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Geneva Academy>
24 July 2025
From 17 to 20 June 2025, eleven participants from six countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region took part in another edition of our customized training on the Geneva-based United Nations human rights mechanisms.
Organized by the Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP) in partnership with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), this training builds on a long-standing cooperation between the two institutions to support regional engagement with international human rights processes.
Over four days, participants engaged in a rich and intensive program that combined in-depth discussions on the UN system with direct observation of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations.
The training offered thematic sessions on key UN mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review, treaty bodies, and special procedures, with a specific focus on how these tools relate to the MENA region. The group also explored intersections between international human rights law, humanitarian law, and national implementation mechanisms.
'Our goal is not only to share knowledge, but to help build expertise in using these mechanisms strategically and locally,' explained Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform. 'This is especially important for those working in legal, academic, and judicial contexts across the MENA region, where access to international mechanisms remains both essential and complex.'
Sessions were led by senior UN experts, legal advisors, and former mandate holders. Participants had the opportunity to interact directly with diplomats, OHCHR officers, and members of investigative mechanisms, allowing them to understand how policy is shaped and contested in real time.
'For many actors in the region, Geneva can seem distant or inaccessible' said Victoire Berrebi, Project Assistant at the Geneva Human Rights Platform. 'This training is about opening doors—giving participants insights and access to engage directly with the system.'
Participants represented a diverse cross-section of professionals from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Syria. Their backgrounds ranged from government advisors to university professors, human rights researchers, and legal officers engaged with international accountability mechanisms.
Achraf Boutekhedoust, Human Rights Officer at the Moroccan Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights, reflected, 'Over four days, we gained direct exposure to the workings of UN institutions through expert-led discussions and live participation in the 59th session of the Human Rights Council. This was also a space for meaningful exchange between practitioners committed to advancing human rights through research, education, and international cooperation.'
The strong engagement and regional diversity of this second edition reaffirm the importance of sustained, tailored support for MENA professionals. Building on this momentum, the Geneva Human Rights Platform and its partners hope to continue offering regular, regionally focused editions of this training, creating a lasting platform for exchange, learning, and international engagement.
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