The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, will conduct joint visits to Germany and North Macedonia from 3 to 12 July 2023. The visits will focus specifically on repatriations, prosecution, reintegration and rehabilitation of its nationals from North-East Syria.
The expert will meet Government representatives, members of the judiciary, law enforcement officials and policy specialists from both Germany and North Macedonia. Ní Aoláin will also visit detention centres to interview returnees suspected or convicted of terrorism-related activities and core crimes.
Her visit will identify good practices in the return, rehabilitation and reintegration of foreign fighters, and women and children with alleged links to designated terrorist groups.
Ní Aoláin will share her preliminary observations during a press conference on 13 July 2023 in Geneva at 12h30 local time at the UN premises (Palais des Nations – Room B-128). The press conference will be in hybrid format and access will be strictly limited to journalists.
The Special Rapporteur will present a report of her findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in March 2024.
