Training Opportunities 2025: Engage with UN Human Rights Mechanisms

28 January 2025

The Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) is launching its 2025 training programme, designed to empower stakeholders engaging with UN human rights system. These courses provide theoretical insights and practical tools to facilitate meaningful interaction with the human rights mechanisms based in Geneva.

A Focus on Practical Skills and Key Issues

 

The training modules explore the functions and applications of the UN human rights system while addressing pressing issues such as business and human rights, environmental protection, and broader human rights challenges.

Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director of the GHRP, highlights the significance of these efforts: ’The Geneva Human Rights Platform has two main missions: one is to enhance the effectiveness of the UN human rights system, by working directly with the actors involved, the other to enhance participation of stakeholders and the actual use of this system. Our Training Hub offers insights and practical avenues for all stakeholders for a meaningful interaction with the UN human rights system.’

Diverse Participation Across Sectors

 

In 2024, the GHRP Training Hub welcomed 67 participants to its public training sessions and 98 to customised programmes. Attendees included representatives from NGOs, UN agencies, governmental bodies, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), and academia. This diversity enriches the exchange of perspectives during sessions, fostering collaboration among professionals from various sectors.

A Growing Portfolio for 2025

 

The coming year brings an exciting addition: a course tailored specifically for city and regional government officials. This programme, developed in partnership with the Global Cities Hub, aims to integrate international human rights recommendations into local governance practices. The training will coincide with the UN Forum of Mayors, under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

The 2025 calendar will also feature six public courses:

19-23 May 2025: Business and Human Rights

7-11 July 2025: The International Human Rights Standards and System

1-8 September 2025: Human Rights and the Environment: Introducing Legal Regimes and Key Issues (online)

15-19 September 2025: Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

8-10 October 2025: Localising International Human Rights

10-14 November 2025: The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System

The Academy also offers customised training sessions for international organisations, NGOs, governments and National Human Rights Institutions. Recent examples include a programme on women’s rights for civil society organisations and a course with WWF on human rights and conservation. Long-standing partnerships, such as with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, have led to impactful regional training, including one for ASEAN academics and human rights defenders in June 2024.

How to Participate

 

Applications for public training courses can be found here. Admission decisions are carefully reviewed by experienced trainers to ensure an optimal fit for the course objectives. For customised training requests, organisations can contact the Training Hub directly at traininghub@geneva-academy.ch.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

web of information News

New Research Brief Examines the Relationship Between Digital Technologies and Their Misuse in Surveillance, Cyberattacks, and Disinformation Campaigns

21 February 2025

Our new research brief examines the complex relationship between digital technologies and their misuse in surveillance, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns.

Read more

neurodata graphics News

New Research Brief Evaluates the Effectiveness of GDPR in Mitigating Risks Associated with the Distinctive Nature of Neurodata

21 January 2025

Our recent research brief, Neurodata: Navigating GDPR and AI Act Compliance in the Context of Neurotechnology, examines how effectively GDPR addresses the unique risks posed by neurodata.

Read more

Local Government Event

Enhancing National Reporting and Implementation of Human Rights through Coordinated Engagement at the Local and Regional Levels: The Role of NMIRFs

23 July 2025, 10:00-17:00

This seminar explores how national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up can better integrate the capacities, data, and experiences of local and regional governments in advancing human rights implementation and reporting.

Read more

AI for Good Event Event

AI for human rights: Smarter, faster, fairer monitoring

8 July 2025, 14:00-16:00

The event, as part of the AI for Good Summit 2025 will explore how AI tools can support faster data analysis, help uncover patterns in large datasets, and expand the reach of human rights work.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

15-19 September 2025

Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.

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

Panel Discussion: Project

Treaty Body Members’ Platform

Started in January 2014

The Treaty Body Members’ Platform connects experts in UN treaty bodies with each other as well as with Geneva-based practitioners, academics and diplomats to share expertise, exchange views on topical questions and develop synergies.

Read more

George Floyd protest in Washington D.C. Project

Promoting and Protecting the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association and Civic Space Worldwide

Started in June 2020

This project aims at providing support to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clément Voulé by addressing emerging issues affecting civic space and eveloping tools and materials allowing various stakeholders to promote and defend civic space.

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more