Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons)
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niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons)
@niaolainf.bsky.social
3.4K followers 100 following 510 posts

Regents Law Professor, Minnesota Law + Professor QUB Law School (Belfast)+ Director Human Rights Centre. ICJ Commissioner. RIA. FBA. Former UN SR Counter-Terrorism & Human Rights (2017-23). Irish, Gaeilgeoir, Mom, Loves Yoga & Hiking. .. more

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Fionnuala Ní Aoláin is an Irish academic lawyer specialising in human rights law. She was the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism for the United Nations Human Rights Council from August 1, 2017 - November 2023. .. more

Political science 67%
Sociology 15%
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niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 3d
Right.

Reposted by Diane Marie Amann

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 3d
Child taking and forcible separation have coming the defining features of contemporary warfare. This move so fundamentally undermines the rights of the child and the child as civilian.

www.npr.org/2025/11/22/n...
More than 300 children were abducted in an attack on a Catholic school in Nigeria
A total of 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted by gunmen during an attack on St. Mary's School, a Catholic institution in north-central Nigeria's Niger state, the Christian Association of...
www.npr.org

Reposted by Ann Bartow

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 4d
This was one of the most interesting scholarly articles I have read in a long time. A whole new way to think about collective harm and how urban space can be the object of violence and harm, opening up the obvious question of how to remedy. @ejiltalk.bsky.social

academic.oup.com/ejil/advance...
Urban Collectives as Victims of International Human Rights Violations
Abstract. Cities are places where people experience human rights violations collectively. Disputes arising from such experiences are increasingly percolati
academic.oup.com

Reposted by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

justsecurity.org
Just Security @justsecurity.org · 4d
(2/3) With thanks to our authors this week:

@adhaque.bsky.social
Aidan Arasasingham
Alyssa Yamamoto
@ambdanfried.bsky.social
Anji Manivannan
Brett Max Kaufman
@camillestewartgloster.com
Daniel Maurer
Frank A. Rose
Jenny McAvoy

Reposted by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

burgessev.bsky.social
Burgess Everett @burgessev.bsky.social · 6d
More

The WH is considering an executive order preempting state legislation on AI if the moratorium does not pass in the NDAA, according to a person familiar with the matter. However, a WH official said until such an order is announced, "discussion about potential executive orders is speculation."

Reposted by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

internetlab.bsky.social
InternetLab @internetlab.bsky.social · 7d
A professora da Universidade de Minnesota e ex-relatora das Nações Unidas, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin (@niaolainf.bsky.social), debate o assunto em artigo da coletânea “Direitos Fundamentais & Processo Penal na Era Digital: doutrina e prática em debate”. 👇🏼​

Reposted by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

vaspanagiotopoulos.com
Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 8d
“Soft law is not sufficient,” said fmr 🇺🇳 @niaolainf.bsky.social. “The pretence that these tools are like any other tools is factually & legally incorrect. 
The more you normalise this technology for use within democracies, the more likely you are to make this tech available [to non-state groups].”

Reposted by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

vaspanagiotopoulos.com
Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 8d
⚠️ During yesterday’s @europarl.europa.eu event hosted by @socialistsanddemocrats.eu MEP @sandroruotolo.bsky.social on #spyware and the European Media Freedom Act, it was announced that a parliamentary #intergroup is currently in the making to continue the work of the 🇪🇺PEGA inquiry committee.

Reposted by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

justsecurity.org
Just Security @justsecurity.org · 9d
Tamil survivors and victims’ families have condemned a recent UN #HumanRights Council resolution on #SriLanka, write Anji Manivannan & Alyssa Yamamoto.

Why activists for accountability are concerned it will entrench impunity for atrocity crimes:

www.justsecurity.org/124545/sri-l...
Faith in Sri Lanka’s Government Risks Extending Impunity
The international community’s faith that Sri Lanka is willing to break from decades of systemic impunity fuels human rights violations.
www.justsecurity.org

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 12d
Looking forward to this event at the European Parliament on Monday November 17th on Spyware and Journalism.

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 12d
Paris: Today the anniversary of the attacks on November 13, 2015, at the Bataclan. 130 people killed, and so many lives lost and destroyed. I met survivors in Paris years later and their stories have stayed with me. Ne jamais oublier.

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 15d
“Eli describes an incident in which a senior officer ordered a tank to demolish a building in an area designated as safe for civilians. “A man was standing on the roof, hanging laundry, and the officer decided that he was a spotter. He’s not a spotter.”

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Israeli soldiers speak out on killings of Gaza civilians
IDF soldiers tell documentary of opening fire unprovoked and arbitrary designations of who was an enemy
www.theguardian.com

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 15d
One thing I really admire is the long UK tradition of independent review of terrorism powers. Shows the strengths of a democracy.

