Local Implementation of Global Human Rights

Started in May 2020

The Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) collaborates with a series of actors to reflect on the implementation of international human rights norms at the local level and propose solutions to improve the uptake of recommendations and decisions taken by Geneva-based human rights bodies at the local level.

Building Bridges with National Human Rights Systems

Without a solid domestic human rights infrastructure and national monitoring and implementation strategies, UN and regional-level initiatives risk facing structural and procedural complications that might undermine their implementation.

To promote the integration of recommendations from the international system into national policies and the overall implementation of international human rights norms at the national level, the GHRP explores the role of national human rights systems in the implementation of international human rights standards and recommendations of Geneva-based mechanisms.

A series of workshops, consultations with national stakeholders and targeted publications will address this question, including via the development of a classification of national monitoring and implementation strategies that will take into account the variety of national systems. These include exclusively state-driven actors (e.g. parliamentary human rights committees, inter-ministerial mechanisms and national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up (NMIRFs)), state-driven and independent actors (e.g. national human rights institutions) and components driven by non-state actors (e.g. civil society forums).

The GHRP is increasingly engaged in the development of training courses for NMIRFs and research as part of a ‘group of critical friends’ of NMIRFs.

Human Rights in Cities

The GHRP, in partnership with UN-Habitat, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Geneva Cities Hub, is providing guidance to local governments, city-level practitioners and decision-makers, as well as national governments interested in local governance, to translate international human rights standards at the city level.

A series of expert meetings and their operational outcome documents will address specific human rights issues – gender, the inclusion of children and youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, as well as the inclusion of groups at risk of marginalization like refugees or indigenous peoples – to inform the next UN-Habitat Strategic Plan and identify concrete actions to implement at the city level.

 

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

View of the Expert Roundtable News

Experts Discuss National Mechanisms for Human Rights Implementation

16 September 2022

At a roundtable organized by OHCHR in partnership with the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the Universal Rights Group, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights, experts discussed how they intend to give effect to the recommendations made in HRC report 50/64 on the establishment and development of national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up.

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Coordinators of the conference at the Geneva Academy News

Online Meeting on Gender-Responsive Cities Closes a Conference Series on Inclusive Cities

16 June 2020

A two-day online expert meeting on gender-responsive cities closed last week a series of three online conferences on inclusive cities aimed at informing UN-Habitat Strategic Plan for 2020-2023.

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Geneva Human Rights Platform staff during the online conference News

Towards Inclusive Cities: Experts Discuss Online the Situation of Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons

25 May 2020

During two days around 60 experts analysed existing challenges and barriers for persons with disabilities and older persons in an urban context and made specific recommendations thereof.

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TEAM

Picture of Felix Kirchmeier

Felix Kirchmeier

Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

Felix Kirchmeier is the Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

Picture of Domenico Zipoli

Domenico Zipoli

Research Fellow and Project Coordinator

His research focuses on the question of connectivity among international human rights mechanisms and on national strategies for monitoring, implementation and follow-up of international human rights obligations and recommendations.

Publications

Cover page of the Briefing

Briefing No°18: National Human Rights Strategies: The Role of National Human Rights Systems in the Implementation of International Human Rights Standards

January 2021

Domenico Zipoli

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights; The International Land Coalition

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Past Events

Mayors, Human Rights and the UN Universal Periodic Review

27 January 2023, 14:00-16:00

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Mayors, Human Rights and the United Nations Universal Periodic Review

15 November 2022, 12:45-14:15

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Roundtable on National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up: What Next Steps?

5 September 2022, 12:30-14:00

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Smart Cities and Human Rights – Pitfalls and Opportunities

24 June 2022, 13:00-15:00

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MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

A session of the PhD Forum predecessor, the Geneva Academy Wednesdays News

The PhD Forum: A Space for Exchange for Researchers and PhD Students

11 November 2022

The Geneva Academy PhD Forum is a space that gathers PhD researchers and experts – in Geneva and beyond – who work in the scientific focus area of the Geneva Academy.

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Students of the MAS in Transitional Justice News

Apply to our MAS in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law!

28 November 2022

Applications for the 2023–2024 academic year of our MAS in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law are open. They will run until 27 January 2023 for applications with a scholarship and until 24 February 2023 for applications without a scholarship.

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Portrait of Magistrate Roberto Vidal Event

Taking Stock of Five Years of Work at the Special Jurisdiction for Peace: Challenges and Achievements

31 March 2023, 18:30-20:00

In this discussion co-organized with the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the UN in Geneva, the President of Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace Magistrate Roberto Vidal will discuss the challenges and achievements of this body.

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Cover page of the Commentary Event

Taking Stock: Women’s Rights and Gender-Based Discrimination under Scrutiny at the International Level

12 May 2023, 10:00-12:00

This event marks the publication of the second, fully revised and updated, edition of ‘The UN Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol. A Commentary’.

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Garment workersto receive food from their factory during lunch time. This food is freely provided by their factory in order to ensure that workers eat healthy and hygienic food. Training

Business and Human Rights

4-8 September 2023

This training course will focus on the most efficient human rights mechanisms – at national and international levels – to promote and protect human rights in the private sector and address corporations’ human rights abuses.

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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

13-17 November 2023

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.

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Session of a UN Treaty Body Project

Treaty Bodies Individual Communications Procedures

Started in January 2019

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Mine Project

Business, Human Rights and Conflict-Affected Regions

Completed in July 2021

This project aimed at identifying and clarifying policies and practices for states and businesses, including public and private investors, across the full ‘conflict cycle’ and the ‘protect, respect and remedy’ pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

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Cover of the publication Publication

The Emergence of Digital Human Rights Tracking Tools and Databases

published on March 2023

Domenico Zipoli

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