Ensuring Human Rights in the Face of Current Global Challenges

Event

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Side Event at the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC)

Universality has been a key international human rights law principle since it was enshrined in the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948.

On the occasion of UDHR's 75th anniversary and the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action 30th anniversary, this HRC side event co-organized by our Geneva Human Rights Platform, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Geneva for Human Rights will discuss the relevance of universal human rights – i.e. human rights that protect all individuals worldwide – to tackling current global challenges.

Participants will address, among others, the following questions:

• How can human rights offer protection before, during and after crisis and armed conflicts?
• How do they contribute to the debates on building sustainable peace and supporting development?
• What can the universal framework at ‘HumanRights75’ offer with regard to climate change and major threats to our living environment and living conditions?
• How do human rights contribute to addressing energy crisis and pandemics?
• What are the human rights challenges and opportunities with regard to the use of new technologies?

Moderation

• Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director, Geneva Human Rights Platform

Speakers

• H.E. Franz Perrez, Director of the Directorate of International Law, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
• H.E. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR
• Adrien-Claude Zoller, President of the NGO ‘Geneva for Human Rights’
• Hélène Tigroudja, Member of the UN Human Rights Committee

Get Ready: Relevant Links

Geneva Academy Briefing The Universality of Human Rights: Developing Narratives to Overcome Polarization