Highlight systematic violations
Document administrative detention, torture and the denial of medical care in a rigorous and systematic manner, in light of the Fourth Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocols.
International Conference Calling for the Release of Palestinian Prisoners
The Palestinian Prisoner: Between the Provisions of International Law and the Absence of Their Implementation
No justice without the freedom of prisoners — towards legal accountability and an end to impunity
About the conference
From moral solidarity to legal accountability
The conference is organised by a coalition of international human rights organisations and legal institutions, against a backdrop of grave and continuing violations within detention facilities: the widespread use of administrative detention, systematic torture and ill-treatment, the deliberate denial of medical care, and the detention of women and children, in flagrant disregard of the Geneva Conventions and international human rights law. It aims to move the issue of detainees beyond the framework of moral solidarity towards a practical, institutional and judicial pathway at the international level.
Key priorities
Prepare actionable legal files
Make documented and structured investigative files available to United Nations bodies and judicial authorities, enabling concrete and direct legal action.
Activate international judicial mechanisms
Examine venues based on the principle of universal jurisdiction before European courts and strengthen referrals and communications submitted to the International Criminal Court.
Engage parliaments and diplomatic missions
Launch practical initiatives with European parliamentarians and permanent missions to the United Nations in order to strengthen accountability and international action.
Build a sustainable international coalition
Strengthen the strategic role of diaspora communities and civil society to ensure coordinated and sustained legal and media advocacy at the international level.
Speakers and guests
International legal experts, lawyers representing prisoners, academics, representatives of diplomatic missions in Geneva and European parliamentarians, alongside former prisoners and prisoners' families.
Ms. Sahar Francis
Palestinian prisoners' lawyer
Mr. Khaled Mahajna
Palestinian prisoners' lawyer
Ms. Janan Abdu
Palestinian lawyer
Mr. Raslan Mahajna
Palestinian prisoners' lawyer
Mr. Naceur Aouda
Lawyer of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya
Ms. María del Pilar Barrado Liesa
Spanish magistrate
Mr. Abdelmajid Mrari
Head of MENA Section, EFDI International
Ms. Astrid Wagner
Austrian lawyer
Mr. Filali Chafik
Delegate Municipal Councillor in charge of International Relations and Town Twinning, City of Vaulx-en-Velin
Ms. Dominique Cochain
President of AJPO Lawyers
Mr. Hussein Al-Arid
President of the International Foundation for Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners
Ms. Olivia Zemor
French political activist
Mr. Fabio Marcelli
Italian lawyer
Ms. Alima Boumediene Thiery
Former French senator and lawyer
Dr. Mr. Halit Serhan Ercivelek
Professor of Constitutional Law, Istanbul
Ms. Julie Février
French lawyer
Mr. Adel Mejri
Secretary-General of AVTT
Mr. Ala Adas
PhD in Law, Lyon Bar lawyer
Mr. Mahmoud Gaber
President, Justice for Human Rights Organization
Session programme
OPENING SESSION
- Opening address by the organizing body: Delivered by Mr. Adel Mejri (General Secretary of Association of Torture's victims).
- Address on behalf of the guests: Delivered by Ms. Alima BOUMEDIENE THIERY (Former French senator and a French Lawyer)
Palestinian Prisoners within the Framework of International Law: Legal Status and the Limits of the Occupying Power’s Authority
- Ms. Astrid Wagner (Austrian lawyer)
- Dr. Mr. Halit Serhan Ercivelek (Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University)
- Mr. Abdelmajid Mrari (Head of the MENA Section at EFDI and moroccan lawyer)
- Ms. Alima BOUMEDIENE THIERY (Former French senator and a French Lawyer)
- Ms. Julie Février (French lawyer)
- Mr Fabio MARCELLI (Italian lawyer)
Patterns of Violations in Prisons and Detention Centres: From Documented Facts to Legal Characterization
- Mr. Ala Adas (Doctor of Law, Lawyer at the Lyon Bar)
- Ms Janan Abdu — Remote (Palestinian lawyer)
- Mr. Raslan Mahajna (Lawyer for Palestinian prisoners)
- Ms. Sahar Francis — Remote (Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association)
- Mr. Hussein Al-Arid — Remote (President of the International Foundation for Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners)
- Mr. Nasser Odeh — Remote(Lawyer of the Dr. Hussam Abu safiya)
From Documentation to Accountability: International Mechanisms for Pursuing Violations against Prisoners
- Ms. María del Pilar Barrado Liesa (Spanish magistrate)
- Mr. Khaled Mahajna (Lawyer for Palestinian prisoners)
- Mr. Filali Chafik (Delegate Municipal Councillor in charge of International Relations and Town Twinning, City of Vaulx-en-Velin)
- Ms. Dominique Cochain (president of AJPO Lawyers for Justice in the Middle East)
- Mahmoud Gaber (President of the organization Justice for Human Rights)
- Ms. Olivia Zemor — Remote (French political activist)
CLOSING SESSION
- Announcement of the conference recommendations addressed to the relevant stakeholders.
Promotional video
Faces behind bars
Portraits of Palestinian prisoners from the advocacy campaign accompanying the conference.
Live stream — 12 September 2026 · 10:00 CEST
High-quality live video with simultaneous interpretation in Arabic, English and French.
Watch the live streamPress accreditation and media contacts
Media outlets and accredited journalists are invited to attend the conference at the International Conference Centre Geneva, or to register for access to the high-quality live broadcast.
Contact by e-mail
contact@pscongress.ch
Coalition of organising organisations
