Vacuum Technology Seminar - University of Waterloo

On 5 and 6 October 2026, the International Criminal Court (ICC) hosted the seminar “New Technologies in Detention” at its headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands, bringing together international detention experts from Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. The event was organised with funding from the European Union. The seminar provided a unique forum for specialists in Information Technology, prison directors, legal advisers, human rights lawyers, detention stakeholders, medical practitioners, as well as representatives of international organisations to exchange experiences and discuss the implementation and use of new technologies, digitalisation tools, and innovation projects in detention settings. Opening the seminar, ICC Second Vice-President Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou stated: “New technologies can help positively transform the lives of detained individuals by facilitating the maintenance of ties with their relatives and the institutions responsible for their protection, as well as by supporting their social rehabilitation. However, it is essential to strike a proper balance between these possibilities and the security requirements of detention centers”