Human Rights

Day I: 2014-05-05 

After a cheerful reunion with 12 participants from 10 different UNAs in Geneva, Irene Martinetti, WFUNA's Director of Programs, officially opened the third session of our CSAHR training by recalling the program's design and objectives.

The second week of this 25th session of the Human Rights Council mainly focused on the  Item 3 of the Agenda,  namely the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development. Thursday 13 March was dedicated to the annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child.

The 25th Human Rights Council (HRC) kicked off on Monday 3 March 2014. The Council, established in 2006, gathers 3 times a year in the Palais des Nations in Geneva, and holds its major session in March for a period of 4 weeks. The agenda of the council is divided into 10 items that will be tackled throughout the month. States and various organizations have the possibility to hold parallel events to raise their concerns on specific issues linked to Human Rights, to share experience and encourage interactive dialogue, or to discuss draft resolutions to be adopted by the end of the session.

On 6 March 2014, WFUNA and Mandat International organized a parallel event to the 25th session of the Human Rights Council on behalf of the NGO Committee on Human Rights (CoNGO). This was the first of four information briefings on the UN Human Rights Council. Chaired by Irene Martinetti, WFUNA’s Director of Programs, this session aimed at providing concrete advice to NGOs on how to engage effectively with the Human Rights Council.

WFUNA Human Rights Training for UNA Youth

From 22 to 25 July 2013, WFUNA held its third annual human rights training for young UNA members at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.  Seventeen participants representing 12 different United Nations Associations around the world attended four days of sessions, which included presentations from various diplomats, UN and NGO staff as well as two days of training in project management.

This year the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary. As the leading institution in the field of human rights - one of the three main pillars of the United Nations (UN) - the OHCHR can look back on a highly successful year in 2013.

Dear Colleagues,

This year we celebrate the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ 20 years of achievements. Today, OHCHR is the leading institution charged with implementing international human rights and a crucial partner to WFUNA and UNAs worldwide. I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the role of WFUNA and United Nations Associations in advocating for the establishment of the Office in the lead up to its creation in 1993.

More than a thousand participants from over 100 countries gathered in Geneva this year for the Second UN Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights (2-4 December 2013), to collectively assess global progress in the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on the issue.

Dear Colleagues,

This year we celebrate the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ 20 years of achievements. Today, OHCHR is the leading institution charged with implementing international human rights and a crucial partner to WFUNA and UNAs worldwide. I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the role of WFUNA and United Nations Associations in advocating for the establishment of the Office in the lead up to its creation in 1993.