The Geneva Human Rights Platform in 2020

Olivier Chamard/Geneva Academy

24 January 2020

The Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) provides a neutral and dynamic forum of interaction in Geneva for all stakeholders in the field of human rights – experts, practitioners, diplomats and civil society – to debate topical issues and challenges related to the functioning of the Geneva-based human rights system. Relying on academic research and findings, it works to enable various actors to be better connected, break silos, and, hence, advance human rights.

The Connectivity of Human Rights Mechanisms: Looking Beyond Geneva

In 2020, the GHRP will continue to work on the connectivity of human rights mechanisms, broadening the scope by also looking at the connectivity of Geneva-based human rights bodies with regional mechanisms in Africa, the Americas and Europe.

‘Victims of human rights violations look for remedies at the forum that are best suited for their claims and states face sometimes differing jurisprudence developed by these bodies. This is an important issue, notably in relation to the universality of human rights and we will dedicate the 2020 annual conference of the GHRP to the regional-universal connections’ underlines Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

Finding Solutions and Facilitating Exchanges

Via targeted initiatives, policy-oriented research, events, diplomatic briefings, conferences, expert roundtables, training courses and private meetings, the platform will also accompany ongoing discussions and challenges related to the work of the Geneva-based human rights mechanisms and bodies.

‘We will continue to inform the 2020 Review of United Nations treaty bodies in Geneva and New York, to reflect on ways to improve their work, and to facilitate exchanges among different constituencies of the Geneva human rights system and beyond’ explains Felix Kirchmeier.