Strengthening Diplomacy: GHRP Training Course Enhances Engagement with UN Human Rights

5 February 2025

The Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) kicked off 2025 with its annual training course for Geneva-based diplomats. The training, co-organized with the support of the Swiss FDFA, welcomed a group of 19 diplomats representing all regional groups and was specifically designed to deliver profound and pragmatic insights into multilateralism and the functioning of the UN Human Rights Council.

‘The mission of the GHRP Training Hub is to enhance engagement of all stakeholders with the UN human rights mechanisms based in International Geneva, to make it a most useful tool for their work. Deepening the knowledge on the standards and procedures is thus as important as are practical insights into the day-to-day functioning of the procedures and creating links between the people who make them thrive,’ says Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director of the GHRP at the Geneva Academy. ‘This is what we aim at with our training courses.’

Over the course of three days, and through captivating and engaging exchanges with experts from UN human rights mechanisms, the former Chiefs of the UPR and HRC Branches, OHCHR, civil society and senior diplomats, participants delved into the evolution and functioning of the Human Rights Council’s frameworks and mechanisms. In particular, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Fact-Finding Missions, Commissions of Inquiry, Special Procedures were put under the spotlight, and particular attention was also given to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ critical role as secretariat and human rights focal point across the UN system.

A highlight of the course was a session dedicated to the HRC President and the Bureau, during which participants had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with Ambassador Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva since 2020, and recently elected President of the Human Rights Council for 2025.

Felix Kirchmeir added, 'Given the crucial role of the Human Rights Council in promoting and protecting human rights, and the high turnover of diplomats in Geneva, we hope to be able to offer this executive training course in the coming years. As diplomats arriving in Geneva are not necessarily familiar with the negotiation processes and voting of resolutions and decisions that take place at the Council, this training is beneficial to their new role but also ensures that the Human Rights Council itself functions at its best'.

GHRP Training Hub programme 2025

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

GHRP at LATSIS News

Bridging Human Rights and Data Science at the 2025 Latsis Symposium

22 September 2025

The 2025 Latsis Symposium on Science for Global Development and Humanitarian Action, organized by ETH for Development, gave prominent space to human rights issues.

Read more

GHRP Ai for Good Workshop News

Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Human Rights Monitoring: Key Takeaways from the AI for Good Workshop

22 July 2025

Our event brought together human rights practitioners, data scientists, and AI experts to explore how artificial intelligence can support efforts to monitor human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.

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

10-14 November 2025

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

First annual conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform Project

The Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

Started in June 2019

Read more

Sign: National Human Rights Commission of Nepal Project

Local Implementation of Global Human Rights

Started in May 2020

The Geneva Human Rights Platform collaborates with a series of actors to reflect on the implementation of international human rights norms at the local level and propose solutions to improve uptake of recommendations and decisions taken by Geneva-based human rights bodies at the local level.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more