On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (IJL), in collaboration with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and with the support of the German Permanent Mission in Geneva, hosted an event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva aimed at drawing attention to the plight of the hostages and their families.
The event highlighted the significant milestone set by Dr. Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, in her latest report dealing with hostage-taking and torture.
Dr. Edwards’ report made a precedent-setting determination that families of hostages should be recognized as direct victims of torture, alongside the clear recognition of the hostages themselves. Her report extensively addressed the kidnapping of hostages by Hamas on October 7, 2023, focusing on both the torture suffered by the hostages and the profound suffering endured by their families.
Speaking at the Event, Dr. Edwards shared key aspects of her report, including her substantial recommendations calling for action and for the immediate release of all hostages.
At the event, Rivka Bohbot and Lishay Lavi-Miran, whose husbands Elkana and Omri are held captive in Gaza, shared powerful testimonies about the horrifying reality of their husbands’ captivity and the profound impact on their families, including their young children. Their harrowing testimonies underscored the profound legal and moral imperative to secure immediate humanitarian intervention and pursue accountability.
Click here to read Dr. Edwards’ Full Report
Click here to read IJL and the Families Forum’s Submission
Watch the full recording of our event: