Event information

28 June 2018, 18:30-20:00

Downloads

Flyer >

Geneva launch of policing law website

Event

Policeman during a demonstration Policeman during a demonstration

University of Pretoria

This event accompanies the launch of a brand new online resource The Law on Police Use of Force Worldwide, developed by researchers at the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa (University of Pretoria), in partnership with student researchers at the University of Oxford and the Geneva Academy. On this occasion, panelists will discuss the importance of domestic legal regulations of the use of force by law enforcement officials.

This online resource is designed as a repository of all national legislation, international and national jurisprudence, regulations and other relevant documents with a bearing on how police officers and other law enforcement officials use force. It should serve as a valuable resource for researchers, advocates and law-makers in undertaking comparative legal review or advancing legislative reform.

Panelists

  • Christof Heyns, Professor of Human Rights Law at the University of Pretoria and Member of the UN Human Rights Committee;
  • Nils Melzer, Swiss Human Rights Chair at the Geneva Academy and UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment.
  • Jennifer Turner, Expert on Policing, American Civil Liberties Union's
  • Terrence Williams, Head, Jamaica's Police Oversight Body (INDECOM)

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

GHRP EU News News

Bridging Geneva and Europe: advancing human rights in the digital age

2 June 2025

The Geneva Human Rights Platform has taken its work on strengthening the international human rights system to the heart of European policymaking.

Read more

Event

Strengthening international labour rights and UN human rights standards: The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Freedom of Association

23 September 2025, 18:30-21:00

This open discussion will consider the strengthening of international labour rights and human rights standards with focus on freedom of association.

Read more

Enforced Disappearances Event

'Short-term' Enforced Disappearances

23 September 2025, 13:00-14:00

This side event will bring together stakeholders to discuss the growing concerning recurrence to short-term enforced disappearances worldwide, and the challenges they pose for victims and accountability.

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

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

10-14 November 2025

This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

Read more

Panel Discussion: Project

Treaty Body Members’ Platform

Started in January 2014

The Treaty Body Members’ Platform connects experts in UN treaty bodies with each other as well as with Geneva-based practitioners, academics and diplomats to share expertise, exchange views on topical questions and develop synergies.

Read more

Plastic pollution on an Italian shore Project

Unpacking the Human Right to a Healthy Environment: Definition, Implementation and Impact

Started in January 2022

This research aims at mainstreaming the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the protection it affords in the work of the UN Human Rights Council, its Special Procedures and Universal Periodic Review, as well as in the work of the UN General Assembly and UN treaty bodies.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more