The Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue is pleased to share this important event.
Date and Venue: 23 October 2024, Domaine de la Pastorale (Route de Ferney 106, 1202), Geneva
Format: This hybrid conference will be held both in-person and online, offering an inclusive platform to discuss human rights and climate change ahead of COP-29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Conference Structure: The event will open with high-level statements from co-sponsoring Permanent Missions and keynote speakers, including UN Special Rapporteurs. Following this, three one-hour panels will focus on:
- Youth voices as catalysts for climate justice
- Indigenous peoples’ contributions to environmental protection
- Small island states leading climate justice efforts
Each panel will feature brief presentations from experts, followed by an interactive dialogue, concluding with final remarks from the moderator.
Objectives: The conference aims to highlight the commitment of youth, indigenous peoples, and small island states in advancing climate justice despite significant obstacles. Discussions will focus on enhancing access to education, public information, and climate litigation mechanisms, while exploring how to empower marginalized voices in environmental decision-making processes.
This event provides a space for exchanging best practices and offering actionable recommendations to drive a sustainable, inclusive transition toward climate justice, urging collaboration between governments, civil society, and international bodies to accelerate progress.
Background: The conference builds on recent legal developments, including the UN Human Rights Council’s establishment of a mandate for climate change-related human rights and the adoption of a landmark UN General Assembly resolution calling for an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on state obligations in relation to climate change. The panels will explore the roles of youth, indigenous peoples, and small island states in advancing these efforts through advocacy and litigation.
Speakers
High Level Segment
- H.E. Mr. Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Ms. Elisa Morgera, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Context of Climate Change
- Mr. Sec. Robert E.A. Borje, Minister, Vice-Chairperson and Executive Director, Climate Change Commission, Philippines
- Ms. Christine Adam, Director and Principal Legal Advisor, UN Climate Change
- Mr. Todd Howland, Chief of Branch, Development, Economic, and Social Rights, OHCHR
Panel 1 on Youth
- Ms. Corinne Momal-Vanian, Executive Director, Kofi Annan Foundation
- Ms. Nana Kurashvili, International Consultant on Youth Participation
- Ms. Marie-Claire Graf, Climate Youth Negotiator, Future Leaders Network
- Ms. Veena Balakrishnan, Co-Founder, Youth Negotiators Academy
- Mr. Zuhair Ahmed Kowshik, Global Focal Point for the Children and Youth Major Group, UNEP (TBC)
Panel 2 on Indigenous Peoples
- Mr. Romell Antonio Cuenca, Deputy Executive Director, Climate Change Commission, Philippines
- Ms. Cecilia Zerbini, Focal Point for Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Geneva
- Ms. Donna Mitzi Lagdameo, Team Lead, Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) Unit, UN Climate Change
- Ms. Yblin Roman Escobar, Policy Adviser, Facilitator for Securing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Green Economy, SIRGE Coalition
- Commissioner, Australian National Human Rights Commission (TBC)
Panel 3 on Small Island States
- H.E. Mr. Matthew Wilson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva
- Ms. Vanessa Schultz, Programme Analyst, Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery, UNDP
- Mr. Igor Gryshko, Focal Point for Climate Change, OHCHR
- Mr. Sébastien Duyck, Senior Attorney, Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Geneva