Global Experts’ Dialogue on Advancing Justice for Children in Counter-Terrorism Contexts

Last week in Malta, the IHL Centre joined the Global Experts’ Dialogue on Advancing Justice for Children in Counter-Terrorism Contexts, hosted by the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law. The event brought together experts from Africa, Asia & MENA to address pressing juvenile justice challenges. 

In its intervention, the IHL Centre addressed the legal and practical complexities of cross-border repatriation of children from Al Hol in northeast Syria—highlighting frameworks on internment, humane treatment, statelessness, and the prohibition of non-refoulement. The Centre emphasized that repatriation practices must comply with international law: maintaining family unity, avoiding arbitrary age cutoffs, and ensuring access to consular services for foreigners held in the camp. 

Operational challenges flagged include:

▪️ Widespread stigma hindering reintegration

▪️ Limited inclusion of community voices

▪️ Continued reliance on needs-based, not rights-based, approaches—undermining sustainable outcomes 

The IHL Centre thanks the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law for convening this important exchange and supports ongoing efforts to promote dialogue aimed at advancing legally grounded, age- and gender-sensitive approaches to the repatriation and reintegration of children.