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Geneva Academy>
28 January 2025
The Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) is launching its 2025 training programme, designed to empower stakeholders engaging with UN human rights system. These courses provide theoretical insights and practical tools to facilitate meaningful interaction with the human rights mechanisms based in Geneva.
The training modules explore the functions and applications of the UN human rights system while addressing pressing issues such as business and human rights, environmental protection, and broader human rights challenges.
Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director of the GHRP, highlights the significance of these efforts: ’The Geneva Human Rights Platform has two main missions: one is to enhance the effectiveness of the UN human rights system, by working directly with the actors involved, the other to enhance participation of stakeholders and the actual use of this system. Our Training Hub offers insights and practical avenues for all stakeholders for a meaningful interaction with the UN human rights system.’
In 2024, the GHRP Training Hub welcomed 67 participants to its public training sessions and 98 to customised programmes. Attendees included representatives from NGOs, UN agencies, governmental bodies, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), and academia. This diversity enriches the exchange of perspectives during sessions, fostering collaboration among professionals from various sectors.
The coming year brings an exciting addition: a course tailored specifically for city and regional government officials. This programme, developed in partnership with the Global Cities Hub, aims to integrate international human rights recommendations into local governance practices. The training will coincide with the UN Forum of Mayors, under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
The 2025 calendar will also feature six public courses:
19-23 May 2025: Business and Human Rights
7-11 July 2025: The International Human Rights Standards and System
1-8 September 2025: Human Rights and the Environment: Introducing Legal Regimes and Key Issues (online)
15-19 September 2025: Protecting Human Rights and the Environment
8-10 October 2025: Localising International Human Rights
10-14 November 2025: The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System
The Academy also offers customised training sessions for international organisations, NGOs, governments and National Human Rights Institutions. Recent examples include a programme on women’s rights for civil society organisations and a course with WWF on human rights and conservation. Long-standing partnerships, such as with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, have led to impactful regional training, including one for ASEAN academics and human rights defenders in June 2024.
Applications for public training courses can be found here. Admission decisions are carefully reviewed by experienced trainers to ensure an optimal fit for the course objectives. For customised training requests, organisations can contact the Training Hub directly at traininghub@geneva-academy.ch.
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