Event information

3 July 2019, 12:00-13:00

Downloads

Flyer >

Human Rights and Digital Technologies: New Insights

Event

The photos display the command dir in ms-dos, a command line environment The photos display the command dir in ms-dos, a command line environment

Digital technologies continue to transform almost every facet of our lives: innovations are shaping our democracies through impacts on political participation and electoral processes; reshaping access to education; reframing employment and notions of the workplace; revolutionising healthcare; stimulating communities within civil society and galvanising greater activism; and fostering new opportunities for economic development.

Notwithstanding the many positive effects of such a transformation, the pace of change, rapid advancement and swift implementation of many new technologies have to date highlighted significant concerns as to whether the existing framework at the international level to protect and promote human rights is apt to confront the nascent challenges society must resolve.

This panel discussion, co-organized with the Geneva Internet Platform, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Special Procedures, aims at generating debate and drawing attention to current challenges in the digital sphere. It also seeks to foster interest in developing effective strategies and methodologies that may serve to address future issues stemming from digitisation and advancements in tech and determine how best we can oversee the implementation of digital technologies so that they continue to realise their best possible contribution to the full enjoyment of human rights.

Panelists will notably:

  • Exchange views with regard to strengthening understanding amongst states, the tech industry, civil society and academia as to how innovations in digital technologies are reframing current conceptual approaches to human rights
  • Identify opportunities for states, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to determine effective strategic approaches to facilitate preparation for the future impacts of emerging digital technologies
  • Provide practical suggestions as to how to expand and accelerate more impactful research on the interaction of digital technologies with human rights, developing the existing discussions currently considering specific themes and technologies
  • Identify and elaborate on the role of new tools and methodologies that could potentially assist in the assessment of the human rights impacts of digital technologies.

Moderator

  • Stephanie Borg Psaila, Interim Director, Diplo Foundation and Geneva Internet Platform

Panelists

  • Jonathan Andrew, Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
  • Yuval Shany, Vice-Chair, UN Human Rights Committee and Hersch Lauterpacht Chair in Public International Law, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Clément Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association
  • Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director, Secretariat of the UN High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation

Outcome

A summary report on the discussions held and recommendations made during the panel discussion will be prepared.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

bombed building News

Expert Consultation on CESCR’s General Comment on ICESCR in Armed Conflict

8 May 2025

The Geneva Academy convened an expert consultation on the CESCR’s General Comment on the Application of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Situations of Armed Conflict.

Read more

neurotech image News

Human Rights Concerns in Neurotechnology Examined in New Research Brief

15 April 2025

Our research brief 'Neurotechnology - Integrating Human Rights in Regulation' examines the human rights challenges posed by the rapid development of neurotechnology.

Read more

Digital Globe Event

Information Management & Machine Learning for Human Rights: Digital Transformation in the Public Sector - Workshop at the 2025 LATSIS Symposium

12 September 2025, 13:30-15:30

This interactive, two-part workshop will explore how modern data-science tools – including machine learning and AI – can be leveraged to support the United Nations in promoting and protecting human rights.

Read more

Special Rapporteur Sign Event

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in an Era of Escalating Armed Conflict: Where Can International Human Rights Law Help?

25 September 2025, 18:30-20:00

This evening dialogue will present the publication: International Human Rights Law: A Treatise, Cambridge University Press (2025).

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

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

15-19 September 2025

Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.

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

Session of a UN Treaty Body Project

Treaty Bodies Individual Communications Procedures

Started in January 2019

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more