21 January 2022, 14:30-16:00
Event
Canva
It is undisputed that procedures inside the Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Treaty Body Branch and also between treaty body (TB) members need to adapt to today’s technologies. Mechanisms and rules put in place in the times of letters and faxes are not anymore up to the task to deliver efficiently in a quickly changing environment where the volume of work has sharply increased over the years.
But how to do so, what to do, by whom and on which budget? The terminology, with references to ‘digital shift’, ‘digital uplift’ or ‘digital transformation’ shows that the vast area of working methods' digitalization is seen differently in scope by various actors. Furthermore, quick sectorial solutions bring the risk of moving from existing siloes to digital ones, so even if some areas might serve as good examples, a major challenge will be the ‘uplift’ of the whole secretariat structure across the board.
This GHRP Friday will look at the technical options currently under discussion, their potential impact and the process required to get there – in terms of decision making, financing and practical implementation. Panelists will also address the value of a digital platform and knowledge management for both internal proceedings, but also for enhancing the transparency and interaction with all stakeholders.
To limit the scope of our discussions, this meeting will neither discuss the substantive impacts of digitalization on the enjoyment of human rights, nor the specific working methods of each committee. It will rather address the systemic approach of knowledge management and digitalized procedures, keeping in mind the claims put forward by TB members (e.g. CRPD paper) to look carefully into which TB activities can be moved online.
The GHRP Fridays provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss the results of the United Nations (UN) Treaty Body (TB) 2020 Review and practical ways to implement change. They are open to all interested delegations, TB members, staff from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and civil society.
This event series of the Geneva Human Rights Platform – co-organized with the Permanent Missions of Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Morocco, Switzerland and Uruguay to the UN in Geneva – aims at discussing the outcomes of the 2020 UN Treaty Body Review.
Adobe
Our latest Research Brief Between Science-Fact and Science-Fiction: Innovation and Ethics in Neurotechnology highlights the need for a robust regulatory framework around neurotechnology that can simultaneously foster innovation and protect human rights.
Geneva Academy
Our Geneva Human Rights Platform just released the latest report of its third and final follow-up review pilot conducted in Nadi, Fiji, in collaboration with the Pacific Community and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Geneva Academy
This side-event to the 56th Human Rights Council session aims to present the findings of the Geneva Human Rights Platform Treaty Body Follow-Up Review Pilot Series.
Adobe
This panel discussion will showcase the transformative potential of digital technologies in monitoring and implementing SDG 16, its interlinkages with other SDGs, and UN human rights recommendations.
Adobe
This training course will examine how the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights have been utilized to advance the concept of business respect for human rights throughout the UN system, the impact of the Guiding Principles on other international organizations, as well as the impact of standards and guidance developed by these different bodies.
UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.
Geneva Academy
Geneva Academy