2021 Human Rights Week Scientific Colloquium: Discrimination and Inequalities

Event

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While discriminations and inequalities have always been a subject of international concern, the trend in recent years indicates an increase rather than a decrease of the phenomenon. This tendency has been further aggravated by the COVID 19 pandemic, despite the fact that the prohibition of discrimination is well-entrenched in international human rights law and appears high on the agenda of the international community.

The two-day Scientific Colloquium of the 2021 Human Rights Week will explore the different facets of discrimination and inequalities and will discuss their human rights impact in our contemporary world. Experts, academics, and practitioners as well as young scholars will discuss four main issues:

• Discriminations against specific groups and in relation to specific rights
• Discriminations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and inequalities in accessing the COVID-19 vaccine
• Discrimination in armed conflicts, counter-terrorism, and states of emergencies;
• Algorithmic discrimination.

About the Human Rights Week

The Human Rights Week is one of the key events in Geneva that addresses contemporary challenges and issues in the field of human rights. The 2021 edition will discuss – via conferences, debates, film screenings, exhibitions, artistic performances, and the scientific colloquium – the question of discrimination and inequalities.

During one week, experts, practitioners, artists, students, academics, diplomats, and civil society representatives will exchange around this issue, debate, identify solutions and raise awareness about ongoing discriminatory practices and inequalities.

This major event is organized by the University of Geneva, in partnership with the Geneva Academy, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights and Les Créatives.

About The Scientific Colloquium

The Scientific Colloquium has been organized by the Scientific Committee of the Human Rights Week, whose members are:

• Gloria Gaggioli, President of the Scientific Committee, Director of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
• Nicolas Levrat, President of the Human Rights Week, Director of the Global Studies Institute, University of Geneva
• Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, Director of the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights, University of Geneva
• Frédéric Bernard, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva
• Victor Fernandez, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Philip Jaffé, Professor at the Centre for Children’s Rights Studies
• Felix Kirchmeier, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
• Christophe Spenlé, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Directorate of International Law
• Mara Tignino, Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva.