Wednesday, March 9, 2016
15:00-16:00
Room XVIII
Palais des Nations
Geneva, Switzerland
Fourteen years have passed since the first prisoner arrived in Guantánamo Bay. Almost 800 men have passed through Guantánamo’s cells. Today, 91 men remain: 36 of these men have been cleared for transfer from the prison yet remain detained; 45 are awaiting periodic reviews for clearance; and 10 are in the military commission system (of those 10, 7 are in active pre-trial proceedings, while only 3 have been convicted). On February 23, President Obama submitted to Congress a new plan to close the detention facility, but the plan seems to preserve the Bush-created unfair military commissions and continues to embrace indefinite detention without charge or trial for some detainees.
The side event will provide updates on efforts to close Guantanamo and end the regime of indefinite detention and unfair trials consistent with international law. Video testimonies of former prisoners will be presented by Witness to Guantanamo Project.
Panelists:
- Juan E. Méndez, Special Rapporteur on Torture
- Jamil Dakwar, Director, Human Rights Program, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
- Peter Jan Honigsberg, University of San Francisco Law School, Founder & Director of Witness to Guantanamo
Moderator: Connie de la Vega, University of San Francisco Law School & Human Rights Advocates
This event is co-sponsored by American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, CELS, Conectas, Human Rights Advocates, and Human Rights Watch