Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ)

𝐇𝐑𝐂𝟓𝟕: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 At the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, Julius Schmitz / GICJ delivered a joint statement with the International Organisation for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD) during the interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic, in response to their report. His statement focused on the importance of establishing trust between political actors and the population in light of the upcoming local elections. The speaker highlighted widespread corruption and human rights violations by government actors as key drivers of mistrust within the Central African Republic. Additionally, the poor condition of the Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Reconciliation Committee is hindering reconciliation between different political groups. The speaker emphasised that, alongside allegations of tampered elections in the past, these factors have led to an election boycott by political opposition. He stressed that trust, reconciliation, and political participation are essential for preventing further conflict. In conclusion, the speaker urged the government of the Central African Republic to take decisive action against corruption and human rights abuses by government agents. He also called for the establishment of a confidence-building dialogue and the assurance of free, fair, and transparent elections to set the country on a path towards peace and stability. #HRC57 #CentralAfricanRepublic #HumanRights #PoliticalParticipation #GICJ #Geneva4Justice #GenevaInternationalCentreforJustice #GICJ

𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 - 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 GICJ: Newsletter – October 2024 Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) has published a special edition of its Spanish-language newsletter on the situation in Palestine, marking the anniversary of 7th October. This edition contains articles, reports, and statements made by the GICJ on the most significant developments regarding the situation in Palestine in 2024. Among other topics, the GICJ calls for effective collective action to address Israeli crimes, discusses the human rights situation in the Gaza Strip, examines the significance of the ICC’s request for arrest warrants, and explores the role of the International Court of Justice in addressing the situation in Palestine. We invite you to read this newsletter.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐑𝐂𝟓𝟕 The 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), held in Geneva from September 9 to October 11, 2024, concluded after a 32 days of intensive deliberations. During this session, several significant resolutions and statements were adopted, addressing a wide array of global human rights issues. Key topics included the tragic situation in the Middle East following the Isr-aeli war on Gaza and the recent escalation resulted from the attacks on Lebanon. The situation in Afghanistan, with a particular focus on the rights of women and girls, and the widespread human rights violations under the Taliban regime. Additionally, the session featured discussions on the ongoing persecution of Rohingya people in Myanmar and other human rights violations in the country. This session also addressed issues ranging from climate change’s impact on human rights to slavery, racism, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearances. GICJ actively participated in the session by delivering a number of joint oral statements with its partners, as well as co-organising two side event on the situation in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. At the last two days of the session a number of resolution were adopted on different human rights situations. ----- #HRC57 #Geneva4Justice #GenevaInternationalCentreforJustice #GICJ

𝗛𝗥𝗖𝟱𝟳 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰, 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 & 𝗟𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗻 During the 57th session of the Human Rights Council on 4 October 2024, the Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) held a side event focused on the role of Economic, Social, and Cultural (ESC) rights in post-conflict recovery in Palestine and Lebanon. This event was organized in collaboration with the International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD), International-Lawyers.Org, and the Association Mo’nah for Human Rights and Immigration. The event featured three speakers: Sarah Tayara, Luna Layl, and Shahd Sataria, who discussed the issue within the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The panel was moderated by Julius Schmitz of GICJ. Sarah Tayara highlighted the devastating impact of conflict on children in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, stressing that recovery strategies must prioritize education and ensure children's participation in rebuilding post-war societies. Luna Layl called for the establishment of a peacekeeping mission in Palestine and the creation of a national truth and reconciliation committee, drawing inspiration from similar efforts in South Africa and Kosovo. Shahd Sataria, sharing her personal experiences as a Palestinian, moved the audience by recounting her family’s suffering in Gaza, emphasizing the immense human cost of the ongoing conflict on the civilian population. Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) fully supports the views expressed by the speakers and urges states and the international community to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians. GICJ calls for the immediate enforcement of a ceasefire and compliance with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) provisional measures, issued in January 2024, to halt all genocidal activities in Gaza. #HRC57 #Palestine #Lebanon #War #Conflict #ESC #Geneva, #Justice, #EAFORD #Geneva4Justice, #GICJ, #GenevaInternationalCentreforJustice 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 https://lnkd.in/d8G8UyRj

