Conducted in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Geneva Graduate Institute of International Studies


Upcoming Seminars

2008 Seminar on Human Rights
"60 Years Towards the Universality of Human Rights: The Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review"
13-16 July 2008, Palais des Nations, Geneva

The 2008 Seminar Program is available here>>       en français>>
The Registration Form is available here>>

Sommaire en français
An enduring commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been at the heart of the mission of the World Federation of United Nations Associations. Since the adoption of the Declaration in 1948, the promotion of Human Rights has been at the core of WFUNA’s programs, and through its network of Associations worldwide, the organization strives for the recognition and respect of human rights. 

The Seminar aims at stimulating debate between the speakers and the participants on the progress made by the Human Rights Council and other UN mechanisms for the promotion of human rights worldwide and to assess how these have had an impact on the concept of universality of human rights. Particular attention will be paid to the recently launched Universal Periodic Review.

The Seminar intends to:

• Provide an evaluation of the second year of the Human Rights Council and the first two sessions of the Universal Periodic Review
• Provide an assessment of the interaction between the Human Rights Council and global civil society.
• Discuss ways to enhance the effectiveness of UNAs and, more widely, NGO participation in the work of the Council as well as their input in the Universal Periodic Review.
• Develop suggestions for teaching about human rights and the role of civil society
• Provide a platform for debate for WFUNA’s follow up human rights activities, including activities related to the UN DPI NGO Conference on Human Rights: the outcomes of an online global questionnaire on the universality of human rights.

The Seminar will draw on the knowledge of human rights experts, with a proven understanding and knowledge of UN human rights mechanisms, particularly from OHCHR, governments, academics, UNAs and NGOs so as to guarantee a broad interdisciplinary approach.

The Seminar will be held in English and simultaneous interpretation in French will be available.