Event information

5 October 2022, 14:00-17:00

Roundtable Discussion on Governmental Perspectives on the Interaction of Rights and Beliefs in Multi-Religious Societies

Event

Freedom of religion or belief is increasingly both under strain and subject to manipulation. This fuels populism, violent extremism and xenophobia, which also exacerbates pushback against human rights from different angles. Countering these trends requires deeper reflection and closer collaboration between faith-based actors, academics, governments and United Nations (UN) human rights mechanisms.

This event – co-organized with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – will discuss examples of putting the Faith for Rights Toolkit into practice.

This event is set within a full week of peer-to-peer exchanges of academics, civil society organizations, diplomats, international human rights mechanisms, students and UN entities, taking stock of the implementation of the 2012 Rabat Plan of Action and 2017 Beirut Declaration on ‘Faith for Rights.

Welcome

  • Gloria Gaggioli, Director, Geneva Academy and Adjunct Professor, University of Geneva Law Faculty

Moderation

  • Ibrahim Salama, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, OHCHR

Panelists

  • Ahmed Al-Dawoody, Legal Adviser for Islamic Law and Jurisprudence, International Committee of the Red Cross and part of the Geneva Academy Faculty
  • Fernand de Varennes, UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues
  • Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women
  • Nazila Ghanea, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
  • Ahmed Shaheed, former UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
  • Nahla Haidar, Vice-Chairperson, UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
  • Mahjoub El Haiba, Member, UN Human Rights Committee

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

GHRP at LATSIS News

Bridging Human Rights and Data Science at the 2025 Latsis Symposium

22 September 2025

The 2025 Latsis Symposium on Science for Global Development and Humanitarian Action, organized by ETH for Development, gave prominent space to human rights issues.

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 a UN Treaty Body Project

Treaty Bodies Individual Communications Procedures

Started in January 2019

Read more

View of a session of the UN Human Rights Council Project

Human Rights Conversations

Started in January 2020

A series of events aimed at discussing contemporary issues and challenges related to the promotion and protection of human rights in Geneva and beyond.

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