International Geneva

General view of the room XX and delegates during of the High Level Segment of the 31st Session at the Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland, February 29, 2016 General view of the room XX and delegates during of the High Level Segment of the 31st Session at the Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland, February 29, 2016

A Human Rights and Humanitarian Hub

Alongside New York, Geneva is the main centre of international governance. It is the European headquarters of the United Nations (UN) and the most active location in the world in multilateral diplomacy. Home to dozens of international organizations, more than 250 NGOs and 174 state representations, Geneva is also a human rights (HR) and humanitarian hub.

With the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Human Rights Council, secretariats of all UN treaty bodies, leading human rights NGOs and renowned experts, the city offers an exceptional platform for HR diplomacy.

Key humanitarian actors work from Geneva to promote respect for international humanitarian law (IHL), ensure humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and address the humanitarian aspects of disarmament. These include the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Médicins sans Frontières (MSF).

Key Collaborations with Leading Actors

The Geneva Academy has developed close collaborations with Geneva-based HR and humanitarian actors and regularly welcomes their experts to events, policy discussions and taught sessions. Our research cooperates with them on many levels, advancing understanding and stimulating debate in policy-making institutions and government on IHL, HR protection, transitional justice or weapons law.

Thanks to these collaborations, our master’s programmes offer students numerous internship and networking opportunities, which allow them to gain practical experience and make useful contacts for their careers.

Masters

We are a leading education institution in international humanitarian law, human rights and transitional justice.

Read more

Research

Our research examines issues that are under-explored, need clarification, or are unconventional, experimental or challenging.

Read more

Publications

Our publications address current issues and challenges and stimulate debates in the academic community and in policy-making institutions and governments.

Read more

Executive Education

We provide training and short courses for professionals who want to deepen their expertise in a specific issue.

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 >

Aleppo, Syria: great Umayyad mosque. Destructions. Event

Book Launch: Cultural Heritage and Mass Atrocities

1 March 2023, 18:15-20:00

At this book launch, one of the book’s editors will discuss cultural heritage and mass atrocities with contributors to the book and specialists.

Read more >

Portrait of Madeleine Rees Event

Opening Lecture of the Spring Semester

6 March 2023, 18:00-20:00

In this Opening Lecture of the Spring Semester, Madeleine Rees, Secretary-General of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, will explore the innumerable fault lines which can lead to violent conflict.

Read more >