Event information

30 September 2020, 15:00-16:30

SDGs and Human Rights: Leading the way to COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Right On

Visual presenting the event Visual presenting the event

The global COVID-19 crisis is exposing and exacerbating existing human rights violations and inequalities with a devastating effect on vulnerable groups and societies. The challenges brought about by the pandemic have in fact placed even greater strain on the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Decade of Action. Despite these negative developments, human rights standards and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development together provide substantial guidance for immediate crisis response and for long-term recovery strategies towards fair, resilient and sustainable societies that leave no one behind.
International human rights mechanisms and national human rights institutions are well placed to guide these efforts and to enhance the trust and legitimacy that are needed to ‘build back better’.

This webinar will highlight practical experiences and efforts to place human rights standards and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the core of immediate responses to COVID-19 and of long-term recovery strategies. Specifically, it will bring together multi-stakeholder representatives from the development and human rights sector who can offer guidance to COVID-19.

Moderators

  • Saionara König-Reis, Programme Manager of the Data and Accountability Programme in the Human Rights and Development Department, Danish Institute for Human Rights.
  • Charlotte Marres, Policy Analyst, Universal Rights Group in Geneva

Panelists

  • Christophe Golay, Senior Research Fellow and Strategic Adviser on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Geneva Academy
  • Javier Surasky, Coordinator of Cepei Governance for Development Area and Chair of the International Cooperation Department of the International Relations Institute, La Plata National University, Argentina
  • Nicoletta Zappile, Programme Manager of the Stakeholders Programme, UPR Info
  • Irena Zubcevic, Chief of Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch, Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

‘Right On’: The Wednesday Web Chat

‘Right On’ is a new digital initiative – co-organized by the Geneva Academy, the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the Geneva Internet Platform, the DiploFoundation, the Universal Right Group, the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, as well as the Permanent Missions of Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands to the United Nations in Geneva  –  that will keep the human rights dialogue going during these COVID-19 times.

This specific event is organized in partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

Right On Partners Updated

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Mô Bleeker News

UNSG Special Adviser Mô Bleeker Becomes Senior Fellow at the Geneva Academy

15 April 2025

Mô Bleeker, UNSG Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, shares how her work as Senior Fellow at the Geneva Academy contributes to our shared goals.

Read more

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

Training

Human Rights and the Environment: Introducing Legal Regimes and Key Issues

1-8 September 2025

Participants in this training course will be introduced to the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as international environmental law and its implementation and enforcement mechanisms.

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

Practical Training on Human Rights Council Procedures for SIDS/LDCs

4-5 June 2025

This hands-on training is designed specifically for diplomats from Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries who are current or prospective members of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Read more

First annual conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform Project

The Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

Started in June 2019

Read more

Neutrotechology Project

Neurotechnology and Human Rights

Started in August 2023

This project addresses the human rights implications stemming from the development of neurotechnology for commercial, non-therapeutic ends, and is based on a partnership between the Geneva Academy, the Geneva University Neurocentre and the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. 

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