UN human rights office to launch online “Google+ Hangout” series

GENEVA (19 November) – Make your voice count for human rights. Ahead of Human Rights Day on 10 December, the UN Human Rights Office is launching its first ever Google+ Hangout series to facilitate public participation in a wide range of rights issues concerning persons with disabilities, minorities, and the impact of business on human rights.

The series of four Google+ Hangouts (a ‘Hangout’ is a type of live online video chat) kicks off with a discussion between civil society and business representatives worldwide at 15:00 CET on Thursday, 22 November. This first Hangout will focus on ways to ensure the meaningful public participation of concerned communities when there is a possibility business operations may impact on their human rights.

The first Hangout is also a precursor to the inaugural UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, to be held in Geneva from 3 to 5 December. Almost 800 participants have registered for the Forum, which will focus on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The second Google+ Hangout, scheduled for 15:00 CET on 30 November, will feature a live video discussion between representatives of persons with disabilities, a UN expert and EU policy makers on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and another UN expert will participate in the third Hangout at 15:00 CET on 4 December.

The Google+ Hangout series culminates on Human Rights Day with a live video discussion with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on this year’s Human Rights Day theme -- ‘Inclusion and the right to participate in public life’ -- scheduled to take place at 15:30 CET on 10 December.

The Hangouts are part of the “Make Your Voice Count” social media campaign for Human Rights Day 2012. People across the globe are encouraged to share their ideas and questions on various social media platforms, using the hashtag #VoiceCount.

ENDS

More information about Human Rights Day is available at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Day2012/Pages/HRD2012.aspx
For interactive update from our social media platforms: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Day2012/Pages/SocialMedia.aspx

For more information about the social media campaign, please contact: Esther Lam (elam@ohchr.org / +41 22 9179149)

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