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High level and regional events
Human Rights 75 Initiative
High level events
The Human Rights 75 Initiative includes two pivotal events:
- Vienna high-level event on 5-6 June 2023 focusing on universality and solidarity, technology and shaping the future with human rights reinforced as a solution for global challenges.
- Human Rights 75 - High-level event on 11-12 December 2023, a culmination of the national and regional dialogues, thematic consultations and recommendations from other sectors. A pledging event and vision for the next 25 years will contribute to the 2024’s Summit of the Future. The December event will be designed as a hybrid event, allowing physical participation from 4 locations and virtual participation for all.
View high-level event photos below
Regional events
- Africa: 8 September, Addis Ababa co-hosted with the African Union, was attended by 200 participants who deliberated on the right to development as a tool for transformation and on the triple nexus of human rights, peace, and security. The outcome document pointed to the imperative for an equitable international economic order to address multiple socio-economic & political crises, and challenges in global financial architecture, debt burden & relief. See: Concept note (Word) | Outcome document (Word) | Statement
- Asia-Pacific: 11 October, Bangkok, had 253 participants, 147 in person, 106 online, focusing on regional human rights mechanisms, and the opportunities in establishing a regional human rights mechanism for Asia-Pacific. Good practices from other regional mechanisms were showcased and participants underlined the desirability of a regional human rights mechanism that can bridge the gap between national and international human rights protection systems. See: Regional Dialogue Webpage | Statement
- Middle East and North Africa: 18-19 October, Cairo with the League of Arab States, Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions, and Arab Institute for Human Rights. Nearly 200 participants reflected on the future of human rights education and the realization of a new social contract on education in Arab countries. Discussants affirmed that the right to education is an indispensable means of realizing other human rights and that technology can make education more inclusive, equitable, effective, relevant & sustainable. Linking education to labour markets was underscored. See: Concept note (Word) | Statement
- Europe and Central Asia: 20 October, Brussels, had 100 participants in person and 100 online, to discuss the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Observations made were that economic, budget, trade, and investment decisions are made without human rights considerations. Participants called for enhanced protection of environmental human rights defenders and for greater accountability for States and businesses for human rights violations linked to business. See: Concept note (PDF) | Statement | Event video
- Americas: 25-26 October, Santiago, was attended by over 80 people to address the challenges faced by indigenous peoples in accessing justice and concluded on the necessity of decolonizing approaches to indigenous peoples’ access to justice including through judicial pluralism. Indigenous peoples face discrimination and racism in their access to State justice systems and resort to indigenous justice mechanisms due to their geographic and cultural proximity. Concerns expressed on persecutions of indigenous human rights defenders, and on invasions of extractive industries. See: Concept note (PDF) | Outcome document (PDF) | Statement | Event video
High-level event photos
Day 1: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk leads a minute of silence in honor of all victims of human rights violations during the opening of a high-level event in Geneva to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ©OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 1: Experts and representatives of human rights organizations participate in a panel discussion entitled Bolstering the human rights ecosystem as part of a high-level event to craft a vision for the future of human rights.© OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 1: UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif moderates a pledging session in which Member States announce commitments to advance the protection of human rights. ©OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 1: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk poses for a group picture with members of the Youth Advisory Group, which is tasked with ensuring that young people have a voice in the development of human rights commitments for the future. ©OHCHR/Irina Popa
Day 1: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk shares a laugh with members of the Youth Advisory Group. ©OHCHR/Irina Popa
Day 1: Banners displayed at the UN’s home in Geneva. Seventy-five years ago, representatives from all regions of the world drafted a set of universal, indivisible and inalienable rights. ©OHCHR/Pierre Albouy
Day 1: Participants read copies of the UDHR at a high-level event in Geneva to commemorate the 75thanniversary of its adoption. ©OHCHR/ Pierre Albouy
Day 1: Members of the Youth Advisory Group unveil the Human Rights 75 Youth Declaration, which reflects young people's views on the future of human rights. ©OHCHR/Pierre Albouy
Day1: Member States, civil society actors and human rights defenders meet at the UN’s home in Geneva to craft together a vision for the future of human rights at an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the UDHR. ©OHCHR/Pierre Albouy
Day1: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk speaks at a reception hosted by the Swiss government during an event in Geneva to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ©OHCHR/Pierre Albouy
Day 2: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk moderates a panel discussion with heads of State and Government during the second day of a high-level event in Geneva to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. © OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 2: A general view of participants during the opening ceremony with heads of State and Government at the high-level event in Geneva. © OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 2: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türker speaks during a reception at the high-level event in Geneva. © OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 2: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk during lunch with the president of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset. © OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 2: Member States announced pledges to advance the promotion and protection of human rights on a wide range of human rights issues. © OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 2: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türker speaks during the closing ceremony of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. © OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 2: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türker addresses the media during a news conference. © OHCHR/Jean Marc Ferré
Day 2: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türker speaks during the Global Refugee Forum on the side-lines of the 75thanniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. © OHCHR/Irina Popa
Day 2: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türker at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. © OHCHR/Irina Popa
Day 2: Colombia's Vice President Francia Márquez Mina and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris during the high-level event to commemorate the 75the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. © UN Photo/Elma Okic
Day 2: UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva Tatiana Valovaya during the high-level event. © UN Photo/Elma Okic