This lecture will explore the implications for accountability and protection of the emerging international counter-terrorism legal regime. Contrary to what many governments argue, this legal framework has significant and unacceptable gaps. It fails to provide adequately both for the accountability of “terrorist” groups and for justice, remedy and reparation for victims themselves. The counter-terrorism legal regime has even criminalized humanitarian actors who provide life-saving services to populations under the control of “terrorist” groups, resulting in further deprivation of life.  Concrete recommendations will be presented to address and respond to violations committed by armed groups, to protect the affected populations under their control, and to safeguard humanitarian action.

Dr. Agnes Callamard is the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial summary or arbitrary Executions. Dr. Callamard is the Director of Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression. Previously, she spent nine years as the Executive Director of ARTICLE 19, the international human rights organization promoting freedom of expression globally. She was Chef de Cabinet for the Secretary General of Amnesty International (AI) and AI’s Research-Policy Coordinator, leading AI’s policy work and research on women’s human rights. Prior to this, she taught and conducted research on international refugee movements for the Center for Refugee Studies at York University in Toronto. She has advised multilateral organizations and governments around the world on human rights, including most recently the Special Advisor to the Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide.

14h00 Meet & Greet

Preceding the SIM Peter Baehr lecture, the Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research (NNHRR) and SIM are co-organising a special Meet & Greet event with UN rapporteur Agnes Callamard on “The work and challenges of a UN human rights rapporteur”. This closed, Chatham House rules meeting is a unique opportunity to discuss with the special rapporteur and ask questions about her work and the challenges facing UN special rapporteurs in general. Please note: this meeting is open only to academic researchers of the NNHRR.

16h00  SIM Peter Baehr lecture

By Agnes Callamard, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Director of Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression.

Lecture Hall 0.13 (SIM Peter Baher Lecture) and room 0.21 (NNHRR Meet & Greet)

Programme

14.00  Meet & Greet (room 0.21) for NNHRR researchers

15.30  Coffee/ tea near Lecture Hall 0.13

16.00  Opening and welcome by Antoine Buyse, SIM (lecture hall 0.13)

16.10  Lecture by Agnes Callamard

16.45  Discussion and Q&A

17.30  Drinks

Registration

Please send an e-mail to: secretariaat.ier@uu.nl, with reference to ‘SIM Peter Baehr Lecture 2018’ and please (if you are a researcher member of the NNHRR) clearly indicate whether you wish to attend only the lecture or the meet and greet or both.