The Geneva Institute for Human Rights (GIHR) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation based in Geneva.
As an academic study and research institution, its key objective is to raise awareness and understanding about human rights. GIHR works for some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable communities, seeking to ensure that the principles of equality, dignity and respect are incorporated into all levels of public service. The Geneva Institute offers seminars, lectures, national and international programs and trainings in the field of human rights education since its foundation in 2004.
A unique service in Geneva
The GIHR is based in Geneva, as this is a central place for human rights activities in the intergovernmental system, with the meetings of the UN bodies, in particular the Human Rights Council and the treaty monitoring bodies.
The GIHR fulfills an indispensable role in assisting human rights defenders to make an effective use of the UN human rights procedures to more effective protection of human rights.
Annually we provide advice, logistic and strategic support to governmental and nongovernmental actors in defining and implementing their strategies in using international human rights procedures.
GIHR has been able throughout the years to distinguish its trainings from other organizations by being in both Arabic and English and by its commitment to networking and continual partnership.
The Institute has built and maintained long tern relationships and trust with countries in the Middle East and the African Regions. Our work has become crucial as a non political, human rights organization providing the much needed capacity building on international human rights standards and their principles to civil society organizations, governmental and non governmental organizations.
2012 Jan 19 - 12:47
On Tuesday, January 17, the Geneva Institute for Human Rights participated in "Violence and Non-Violence in the Arab spring," a seminar organized by Foundation for the Future in the Jordanian capital of Amman.
The seminar pulled together representatives from human rights organizations in Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, and Palestine to establish a consensus about non-violence in the Arab region and to facilitate networking and communication among civil society organizations, especially among the young people working in them.
2012 Jan 19 - 12:28
The Meeting of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on January 18 elected Walter Kälin (Switzerland) and Marat Sarsembayev (Kazakhstan) to the Human Rights Committee, replacing two members who, in a rare move, resigned before completing their four-year terms of office.
2012 Jan 18 - 10:41
The Geneva Institute for Human Rights participated in a regional workshop on the legal empowerment of the poor, held in Cairo from January 15-17 and organized by the Arab Organization for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme.
Workshop participants aimed to build the concept of legal empowerment of the poor at the Arab regional level, a concept formulated by a high-level international committee - with Arab participation - in 2008. Its "law in the service of everyone" was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2009.
2012 Jan 11 - 12:27
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
noted the deadlines for the following calls for applications:
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic - deadline for applications is 12 January 2012, midnight (GMT)
Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan - deadline for applications is 23 January 2012, midnight (GMT)
For more information, please visit http://www2.ohchr.org/english/
2012 Jan 9 - 11:42
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on January 6 urged Yemeni authorities to respect international laws prohibiting amnesties in cases of gross human rights violations. Yemeni politicians are currently debating an amnesty law soon to be presented to Parliament.
2012 Jan 9 - 11:12
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Rupert Colville issued a statement on January 6 condemning cruel and unusual punishments imposed by the government of Saudi Arabia, including a sharp uptick in the number of executions in the past year.
2011 Dec 23 - 08:38
Joint statement by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, the Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, Najat Maalla M’jid and the Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Jean Zermatten
2011 Dec 22 - 20:01
Children are now able to file complaints about violations of their human rights to an international body, after the General Assembly adopted on Monday a new Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
2011 Dec 20 - 16:13
In statements delivered shortly after a closed briefing of the UN Security Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on December 12 expressed alarm about reports indicating a military build-up and possible crackdown in the Syrian city of Homs, and called for urgent action at the international level to stop the violence threatening to drag Syria into sectarian violence and civil war.
2011 Dec 20 - 15:25
The Geneva Institute for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Tunisian Ministry of Justice and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Tunisia, held a national workshop on report presentations during the second session of the Human Rights Council's universal periodic review (UPR) mechanism on December 12-13. The event took place in Tunisia.
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