Local Implementation of Global Human Rights

Started in May 2020

The Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) collaborates with a series of actors to reflect on the implementation of international human rights norms at the local level and propose solutions to improve the uptake of recommendations and decisions taken by Geneva-based human rights bodies at the local level.

Building Bridges with National Human Rights Systems

Without a solid domestic human rights infrastructure and national monitoring and implementation strategies, UN and regional-level initiatives risk facing structural and procedural complications that might undermine their implementation.

To promote the integration of recommendations from the international system into national policies and the overall implementation of international human rights norms at the national level, the GHRP explores the role of national human rights systems in the implementation of international human rights standards and recommendations of Geneva-based mechanisms.

A series of workshops, consultations with national stakeholders and targeted publications will address this question, including via the development of a classification of national monitoring and implementation strategies that will take into account the variety of national systems. These include exclusively state-driven actors (e.g. parliamentary human rights committees, inter-ministerial mechanisms and national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up (NMIRFs)), state-driven and independent actors (e.g. national human rights institutions) and components driven by non-state actors (e.g. civil society forums).

The GHRP is increasingly engaged in the development of training courses for NMIRFs and research as part of a ‘group of critical friends’ of NMIRFs.

Human Rights in Cities

The GHRP, in partnership with UN-Habitat, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Geneva Cities Hub, is providing guidance to local governments, city-level practitioners and decision-makers, as well as national governments interested in local governance, to translate international human rights standards at the city level.

A series of expert meetings and their operational outcome documents will address specific human rights issues – gender, the inclusion of children and youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, as well as the inclusion of groups at risk of marginalization like refugees or indigenous peoples – to inform the next UN-Habitat Strategic Plan and identify concrete actions to implement at the city level.

 

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Event

Localizing SDGs and human rights through the UN Universal Periodic Review

8 June 2023, 13:15-14:15

This side event at the UN Habitat Assembly in Nairobi will discuss how local and regional governments localize the SDGs and fulfil human rights on the ground and their increased international visibility through the UPR.

Read more >

View of the international seminar on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up News

The Geneva Human Rights Platform Provides Input to Key Discussion on National Implementation of Human Rights

2 May 2023

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributed to the proceedings of an international seminar on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up (NMIRFs).

Read more >

View of the Expert Roundtable News

Experts Discuss National Mechanisms for Human Rights Implementation

16 September 2022

At a roundtable organized by OHCHR in partnership with the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the Universal Rights Group, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights, experts discussed how they intend to give effect to the recommendations made in HRC report 50/64 on the establishment and development of national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up.

Read more >

TEAM

Picture of Felix Kirchmeier

Felix Kirchmeier

Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform

Felix Kirchmeier is the Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

Picture of Domenico Zipoli

Domenico Zipoli

Research Fellow and Project Coordinator

His research focuses on the question of connectivity among international human rights mechanisms and on national strategies for monitoring, implementation and follow-up of international human rights obligations and recommendations.

Publications

Cover page of the Briefing

Briefing No°18: National Human Rights Strategies: The Role of National Human Rights Systems in the Implementation of International Human Rights Standards

January 2021

Domenico Zipoli

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights; The International Land Coalition

Download >

Past Events

Mayors, Human Rights and the UN Universal Periodic Review

27 January 2023, 14:00-16:00

Read more >

Mayors, Human Rights and the United Nations Universal Periodic Review

15 November 2022, 12:45-14:15

Read more >

Roundtable on National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up: What Next Steps?

5 September 2022, 12:30-14:00

Read more >

Smart Cities and Human Rights – Pitfalls and Opportunities

24 June 2022, 13:00-15:00

Read more >

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Destroyed buildings in Yemen News

From the European Court of Human Rights to UN Human Rights Mechanisms: A Productive Start for the IHL Expert Pool

27 April 2023

Our new IHL Expert Pool began to position itself as a flexible tool that human rights mechanisms can rely on to increase their international humanitarian law (IHL) knowledge and to apply IHL in their work.

Read more

video camera on a tripod News

The Geneva Academy in 2023: 10 Things to Watch

13 February 2023

2023 will be a busy year for us. Discover what we are up to and some topical issues we will address and work on via our research, Geneva Human Rights Platform and master’s programmes.

Read more

Neurotechnology and Neuromodulation - Conceptual Illustration Event

Neurotechnology and Human Rights

6 June 2023, 10:00-11:30

In this Human Rights Conversation, panelists will discuss the challenges that neurotechnologies raise for the enjoyment of human rights and the current work of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on this issue.

Read more

Event

Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 75: Reimagining Protection for a World in Turmoil

12 June 2023, 14:00-15:30

This event, co-organized with Amnesty International, will discuss the gains made since the UDHR adoption, challenges to the international normative framework on human rights and what the international community needs to do for a better future.

Read more

Garment workersto receive food from their factory during lunch time. This food is freely provided by their factory in order to ensure that workers eat healthy and hygienic food. Training

Business and Human Rights

4-8 September 2023

This training course will examine how the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights have been utilized to advance the concept of business respect for human rights throughout the UN system, the impact of the Guiding Principles on other international organizations, as well as the impact of standards and guidance developed by these different bodies.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

18-22 September 2023

This training course will explore the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as with their implementation and enforcement mechanisms; and provide practical insights into the different UN human rights mechanisms pertinent to advancing environmental issues and protecting environmental human rights defenders.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Project

The Universality of Human Rights: Developing Narratives to Help Overcome Polarization

Completed in January 2020

This research aimed at taking stock of and contributing to a better understanding of the above-mentioned challenges to the principle of universality of human rights while also questioning their validity.

Read more

Session of the UN Human Rights Committee Project

Treaty Body Review 2020 and Beyond

Started in January 2018

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributes to this review process by providing expert input via different avenues, by facilitating dialogue on the review among various stakeholders, as well as by accompanying the development of a follow-up resolution to 68/268 in New York and in Geneva.

Read more

Cover page of the research brief Publication

Climate Change in the Security Council: Obstacles, Opportunities, and Options

published on May 2023

Erica Harper, Adam Day

Read more