project will develop guidance to inform security, human rights and environmental debates on the linkages between environmental rights and conflict, and how their better management can serve as a tool in conflict prevention, resilience and early warning.

Read more

Iraq, Mosul. View of the west bank after the war. Project

IHL in Focus

Started in January 2024

As a yearly publication, it keeps decision-makers, practitioners and scholars up-to-date with the latest trends and challenges in IHL implementation in over 100 armed conflicts worldwide – both international and non-international.

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

War on Minorities’ Under the Guise of Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism

published on December 2024

Beatrice Meretti

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Navigating Pathways Toward Transitional Justice in Ukraine

published on October 2024

Robin van der Lugt, Chhime Namdol Sherpa

Read more