“Legal experts, former government ministers and an ex-MI6 director have criticised the process used to ban Palestine Action”.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Legal experts and politicians criticise process used to ban Palestine Action
Independent commission says definition of terrorism relied on by ministers is too broad and more parliamentary oversight is needed
www.theguardian.com

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 17d
“Prisoners told the lawyers they faced regular physical abuse including beatings, assaults by dogs with iron muzzles, and guards stepping on prisoners, in addition to being denied adequate medical care and given starvation-level rations”

Torture.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Israel’s underground jail, where Palestinians are held without charge and never see daylight
Exclusive: Detainees at Rakefet include nurse deprived of natural light since January, and teenager held for nine months
www.theguardian.com

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 19d
Drones and civilian harm …

www.justsecurity.org/123474/drone...
Drones are Changing How Wars Harm Civilians
Drones are rapidly changing war. Without global action, their use will lead to greater civilian harm and expand human suffering in conflict.
www.justsecurity.org

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 20d
Talking about a resolution …

www.justsecurity.org/124043/unsc-...
U.S. Draft Security Council Resolution on Gaza: Initial Concerns
The draft has fundamental legal problems and ambiguities that harm the potential for peace in Gaza and hinder a more sustainable future.
www.justsecurity.org

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 20d
Big move to protect biodiversity on the High Seas.

dialogue.earth/en/digest/ch...
China approves the High Seas Treaty
On 28 October, China achieved a major legislative step towards ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. Also known as the High Seas Treaty, it is hailed as a landmark ...
dialogue.earth

Reposted by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

whatthewomensay.bsky.social
ICAN (International Civil Society Action Network) @whatthewomensay.bsky.social · 21d
🗣️ #WPSWednesday: @niaolainf.bsky.social urges a bold rethink of the #WPS agenda: centering women’s lived realities, structural injustices, & colonial legacies—not just presence in #peace processes. @prioresearch.bsky.social Read the paper: www.prio.org/publications...
The relevance and reinvigoration of the Women, Peace and Security agenda – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
The Missing Peace Series: Understanding Conflict-related Sexual Violence through Research, Policy and Practice
www.prio.org

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 21d
Drones change war … but maybe to say concretely that they also specifically change war for women …

www.justsecurity.org/123474/drone...
Drones are Changing How Wars Harm Civilians
Drones are rapidly changing war. Without global action, their use will lead to greater civilian harm and expand human suffering in conflict.
www.justsecurity.org

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 21d
potential core crimes violations on the high seas …

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Unprovoked lethal strikes by the United States against vessels at sea may amount to international crimes: UN experts
GENEVA – Repeated and systematic lethal attacks by the United States military on boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific raise grave concerns about the commission of potential international crimes,...
www.ohchr.org

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 22d
Join us @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social Law School to launch this new report on civilian harm. November 5.

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 22d
“Belarusian authorities purchased a surveillance program over a decade ago that leaves no digital traces and has since been used in at least 100 countries, an international investigation has found.”

tvpworld.com/89501866/bel...
Belarus purchased untraceable spy software
The software’s developer has quietly built a phone-tracking empire.
tvpworld.com

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 22d
Glad to be a part of this very excellent collection addressing women and the law and practice of counter terrorism @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social
@umnlawschool.bsky.social
@uofmhrc.bsky.social
@justsecurity.org

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 26d
so sorry to miss it.

Brava … will be a tour de force I am sure

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 26d
“For Ni Aolain, the response needs to ‘hold two things at the same time: we need to remember what was great about the radical peace that was achieved here in Northern Ireland – and we need to recall that a better peace is possible”.

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2025/10/16/r...
How can we build on the ‘radical peace’ made in Northern Ireland?
Among the UK and Ireland’s greatest successes of the last century has been the achievement of peace in Northern Ireland. Almost three decades on, Larry Attree asked five key experts how peace and s…
rethinkingsecurity.org.uk

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 26d
Grim, undulating and mostly ignored … the lost lives of Sudan …

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
UN leaders condemn ‘horrifying’ mass killings in Sudan
Emergency security council session criticises killings of civilians in El Fasher and external supply of arms to RSF
www.theguardian.com

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 27d
#hospitalsarenottargets

Reposted by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

carolrosenbergnyt.bsky.social
Carol Rosenberg @carolrosenbergnyt.bsky.social · Oct 25
Looking for something to read this weekend?
Try this...
(And if you get to the end there’s a related video.)
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/u...
A Curious Collaboration Between Prisoners and the Military at Guantánamo
www.nytimes.com

niaolainf.bsky.social
Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · Oct 24
Glad to be publishing this piece at the Morrigan Blog to mark 25 years of
the WPS Agenda #UNSCR1325

Reposted by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

justinhendrix.bsky.social
Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · Oct 24
"But buried amid the A.I. division layoffs was a different set of cuts. The company laid off more than 100 people in its risk review organization, according to three people familiar with the move and internal memos viewed by The Times."
Meta Layoffs Included Employees Who Monitored Risks to User Privacy
www.nytimes.com