First Meeting of the Geneva Human Rights Platform Advisory Board

Imagre of the online meeting of the Advisory Board of the Geneva Human Rights Platform Imagre of the online meeting of the Advisory Board of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

8 June 2020

The Advisory Board of the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) – Virginia Brás Gomez, Sarah H. Cleveland, Miloon Kothari, Florence Simbiri-Jaoko and Valentin Zellweger – met for the first time on 4 June.

Composed of leading human rights experts and practitioners from different regions and backgrounds, it provides guidance to the GHRP Executive Director regarding the GHRP’s strategy, priorities and activities.

‘Given the current situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had this first meeting online. Besides discussing the role of the Advisory Board, we exchanged around activities, priorities and focus for the GHRP in the upcoming years’ explains Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director of the GHRP.

‘It is very important for us to get feedback and guidance regarding the relevance of our work from such experts and practitioners with extensive experience in human rights at the local, regional and international levels. I am delighted and grateful that they all accepted this role without hesitation’ he adds.

Additional Focus for the Annual Conference

In the meeting, Advisory Board members exchanged around their role, current human rights challenges and issues, as well as the GHRP strategy and activities.

‘An important impetus from the Advisory Board was the additional perspective on the impact of the COVID crisis, which will be integrated into the upcoming annual conference of the platform, which will take place on 15 October in Geneva’ says Felix Kirchmeier.

About the Geneva Human Rights Platform

The GHRP provides a neutral and dynamic forum of interaction in Geneva for all stakeholders in the field of human rights – experts, practitioners, diplomats and civil society – to debate topical issues and challenges related to the functioning of the Geneva-based human rights system. Relying on academic research and findings, it works to enable various actors to be better connected, break silos, and, hence, advance human rights.

As a ‘Mechanisms Lab’, the GHRP supports the international community to engineer solutions to ensure the sustainable functioning of the Geneva-based human rights mechanisms and bodies, allowing them to address human rights challenges effectively.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Participants in the training course News

Training Boosts Geneva Diplomats’ Expertise in UN Human Rights Council

23 January 2024

Our Geneva Human Rights Platform offered, in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a three-day executive training course for Geneva-based diplomats on  the functioning of UN human rights mechanisms and negotiation practices at the multilateral level.

Read more

News

New Series of 'In and Around War(s) Podcast Coming Soon

17 April 2024

Our podcast In and Around War(s) returns for a third season.

Read more

Digital Justice Event

Digital Bridges to Justice: Enhancing Human Rights and SDG Monitoring through Innovative Technologies

3 July 2024, 13:15-14:30

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.

Read more

A protest in Peru Event

The Quest for Accountability for the Violations of Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association in Peru: Challenges and Perspectives

1 July 2024, 16:00-18:00

This side event to the 56th session of the Human Rights Council will address the current and main challenges ahead in the protection of the rights of the Peruvian people for freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

11-15 November 2024

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.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

2-20 September 2024

Participants in this training course, made of two modules, will examine the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights and the environment, familiarizing themselves with the respective implementation and enforcement mechanisms.

Read more

Session of the UN Human Rights Committee Project

Treaty Body Review 2020 and Beyond

Started in January 2018

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributes to this review process by providing expert input via different avenues, by facilitating dialogue on the review among various stakeholders, as well as by accompanying the development of a follow-up resolution to 68/268 in New York and in Geneva.

Read more

Madagascar, Miarinarivo district. Women transplanting rice. Project

The Rights of Peasants

Started in May 2008

After having provided academic support to the negotiation of the UN Declaration for ten years, this research project focuses on the implementation of the UN Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas.

Read more

Cover Page of Research Brief Publication

Between Science-Fact and Science-Fiction Innovation and Ethics in Neurotechnology

published on May 2024

Milena Costas, Timo Istace

Read more