The Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue aims at broadening the space of cooperation between North and South with regards to human rights, in recognition of the fact that these rights are not exclusive to one party, however powerful or rich it might be. Therefore, the Geneva Centre is keen on paying attention to those whose voices are marginalized in order to help promote awareness with the aid of global influencers. The ultimate goal is to expand consensus among all parties on fundamental human values. In this context, The Human Rights Council Special Procedures – a unique key mechanism that enables the HRC to fulfill its noble mission – has been chosen as a topic aiming to encourage dialogue between the North and South.
In 2014, the Geneva Centre asked H. E. Mr. Idriss Jazaïry, former Ambassador of Algeria, to prepare and present a study entitled ‘In defence of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council: An Alternative Narrative From The South’. Coincidentally, Marc Limon, the Executive Director of Universal Rights Group prepared a general study on the same topic. Both studies provide practical suggestions that might be used by HRC Member States to improve the effectiveness of the Special Procedures mechanism, which, parallel to all its achievements for the cause of human rights, is still able to further develop its performance, if proper conditions are made available.
In line with this initiative and to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Human Rights Council, on 13th May 2016, the Geneva Centre will hold a panel discussion entitled “The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council Assessment and Way Forward”.
The panel discussion will be opened by H. E. Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali Al-Qassim, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue, and moderated by Ms. Jane Connors, former Director of the Research and Right to Development Division of the OHCHR.
Our panelists will include H. E. Mr. Idriss Jazairy, Author of “In Defence of Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council: Alternative Narrative from the South”; Mr. Marc Limon, Co-Author of “Human Rights Special Procedures: Determinants of Influence”; Mr. Doudou Diene, Former UN special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Mr. Karim Ghezraoui, Chief of the Special Procedures Branch at OHCHR; and Dr. Steven L. B. Jensen, Researcher at the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
The discussant will be Mr. Mohamed Ezzeddine Abdel-Moneim, Member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
By taking such an initiative, the Geneva Centre aims to move towards its goal of expanding the scope of consensus in the Human Rights Council between North and South.