[Webinar] Using battlefield evidence in the fight against terrorism: International law dimensions

On Wednesday March 17, (15:00h CET), UN Special Rapporteur Prof. Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin, will join us for a free webinar on battlefield evidence as a means to bring terrorism suspects to justice, as well its international law dimensions. Other speakers are Dr David Scharia (United Nations Council - Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate), Prof. Noam Lubell (University of Essex School of Law), Ms Maya Foa (Reprieve), and moderator Christophe Paulussen (Asser Institute). Sign up now to join us for this unique event.

Background
In the last two years, a number of initiatives regarding the use of ‘battlefield’ evidence have been drafted, or are in the process of being developed by various international, regional, and national entities. These initiatives point to the increasing focus on the collection, storage, use and transfer of evidence in conflict or violent contexts. Examples are:

• The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) Guidelines to facilitate the use and admissibility as evidence in national criminal courts of information collected, handled, preserved and shared by the military to prosecute terrorist offences developed within the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact Task Force Working Group on Criminal-Justice.
• The Legal Responses and Countering the Financing of Terrorism; Non-Binding Guiding Principles on Use of Battlefield Evidence in Civilian Criminal Proceedings co-produced by the United State Departments of State, Justice and Defence;
• NATO Policy on Battlefield Evidence;
• The Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF) Abuja Recommendations on the Collection, Use and Sharing of Evidence for Purposes of Criminal Prosecution of Terrorist Suspects;
• The EUROJUST 2020 Memorandum on Battlefield Evidence; and
• The Council of Europe Committee on Counter-Terrorism [Draft Recommendation] CM/Rec (202XX)XX of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the use of information collected in conflict zones as evidence in criminal proceedings related to terrorist offences.

In this webinar, co-organised by the Asser Institute and the mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, we will discuss the phenomenon of battlefield evidence as a means to bring terrorism suspects to justice, as well as its international law dimensions.

Panelists
Prof. Fionnuala Ni Aoláin
UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

Dr David Scharia
Director and Chief of Branch, United Nations Council - Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED)

Prof. Noam Lubell
Professor, University of Essex School of Law
Director of the Essex Armed Conflict and Crisis Hub

Ms Maya Foa
Joint Executive Director, Reprieve

The event will be moderated by Asser senior researcher Dr Christophe Paulussen.

Sign up here to join this webinar and Q&A.