How can we strengthen democratic resilience around the world by leveraging engagement with UN human rights mechanisms?
The Kofi Annan Foundation, the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute, and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland hosted a high-level Policy Dialogue at the Palais des Nations on 14 May, ahead of the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council. We were delighted that more than 100 participants from Permanent Missions, civil society, and the UN joined us for this important discussion.
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭: 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀
Through concrete examples, states illustrated how they leverage international human rights commitments to build democratic resilience:
• H.E. Mr Yerlan Alimbayev – Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Kazakhstan
• H.E. Mr Amb.Prof.Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Ph.D – Ambassador and Permanent Representative, The Gambia
• Mr Mauricio Artiñano Guzmán – Coordinator, Multiparty Ethical Pact, Costa Rica
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮: 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Experts discussed how the multilateral system can better address democratic ‘resilience weak spots’ and support stronger democratic governance:
• H.E. Ms Patricia Ann Hermanns – Ambassador and Permanent Representative, The Bahamas
• Mr Dimiter Chalev – Chief, Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Unit, OHCHR
• Ms Nathalie Rondeux – Coordinator, Coordination, Information and Communication Unit, Special Procedures Branch, OHCHR
• Mr Marc Limon – Executive Director, Universal Rights Group
Opening contributions:
• H.E. Mr Cristian Guillermet Fernandez – Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Costa Rica
• H.E. Ms Claudia Fuentes Julio – Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Chile
• Ms Christine Lutringer – Executive Director, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute
Moderated by:
Ms Corinne Momal-Vanian, Executive Director, Kofi Annan Foundation
Organised by: The Kofi Annan Foundation, the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute, and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland
Co-sponsored by:
Permanent Mission of The Bahamas
Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan
Universal Rights Group
𝗔 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
An initiative led by Teresa Lévigne, Senior Programme Manager. Photos and Communications led by Adrien Coulon, Communication Associate.