Our Research Fellow Dr Domenico Zipoli Successfully Defended his PhD Thesis

16 April 2021

Our Research Fellow Dr Domenico Zipoli just defended with success his PhD thesis The Power of Engagement: Assessing the Effectiveness of Cooperation between UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies and National Human Rights Institutions at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights of the University of Oslo (UiO) Faculty of Law. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the defence took place online.

‘The overall experience of having the defence taking place online has been a positive one. Of course, it was a real pity to be away from friends and colleagues in Oslo and to celebrate this day together with them. At UiO Faculty of Law, the defence usually takes place in the beautiful Gamle Festsal, once the seat of the Norwegian Parliament. Needless to say, the online defence was a less grandiose affair, however, the technical staff did a wonderful job in facilitating a very smooth exchange between myself and the adjudication committee members. The online defence was also more accessible to those who wished to attend from outside of Oslo’ says Domenico.

Unpacking the Black Box of Inter-Institutional Cooperation Between International and Domestic Human Rights Mechanisms

By unpacking the black box of inter-institutional cooperation between the international and domestic mechanisms of human rights monitoring, this thesis explores the engagement between United Nations (UN) treaty bodies and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the context of the state reporting procedure. In doing so, it examines whether this dyadic relationship and cooperation are effective in facilitating the implementation of human rights treaties through a combination of goal-based and empirical approaches.

‘This doctorate represents an important step in my understanding of the deep complexities that shape human rights implementation today. What I believe to be the real worth of a PhD degree is the process one goes through, of substantive investigation and discovery, of course, but also of close cooperation with leading experts in the field, learning the ‘art of the craft’ from their experience. The University of Oslo and Geneva Academy faculties have been of tremendous value in this regard. The opportunity of having Professor Christof Heyns appointed as a member of my doctoral adjudication committee has been the greatest of honours. I will always be grateful for his invaluable advice and guidance towards this achievement’ explains Domenico.

Domenico Zipoli with his PhD thesis

Closely Related to Research Conducted by Domenico Zipoli at the Geneva Academy

The link between international and domestic human rights monitoring mechanisms is also at the core of our research here at the Geneva Academy and at the Geneva Human Rights Platform more specifically.

‘The recently concluded research project on National Human Rights Systems is directly inspired from one of the thesis chapters. The policy implications of our research are a perfect step forward from the more theoretical analyses offered in Domenico’s PhD thesis’ explains Felix Kirchmeier, Manager of Policy Studies at the Geneva Academy and Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

quadcopter drone News

New Report Highlights Risks Posed by Autonomous Weapons Systems Proliferation to State and Non-State Actors

21 August 2024

Our latest research brief, 'Sending Up a Flare: Autonomous Weapons Systems Proliferation Risks to Human Rights and International Security' examines the proliferation of autonomous weapons systems and consequent risks to security and human rights.

Read more

A GHRP training course News

Training Opportunities 2025: Engage with UN Human Rights Mechanisms

28 January 2025

The Geneva Human Rights Platform is launching its 2025 training programme, designed to empower stakeholders engaging with UN human rights system.

Read more

Portrait of Alain Berset Event

Le Conseil de l'Europe - Une mission-clé pour l'Europe et le monde

24 February 2025, 18:00-19:30

In this public lecture Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, will discuss with our director, Paola Gaeta and students from the Geneva Graduate Institute, University of Geneva and Geneva Academy.

Read more

Event

Local and Regional Governments as Key Actors in Advancing Human Rights and the SDGs

17 March 2025, 13:00-14:00

This event will identify strategies to strengthen Local and Regional Government collaboration with National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Booklet Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

7-11 July 2025

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

Training

Human Rights and the Environment: Introducing Legal Regimes and Key Issues

1-8 September 2025

Participants in this training course will be introduced to the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as international environmental law and its implementation and enforcement mechanisms.

Read more

Project

Follow-up Review Pilot Series

Started in November 2021

Read more

Un plate with Rapporteur Spécial written on it Project

Support to UN Special Procedures

Started in June 2020

Read more

Cover page of the working paper Publication

AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

published on January 2025

Milica Mirkovic, Jennifer Victoria Scurrell

Read more