Event information

7 May 2018, 12:30-14:30

Academic Platform on the 2020 Treaty Body Review: Launch of the final report

Event

Cover page of the report Cover page of the report

Representatives of states, civil society, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and treaty bodies members are cordially invited to the launch of the Geneva Academy report of the Academic Platform on the 2020 Treaty Body Review.

The report details proposals for strengthening the treaty body (TB) system for 2020 and beyond.

The 10 UN human rights TBs are a central pillar of the international human rights protection system. They prevent human rights violations by warning states about areas of concern and advising them on durable solutions that address the root causes of human rights violations.

In 2014, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/68/268 on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the TB system. The 2020 horizon presents an opportunity to further reflect on the TB system’s future and to develop innovative proposals and solutions without weakening the human rights protection the TB system currently affords.

The Geneva Academy has initiated in 2015 a global academic process to develop proposals in this regard. Input was gathered via regional consultations, thematic conferences, and continued engagement with TB members, states, National Human Rights Institutions and civil society and individual submissions by all stakeholders.

OPENING REMARKS

  • Ambassador Valentin Zellweger, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva
  • Ambassador Elayne Whyte, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations in Geneva

PRESENTATION OF THE GENEVA ACADEMY REPORT

  • Kamelia Kemileva, Executive Manager, Geneva Academy
  • Felix Kirchmeier, Director of Policy Studies, Geneva Academy

REMARKS FROM CIVIL SOCIETY

  • Victor Rodriguez Rescia, CCPR-Centre / TB-Net

REMARKS FROM OHCHR

  • Ibrahim Salama, OHCHR

VIDEO

Optimizing the UN Treaty Bodies System

Felix Kirchmeier and Kamelia Kemileva present our new publication Optimizing the UN Treaty Bodies System which outlines a series of recommendations related to the functioning o United Nations treaty bodies, considered a cornerstone of universal #humanrights protection.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

News

New Working Paper Explores AI for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

30 January 2025

A new working paper, 'AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring', has been published by the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

Read more

minorities News

Minority Rights in Russia, China, India, Egypt and Hungary Examined in New Research Brief

18 December 2024

Our latest research brief critically explores how, under the guise of national security, governments misuse laws and narratives to target minorities and suppress political opposition.

Read more

AI for Good Event Event

AI for human rights: Smarter, faster, fairer monitoring

8 July 2025, 14:00-16:00

The event, as part of the AI for Good Summit 2025 will explore how AI tools can support faster data analysis, help uncover patterns in large datasets, and expand the reach of human rights work.

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

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Booklet Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

7-11 July 2025

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

Crops view from the sky Project

The Right to Food in Europe

Started in December 2022

This research will provide legal expertise to a variety of stakeholders on the implementation of the right to food, and on the right to food as a legal basis for just transformation toward sustainable food systems in Europe. It will also identify lessons learned from the 2023 recognition of the right to food in the Constitution of the Canton of Geneva.  

Read more

surveillance image of people Project

Human Rights in a Digitalized World: Mapping Risk, Strengthening Regulation and Promoting the Development of International Human Rights Law

Started in August 2023

To unpack the challenges raised by artificial intelligence, this project will target two emerging and under-researched areas: digital military technologies and neurotechnology.

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

Cover page of the working paper Publication

AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

published on January 2025

Milica Mirkovic, Jennifer Victoria Scurrell

Read more