Press Releases

Dr. Hanif Al-Qassim, Chairman of the Geneva Centre Board of Management, and Prof. Robert Roth, Director of the Geneva Academy

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights is a joint centre of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute carrying out various projects in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law. It aims to conduct and promote scientific research, organize training courses and expert meetings, and provide legal expertise in the branches of international law relating to situations of armed conflicts.

On 7th October, the Geneva Centre was received by the highest political authorities in Geneva: François Longchamp, President of the Geneva State Council; and Olivier Coutau, Delegate to International Geneva. The meeting gave participants a chance to introduce each other and to express their respective interest in the reinforcement of the so-styled International Geneva. With 84 International Organisations, 173 Permanent Missions and an even larger number of Non-Governmental Organisations, in fact, Geneva is worldwide considered as a city of peace as well as a world centre for multilateral diplomacy and global governance.

H.E. Dr. Hanif Hassan Al-Qassim, Chairman of the Geneva Centre’s Board of Management, has met with high-level representatives from the University of Geneva: Dr. Yves Flückiger, Vice-Rector; Dr. Pierre Willa, Director of the International Relations Department; and Mr. Cyrille Hari, Project Officer.

H.E. Dr. Hanif Hassan Al Qassim, Chairman of the Geneva Centre’s Board of Management, has met with Mr. Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, and Ms. Charlotte Warakaulle, Chief of the Political Affairs, External Relations and Inter-Agency Affairs Section at the Office of the Director-General. The aim of the meeting was to discuss areas of cooperation and ways to enhance human rights promotion and protection, especially through activities and events dedicated to global dialogue.

The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies is a Geneva-based institution of research and higher education dedicated to the study of world affairs, with a particular emphasis on the cross-cutting fields of international relations and development issues. Its mission is to promote international cooperation and contribute to the progress of developing societies by promoting creative thinking on current challenges, fostering global responsibility, and advancing respect for diversity.

استقبل مركز جنيف لحقوق الإنسان والحوار العالمي وفدا قدم من جمهورية مصر.

وقد ضمّ الوفد الشخصيات التالية: الدكتور أحمد عبد الحليم وهو خبير سياسي واستراتيجي وعضو في المجلس المصري للشؤون الخارجية، والدكتور إيهاب يوسف وهو خبير أمني وعضو في المجلس المصري للشؤون الخارجية ورئيس هيئة  Free Risk Egypt وهي مؤسسة استشارات تعمل في مجال إدارة المخاطر، والسيّد نبيل زكي وهو كاتب وصحفي وناطق رسمي باسم حزب التجمّع، والسيدة داليا يوسف وهي نائب رئيس مؤسسة الاستشارات في مجال إدارة المخاطر السّالف ذكرها وعضو في المجلس المصري للشؤون الخارجية، والسيدة عزيزة الطناني وهي عضو في المجلس المصري للشؤون الخارجية

The Geneva Centre wishes to reiterate its deep appreciation for the National Human Rights Council of Morocco for hosting, in November 2014, the second edition of the World Human Rights Forum.

In the framework of strengthening the cooperation with human rights bodies in the Arab world, the Geneva Centre received a senior delegation from the Human Rights Commission in Saudi Arabia. The delegation was composed of: Dr. Issa  Shamakh, Member of the Board of the Human Rights Commission; Mr. Ahmad Yahya, Secretary of the Board of the Commission; Mr. Adel Khathlan, Counsel at the Office of the President of the Commission; Mr. Nayef Mualla, researcher in international human rights perspectives; and Mr. Mohamed Hammali, researcher in organizations management and International Relations at the Commission. The meeting was also attended by Counsel Khalid Almenzalawi, from the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the UN in Geneva.

The Geneva Centre strongly condemns the flagrant violations of human rights carried out by radical terrorist groups in Libya, which involve violent systematic acts targeting innocent civilians and diplomatic missions, including the demolition and burning of the house of the Libyan Permanent Representative to UN Office at NewYork Ibrahim Dabbashi on 16 September 2014. This event follows other previous kidnappings and murder attacks on members of more than twenty diplomatic mission, as well as representatives of humanitarian and international organizations. In this context, the Geneva Centre calls for the need to restore security, bring peace, and support the legitimate Libyan institutions including the Parliament elected in last June.

In the framework of the continuous efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman to enhance capacity building and develop political and legal institutions, H.E. Ambassador Abdullah Al-Rahbi, Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations in Geneva, organized a meeting with the Geneva Centre. The meeting was attended by a high-level Omani delegation representing more than twenty-four deputy Ministers, Governors and heads of Local Authorities, who were following an intensive training program in Switzerland, and by UN Senior Officials and Experts. The aim was to exchange views on generic human rights issues, as well as on the modalities to further enhance Oman’s involvement in the Human Rights Council and its related Mechanisms.