Digital Bridges to Justice: Enhancing Human Rights and SDG Monitoring through Innovative Technologies

Event

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In the era of digital transformation, leveraging technology for advancing human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is not only innovative but essential. Efforts at the local, national, and international levels to use digital tools for these purposes highlight an increased focus on effective governance, data management, and sustainable digital infrastructures.

This one-hour side-event to the 57th session of the Human Rights Council - co-organized by the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),the Pacific Community (SPC), and co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Finland, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Korea, Paraguay and Sweden to the UN in Geneva, aims to showcase the transformative potential of digital technologies in advancing human rights and SDG monitoring, particularly through the critical role of National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRFs) and other key actors.

Leveraging technology for the advancement of human rights and the SDGs is essential in the digital transformation era. As highlighted in the new Geneva Academy Briefing on 'The Human Rights Data Revolution' and the the latest report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/57/73), the event will present best practices from new and emerging digital human rights tracking tools and databases (DHRTTDs) developed by various stakeholders including OHCHR, UNDP and the Pacific Community - SPC. Additionally, it will explore partnerships and collaborations between NMIRFs, international organisations, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), civil society, and the tech community to advance digitalization in human rights and SDG monitoring.

Opening Remarks

• H.E. Ana Edelmira Rolón Candia, Counsellor, Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargée d'affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of Paraguay to the UN in Geneva

Moderator

• Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director, Geneva Human Rights Platform

Panel Discussion: 'Digitalization in Action - Case Studies and Insights'

• Maria-Eugenia Boza, Head of UNDP-SIGOB, UNDP Regional Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean (online participation)
• Mahamane Cissé-Gouro, Director of the Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division, OHCHR
• Ashley Bowe, Chief of Party - PROJECT Governance, Human Rights and Social Development Division, Pacific Community - SPC
• Domenico Zipoli, Project Coordinator, Geneva Human Rights Platform

Closing Remarks

• Agi Veres, Director of the UNDP Office in Geneva