The Two Faces of Counterterrorism: Implications for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law
Friday 13th december 2024 | 10:00-17:00
Maison de la Paix Auditorium
Ivan Pictet B Ch. Eugène-Rigot 2, Geneva
Please join us for the international conference closing the SNSF project: “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach”
The Counter-Terror Pro LegEm team is proud to host a conference on “The Two Faces of Counter-Terrorism: Implications for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law” to celebrate the completion of its scientific research project. Having identified a clear disconnect between international legal analyses and social science models in relation to terrorism, the project “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach”, which is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and hosted by the University of Geneva, has embraced an interdisciplinary endeavour to bridge this gap and enhance legal assessments of counter-terrorism measures under both international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL).
The conference, which will take place on Friday 13 December 2024 at the Maison de la Paix, will provide an opportunity to explore the two-faceted nature of research conducted over the past years by presenting four interactive panels on the main thematic outputs of the project: radicalisation, effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures, membership, and coalitions of groups labelled as terrorist. Reflective of the legal-empirical methodology as well as the twin-track IHRL- IHL perspective of the project, the dualistic essence of the conference will be epitomised with both lawyers and socials scientists sharing their knowledge and perspectives on the same topical issues in each panel, thus allowing for an open and balanced analysis of counter-terrorism and violent extremism matters.
Conference Schedule
10:00-10:05
Welcome – Prof. Luc Thévenoz
Professor at the University of Geneva, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Geneva, Switzerland
10:05-10:15
Introduction – Prof. Gloria Gaggioli
Principal Investigator of the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project, Professor in International Law at the University of Geneva, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Geneva, Switzerland
10:15-11:00
Keynote speech – Prof. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin
University Regents Professor at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States of America, Professor of Law at the Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Honorary King's Counsel, Former Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism (online)
11:00-11:15
Coffee break
11:15-12:15
Moderator:
Dr. Pavle Kilibarda
Postdoctoral Researcher for the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project at the University of Geneva, Teaching Professional for Boston University’s Geneva Programme, Switzerland
Panellists:
Dr. Ahmed Ajil
Postdoctoral Researcher in Criminology, Counterterrorism and Criminal Justice at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland, Expert in Political Mobilisation and Violence, Counterterrorism, Migration and Security
Prof. Mirjam Eser Davolio
Professor of Social Work at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland, Educational Scientist and Expert on Extremism and Radicalisation, Leader of a Government-Funded Study on Prevention and Intervention
Dr. Michael Moncrieff
Postdoctoral Researcher and Empirical Studies Lead for the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project at the University of Geneva, Teaching Professional for Boston University’s Geneva Programme, Switzerland
Dr. Yosuke Nagai
Founder and Executive Director of Accept International, an NGO focusing on violent extremism and armed conflict in Japan, Member of the Youth Advisory Board for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, former Visiting Fellow at The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
related CT Pro LegEm Publications:
Forthcoming:
Moncrieff, M., & Lienard, P. (2024). Envy, Emotional Urgency, and Radicalization: The Impulsive Route is Paved in Malice. Terrorism and Political Violence. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2024.2432870
Moncrieff, M. (under review). Envy as a Mediator in the Exclusion-Radicalization Link. In T. Abbas, L. Vostermans, & R. McNeil-Willson (Eds.), The Routledge International Handbook on Social Exclusion and Radicalisation.
12:15-13:15
Lunch
13:15-14:15
Moderator:
Dr. Michael Moncrieff
Postdoctoral Researcher and Empirical Studies Lead for the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project at the University of Geneva, Teaching Professional for Boston University’s Geneva Programme, Switzerland
Panellists:
Dr. Hiruni Alwishewa
Postdoctoral Researcher for the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project at the University of Geneva, Switzerland
Dr. Erika Brady
Senior Lecturer in Policing and Deputy Course Director of the Bachelor of Science in Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime at Canterbury Christ Church University, United Kingdom
Dr. Pavle Kilibarda
Postdoctoral Researcher for the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project at the University of Geneva, Teaching Professional for Boston University’s Geneva Programme, Switzerland
Ms. Tanya Mehra
Senior Research Fellow and Programme Lead, International Center for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), The Hague, Netherlands
related CT Pro LegEm Publications:
Forthcoming: Policy Guidance: A Human Rights-based Approach to Evaluating Counterterrorism Effectiveness
14:15-14:30
Coffee break
14:30-15:30
Moderator:
Prof. Gloria Gaggioli
Principal Investigator of the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project, Professor in International Law at the University of Geneva, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Geneva, Switzerland
Panellists:
Prof. Hanne Cuyckens
Assistant Professor at the University of Leiden, Netherlands
Mr. Jérôme Drevon
Senior Analyst in Jihad and Modern Conflict for International Crisis Group, former Adviser for Non-State Armed Groups for the International Committee of the Red Cross, former Research Fellow at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester (online)
Dr. Michael Moncrieff
Postdoctoral Researcher and Empirical Studies Lead for the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project at the University of Geneva, Teaching Professional for Boston University’s Geneva Programme, Switzerland
Mr. Ilya Sobol
PhD candidate in International Law at the University of Geneva, former CANDOC for the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project at the University of Geneva (online)
related CT Pro LegEm Publications:
15:30-15:45
Coffee break
15:45-16:45
Moderator:
Dr. Eugénie Duss
Postdoctoral Researcher for the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project at the University of Geneva, Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Switzerland
Panellists:
Prof. Martha Bradley
Associate Professor of Public International Law and International Humanitarian Law at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Affiliated Researcher at the South African Research Chair for International Law of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Prof. Gloria Gaggioli
Principal Investigator of the “Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Towards a Legal-Empirical Approach” Project, Professor in International Law at the University of Geneva, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Geneva, Switzerland
Prof. Mohammed Hafez
Professor and Former Chair of the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, United States of America, Specialist in Islamist Movements and Political Violence
Mr. Hichem Khadhraoui
Executive Director at Center for Civilians in Conflict, Former Senior Field Manager and Head of Protection for Near and Middle East at the International Committee of Red Cross, Former Director of Programmes and Field Operations at Geneva Call, Switzerland
related CT Pro LegEm Publications:
Forthcoming: Kilibarda, P., Moncrieff, M., & Gaggioli, G. (2025). Armed group coalitions in armed conflict and counter-terrorism (Working paper). Geneva Academy.