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

GHRP Annual Conference 2024 News

GHRP Annual Conference 2024 Strengthens Connectivity in a Pressured Human Rights System

25 November 2024

The 2024 Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP), held on 5 November at Maison de la Paix, focused on the theme Human Rights System Under Pressure: A Reason to Expand Connectivity.

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

Warzone Event

Advanced IHL Seminar for Academics and Policymakers

25-29 August 2025, 09:00-17:30

Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.

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

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

Session of the UN Human Rights Committee Project

Treaty Body Review 2020 and Beyond

Started in January 2018

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributes to this review process by providing expert input via different avenues, by facilitating dialogue on the review among various stakeholders, as well as by accompanying the development of a follow-up resolution to 68/268 in New York and in Geneva.

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

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more