These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the website of the MENA Human Rights Observatory (“the Observatory”, “we”, “us”, or “our”). By accessing or using the website, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the website.
1. Acceptance and Scope
These Terms apply to all visitors and users of the website, including those who read our publications, browse the cases database, subscribe to the newsletter, or download materials. Additional terms may apply to specific features or services; where they do, they will be presented to you before you use those features, and they form part of these Terms.
We may revise these Terms from time to time. The version in force is the one published on this page at the time of your visit. Your continued use of the website after a revision constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
2. Permitted Use
You may use the website for lawful, personal, educational, journalistic, or research purposes. Subject to the rights and restrictions described in these Terms, you may:
- read, view, and download content for your own non-commercial use;
- quote short passages with clear attribution to the Observatory and a link to the source page, in line with our Source Attribution guidance;
- share links to our pages through social media, email, or other channels.
If you wish to reproduce substantial parts of our content, redistribute it commercially, or use it in another publication, you must obtain our prior written permission.
3. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise stated, all content on this website — including text, layout, graphics, maps, charts, logos, and the selection and arrangement of materials — is owned by or licensed to the Observatory and is protected by copyright and related rights.
Where material is published under an open licence (for example, a Creative Commons licence), the terms of that licence apply and are indicated on the relevant page. Third-party sources cited or quoted on the website remain the property of their respective owners.
The Observatory’s name, logo, and visual identity may not be used in a way that suggests endorsement, partnership, or affiliation without our prior written consent.
4. Prohibited Conduct
When using the website you must not:
- use the website for any unlawful purpose or in breach of applicable regulations;
- attempt to gain unauthorised access to the website, its servers, or any connected systems, or interfere with their normal operation;
- introduce malware, engage in denial-of-service activity, or use automated tools to scrape or overload the website in a manner that degrades service for others;
- misrepresent the Observatory’s content, falsely attribute statements to us, or alter documents in a way that changes their meaning;
- publish or transmit content that is defamatory, harassing, discriminatory, or that incites violence;
- infringe the intellectual-property or privacy rights of the Observatory or of any third party.
We reserve the right to restrict or terminate access to any user who breaches these Terms.
5. User Contributions
Where the website allows you to submit material (for example, contact messages or enquiries), you are responsible for ensuring that the material is lawful, accurate, and does not infringe the rights of others. By submitting material, you grant us a non-exclusive right to use it for the purpose for which it was submitted. We do not accept unsolicited confidential information through the website.
6. Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability
The content on this website is provided for general information, research, and educational purposes only. While we take reasonable care to ensure that information is accurate and up to date, we make no warranty that it is complete, current, or free of errors, and it should not be relied upon as legal, medical, or professional advice. Please also read our Disclaimer concerning our academic-neutrality policy.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Observatory shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss arising from your use of, or inability to use, the website or its content. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
7. External Links
The website contains links to external websites and documents operated by third parties. Those links are provided for convenience and reference only. We do not control and are not responsible for the content, availability, or practices of external websites, and a link does not imply endorsement.
8. Privacy
Our handling of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy and our Cookie Policy, which form part of these Terms.
9. Termination
We may suspend, restrict, or terminate your access to all or part of the website at any time, without notice, if we reasonably believe that you have breached these Terms or that your use poses a risk to the website, to other users, or to the Observatory. On termination, the provisions concerning intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, and governing law shall continue to apply.
10. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms and any dispute arising out of or in connection with them are governed by the laws of the Netherlands, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer-protection rules that may apply in your country of residence. The courts of [City, Country] shall have jurisdiction, unless the law requires otherwise.
11. Contact
Questions about these Terms may be sent to [email protected].
Last updated: 2026-09-22.