Pre-Glion X Policy Dialogue with the Permanent Missions of Thailand and Mexico on the ‘Geneva’s’ contribution to the General Assembly’s 2021-2026 review of the Human Rights Council: an opportunity to reflect on the Council’s effectiveness and on-the-ground impact.’

The Permanent Missions of Thailand and Mexico will host the second of three preparatory Policy Dialogue ahead of the 2024 Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion X). The overall theme of this year’s Glion is:

‘Transforming universal norms into local reality – NMIRFs and the strengthening of the UN human rights system’s effectiveness and on-the-ground impact.’

The policy dialogue hosted by the Permanent Missions of Thailand and Mexico on Wednesday, 5th June from 09.00 — 15.45 at the Permanent Mission of Thailand (Rue Gustave Moynier 5, 1202 Geneva) will take the form of a self-reflection exercise focusing on the ‘Geneva’s’ contribution to the General Assembly’s 2021-2026 review of the Human Rights Council: an opportunity to reflect on the Council’s effectiveness and on-the-ground impact.’

The Policy Dialogue will aim to gather views and perspectives on the fulfilment, by the Council, its mechanisms, and OHCHR, of the following core dimensions of its mandate as set by GA resolution 60/251:

1. Serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic issues on all human rights (civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, including the right to development), broaden understanding among civilisations, cultures, and religions, promote human rights norm-setting, and make recommendations to the General Assembly for the further development of international law (preambular paragraph 7, operative paragraphs 5b, 5c).
2. Promote the full implementation of human rights obligations undertaken by States, including by establishing methods of work that are results-oriented, and allow for subsequent follow-up discussions to recommendations and their implementation (operative paragraphs 5d, 12).
3. Support the implementation of human rights obligations undertaken by States through the delivery of technical assistance and capacity-building, to be provided in consultation with and with the consent of Member States concerned, and ensure support is available and accessible to all States, and promote the effective coordination and the mainstreaming of human rights within the UN system, especially the development system (operative paragraphs 5a, 3 – second part).
4. Maintain, allow for substantive interaction with, promote cooperation with, and strengthen the effectiveness of (including by ensuring effective follow-up), the Council’s mechanisms, in particular the Special Procedures, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Confidential Complaints Procedure, and the Advisory Committee (operative paragraphs 5e, 6, 12).
5. Build an inclusive and credible Council, whose work is accessible and relevant to all States (including LDCs and SIDS), whose membership is open to all States, and whose members uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights, and fully cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms (operative paragraphs 8, 9).
6. Be open and accessible to, and work in close cooperation with civil society, human rights defenders, victims, NHRIs, regional organisations, and other relevant stakeholders (preambular paragraph 11, operative paragraph 5h).
7. Address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, secure accountability for serious human rights violations, secure remedy and redress for the victims of serious human rights violations; and contribute, through dialogue and cooperation, towards the prevention of human rights violations and crises, including by responding promptly to human rights emergencies (e.g., through early warning, early engagement, and good offices diplomacy) (operative paragraphs 3, 5f).
8. Establish an agenda and programme of work that is efficient and effective; establish methods of work that are transparent, fair, and impartial, and enable genuine dialogue, are results-oriented, and allow for subsequent follow-up discussions to recommendations and their implementation (operative paragraph 12).