Event information

4 October 2022, 13:15-14:45
Register start 12 September 2022
Register end 4 October 2022

Downloads

Flyer >

Strike While It's Hot: Protecting and Advancing Human Rights Online

Event

Persons walking in front of a blue wall Persons walking in front of a blue wall

This side event at the margins of the 51st session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) – co-organized by our Geneva Human Rights Platform, Access Now, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Costa Rica – will discuss areas of progress as well as critical gaps in the international affirmation and protection of human rights in the digital age.

Background

The rise of authoritarianism and humanitarian crises continue to lay bare deep digital inequities across the globe. With disparities in connectivity, digital security, privacy, and freedom of expression and opinion impossible to ignore, it is more critical than ever to ensure that resolutions and initiatives within UN human rights mechanisms are fit for purpose in our digital age.

This year, the HRC celebrates a decade of work defining digital rights and applying the human rights framework to the online sphere. As humanitarian actors, development agencies, and private sector businesses seek guidance in navigating digital transformation – including to proliferation of new and emerging technologies –, the HRC can fill gaps in both normative understanding, legal guidance and concrete practice.

Opening Remarks

  • Nathalie Marti, Ambassador, Vice-Director, Directorate of International Law, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Moderation

  • Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director, Geneva Human Rights Platform

Panelists

  • Ahmed Shaheed, Former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Professor, University of Essex
  • Ana Beduschi, Professor of Law at the University of Exeter
  • Khalid Ibrahim, Executive Director, Gulf Centre for Human Rights
  • Laura O’Brien, Senior UN Advocacy Officer, Access Now

Panelists will notably:

  • Identify areas of progress as well as critical gaps in the international affirmation and legal framework to protect human rights in the digital age
  • Discuss new solutions and pursue the goal of an open and secure digital space based on international law that centres on those most at risk
  • Leverage findings to engage with and educate member states and other relevant stakeholders on international, national, and local levels.

Lunch

A light lunch will be served from 12:45

Video

Strike While It's Hot Protecting and Advancing Human Rights Online

This side event at the margins of the 51st session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) – co-organized by our Geneva Human Rights Platform, Access Now, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Costa Rica – which discussed areas of progress as well as critical gaps in the international affirmation and protection of human rights in the digital age.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

EQINET Logo News

In Highlight: Equality Bodies Comparison Dashboard

20 August 2025

Via its DHRTTDs Directory, the Geneva Human Rights Platform provides a comprehensive list and description of such key tools and databases. But how to navigate them? Which tool should be used for what, and by whom? This interview helps us understand better the specificities of the current highlight of the directory: Equality Bodies Comparison Dashboard

Read more

disops News

Impact of digital disinformation unpacked in new research brief series

9 April 2025

Our new series of Research Briefs examine the impact of digital disinformation and potential solutions for its regulation

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

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

Plastic pollution on an Italian shore Project

Unpacking the Human Right to a Healthy Environment: Definition, Implementation and Impact

Started in January 2022

This research aims at mainstreaming the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the protection it affords in the work of the UN Human Rights Council, its Special Procedures and Universal Periodic Review, as well as in the work of the UN General Assembly and UN treaty bodies.

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

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

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