Event information

12 October 2022, 18:00-20:00
Register start 28 September 2022
Register end 11 October 2022

Book Launch: ‘Serious violations of Human Rights, On the Emergence of a New Special Regime’

Event

Cover page of the book Cover page of the book

This event marks the launch of our LLM alumna Ilia Siatitsa’s book ‘Serious violations of human rights, On the emergence of a new special regime’ published by Oxford University Press.

This book proposes a systematic and structured analysis of the international practice around serious violations of human rights. It analyses the use of the expression 'serious violations of human rights', and similar ones, such as 'gross' or 'grave', in international practice. It highlights some of the recurring responses and consequences to such violations and suggests that a new special regime - eponymous to the above-mentioned expression - was formed.

The book clarifies the meaning and role of serious violations of human rights in international practice, in relation to other legal notions, such as jus cogens norms, erga omnes obligations, and international crimes. It analyses the international community's responses to serious violations of human rights and integrates a comprehensive understanding of gravity based on the equality and indivisibility of human rights.

This monograph constitutes the first long overdue comprehensive analysis of serious violations of human rights in recent practice allowing far more constructive and coherent elaboration in the future.

Based on her book’s findings, the author will discuss with leading international law and policy experts key issues related to serious violations of human rights in practice and their insights from their own experiences.

Moderation

  • Gloria Gaggioli, Director, Geneva Academy and Associate Professor, University of Geneva Law Faculty

Panelists

  • Ilia Siatitsa, Programme Director and Senior Legal Officer, Privacy International
  • Andrew Clapham, Professor of International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and member of the Geneva Academy Faculty
  • Paola Gaeta, Professor of International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and member of the Geneva Academy Faculty
  • Ian Seiderman, Legal and Policy Director, International Commission of Jurists
  • Eric Tistounet, Chief of the Human Rights Council Branch, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and member of the Geneva Academy Faculty

Aperitif

The event will be followed by an aperitif.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

A GHRP training course News

Training Opportunities 2025: Engage with UN Human Rights Mechanisms

28 January 2025

The Geneva Human Rights Platform is launching its 2025 training programme, designed to empower stakeholders engaging with UN human rights system.

Read more

Geneva Academy Briefing No.25 News

New Academy Briefing Calls for Stronger Engagement of Local and Regional Governments in Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

11 March 2025

The Geneva Academy’s latest publication explores how cities, municipalities, and regional authorities are becoming key players in global human rights governance.

Read more

Training

Human Rights and the Environment: Introducing Legal Regimes and Key Issues

1-8 September 2025

Participants in this training course will be introduced to the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as international environmental law and its implementation and enforcement mechanisms.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Booklet Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

7-11 July 2025

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

Un plate with Rapporteur Spécial written on it Project

Support to UN Special Procedures

Started in June 2020

Read more

surveillance image of people Project

Human Rights in a Digitalized World: Mapping Risk, Strengthening Regulation and Promoting the Development of International Human Rights Law

Started in August 2023

To unpack the challenges raised by artificial intelligence, this project will target two emerging and under-researched areas: digital military technologies and neurotechnology.

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more

Cover page of the working paper Publication

AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

published on January 2025

Milica Mirkovic, Jennifer Victoria Scurrell

Read more