Practical Training on Human Rights Council Procedures Strengthens SIDS/LDCs Engagement

21 July 2025

On 4–5 June 2025, sixteen diplomats from fifteen Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) participated in a two-day Practical Training on Human Rights Council Procedures in Geneva, led by Eric Tistounet, former Chief of the Human Rights Council Branch at OHCHR.

Organized by the Geneva Human Rights Platform, and co-organized with the support of the SIDS/LDCs Trust Fund of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the UN in Geneva, this training aimed to enhance participants' understanding of the Human Rights Council’s working methods and procedural framework.

The course was structured around informative sessions and practical exercises, with participants engaging in simulations of Human Rights Council activities, including the drafting and negotiation of resolutions and the handling of amendments. The course was concluded with a mock voting process on the previously drafted resolution.

'The training was both impactful and practical, providing invaluable insights into the Human Rights Council’s procedures. It significantly enhances the efficiency and meaningful participation of small delegations based in Geneva, especially from SIDS and LDCs,' - Andualem Yalelet Tessema, Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

The training responds to ongoing requests from Geneva-based delegates from SIDS and LDCs for more targeted and practice-oriented support. While the SIDS/LDCs Trust Fund, established by Human Rights Council resolution 19/26 in 2012, has enabled to-date the participation of 300 government officials from 72 countries, many delegations continue to face structural and human resource challenges in engaging with the Council’s work in a sustained and active manner.

This training was designed to complement the existing efforts of the Trust Fund by focusing specifically on procedural knowledge and negotiation practice, areas frequently cited as key to more effective participation in the Council’s decision-making processes.

'For SIDS such as the Maldives, meaningful participation in multilateral spaces has always depended on building knowledge and practical skills. This training was an important step in that direction, by bridging the gap between principle and practice and equipping our delegates with the tools to not only navigate the Human Rights Council, but to contribute with purpose. The Human Rights Council becomes stronger and more inclusive when all voices are well represented.' - H.E. Dr. Salma Rasheed, Permanent Representative of the Maldives

The Geneva Human Rights Platform will continue to explore possibilities for further tailored and practical training activities aimed at strengthening the effective participation of all delegations in multilateral human rights processes. More information on future trainings from the paltform can be found here.