29 April 2024
On April 18, 2024, the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) and the Department of Legal Studies at the University of Bologna, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, hosted the Expert Roundtable on Data Planning and Collection by National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRFs), in Bologna, Italy.
Dr Domenico Zipoli, Project Coordinator of the Geneva Human Rights Platform, travelled to Bologna to co-host this event, which focused on the integration of local and regional governments (LRGs) and national statistical systems in NMIRF-led data collection efforts, with NMIRF delegates from Italy, Portugal, Paraguay and Morocco in attendance. Also present were representatives from Italian local and regional governments, the Italian National Statistics Office, the OHCHR, think tanks, academia and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) working on the link between LRGs, National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and NMIRFs.
This event is part of a larger multilateral initiative under the scope of Human Rights Council resolution 51/33, propelled by Paraguay and Brazil in 2022. This resolution encourages States to establish or strengthen NMIRFs for further compliance with human rights obligations and commitments and to share good practices and experiences in their use for the elaboration of public policies and plans, at all levels, with a human rights approach.
The aim was to explore best practices and challenges of NMIRFs’ data planning and collection through their consultation capacity, including with LRGs and national statistical systems. The four NMIRFs and the several LRG experts represented at the Roundtable shared their strategies in this specific space. For example, the Italian Inter-ministerial Committee for Human Rights (CIDU) illustrated the successful integration of data insights from the Italian National Office of Statistics and the two umbrella bodies representing LRGs within CIDU, the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) and the Conference State - Regions. These efforts are crucial as they demonstrate meaningful NSOs and local and regional involvement in human rights processes, aligning with broader goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for 2030.
During the roundtable, the following central themes were explored:
Dr Zipoli explained, ‘The insights gathered from this roundtable will be reflected in an upcoming statement, including the Roundtable’s main takeaways, with the aim to inform upcoming NMIRF institutionalization processes. Notably these will be reported during the Second International Seminar on NMIRFs (Asunción, Paraguay, May 2024) as well as the 2024 Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Marrakech, Morocco, October 2024) and ultimately contribute to the continuation of the discussions in the Human Rights Council.’
He continued ‘By serving as a forum for sharing best practices and addressing challenges in human rights data management, the Bologna Expert Roundtable participants contributed substantially to the ongoing discourse on improving human rights mechanisms globally. This ensures that all levels of government are involved, and that each level has the tools needed to advance human rights implementation and reporting effectively.’
Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform, added, ‘Initiatives such as this lie at the core of the GHRP’s mandate, working on connectivity between different levels of human rights governance. This event is just the latest activity to address issues concerning the local implementation of global human rights, whether by improving national human rights strategies or through digital human rights solutions.’
A Summary and Main Take Aways Report of the meeting can be found here.
Geneva Academy
The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributed to key discussions on AI, human rights, and sustainable digital governance at the World Economic Forum 2025.
The Indigenous Navigator
Via its DHRTTDs Directory, the Geneva Human Rights Platform provides a comprehensive list and description of such key tools and databases. But how to navigate them? Which tool should be used for what, and by whom? This interview helps us understand better the specificities of the current highlight of the directory: The Indigenous Navigator
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.
jcomp/Freepik
This event will identify strategies to strengthen Local and Regional Government collaboration with National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up.
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.
Olivier Chamard/Geneva Academy
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.
Geneva Academy