𝐇𝐑𝐂𝟓𝟕: 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 At the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, Mildred Asiimwe / GICJ delivered a joint statement with the International Organization for The Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD) during the Interactive Dialogue on report the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. Her statement focused on the causes of inequality in access to education between people of African descent and the rest of the world. The speaker mentioned racial discrimination as a key factor in the low attainment of education amongst people of African descent, despite deliberate efforts from different actors to ensure advance in access to education.  The speaker mentioned the Global Education Monitoring Report of 2020 and the World Bank, which showed that students of African descent face racial discrimination from both peers and education institutions, the lack of diversity among education actors and very little or no consideration of several factors that negatively impact students of African descent, thereby preventing them from attaining or completing education. At the end of the statement, the speaker urged the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent to support states in implementing education policies that support racially integrated schools, ensure diversity among education actors, and deliberate in addressing implicit biases that hinder equitable access to education by people of African descent. #HRC57 #EducationForAll #EndRacialDiscrimination #AfricanDescentRights #EqualEducation #RacialEquality #GICJ #Geneva4Justice #GenevaInternationalCentreforJustice

𝐇𝐑𝐂𝟓𝟕: 𝟐𝟑 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧   During the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, Marisa Were / GICJ delivered a joint statement with the International Organisation for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD), emphasising the need for full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA), 23 years after its adoption.   The speaker addressed the ongoing racism and discrimination faced by people of African descent, often exacerbated by stricter migration laws and increased law enforcement that disproportionately targets them. Despite some progress, colonial systems and outdated practices persist, further deepening inequalities.   In light of new opportunities and challenges brought by digital technologies, the speaker stressed the urgency of adopting a human-rights-based approach to digital human rights to prevent the continued marginalisation of people of African descent.   EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice urged States to ensure full implementation of the DDPA across all sectors, including education, politics, and law enforcement, to break the cycle of systemic discrimination and unequal opportunities based on race and religion.   #HRC57 #DurbanDeclaration #RacialJustice #HumanRights #CombatRacism #EqualOpportunities #DigitalInclusion #SocialJustice #EndDiscrimination #GenevaInternationalCentreforJustice #Geneva4Justice #GICJ

𝐇𝐑𝐂𝟓𝟕: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧   At the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, Marisa Were / GICJ delivered a joint statement with the International Organisation for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD), addressing the growing concerns around Artificial Intelligence (AI) perpetuating racial discrimination, especially in education.   The speaker underscored how AI, though designed to be neutral, often reflects the biases of the data it is trained on, leading to the exclusion of marginalised communities, particularly people of African descent. The widening Black-White technological divide, mirroring the early literacy gap, further deepens this inequality, leaving vulnerable groups behind.   Highlighting the vital role of education as a pathway to employment and economic empowerment, the speaker stressed the need for a grassroots-level focus on digital literacy. By prioritising digital human rights and ensuring the inclusion of marginalised communities in AI development, States can help close the gap in the evolving job market and prevent poverty disparities from widening further.   The speaker concluded by urging States to adopt a human-rights-based approach to AI policies and prevent technology from reinforcing existing systemic barriers. It is imperative to ensure that the progress toward social justice is not undermined by digital exclusion.   #HRC57 #AI #RacialEquity #DigitalInclusion #EqualEduation #DigitalLiteracy #InclusiveAI #GenevaInternationalCentreforJustice #Geneva4Justice #GICJ

𝐇𝐑𝐂𝟓𝟕: 𝐔𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞: 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 “It has been nearly a year since respect for international law has been severely undermined. The magnitude of the destruction caused by the Israeli army… is profoundly shocking” declared Natalia Venegas from GICJ during the 57th session of the Human Rights Council on 2 October 2024, in a joint statement with EAFORD. The speaker raised particular attention to the fact that, according to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as of 15 August 2024, 40,000 Palestinian lives have been lost, with an average of 130 deaths per day over the past 10 months. The speaker also described how the Court condemned the settlements, annexation, and exploitation of resources, considering these actions to amount to racial segregation and apartheid. It ordered full reparations for the victims and the facilitation of the return of displaced persons. These actions are crucial to preventing acts that could constitute genocide against the Palestinian people. To close her statement, the speaker reiterated EAFORD's and the Geneva International Centre for Justice's stance, condemning systematic violations of international law and urging the Security Council to break the political deadlock and adopt binding resolutions to protect the Palestinian population. She called for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to halt actions potentially constituting genocide, comply with the Court's provisional measures, and recognize the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. #HRC57 #HumanRights #HumanitarianLaw #InternationalLaw #Apartheid #Palestine #Gaza #Genocide #RacialSegregartion #ICJ #GenevaInternationalCentreForJustice #Geneva4Justice #GICJ

𝐇𝐑𝐂𝟓𝟕: 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 In a collective statement with the International Organisation for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD), Adam Richard Seymour / GICJ, expressed appreciation for the ongoing international efforts to address racial discrimination against Africans and people of African descent. Although some countries have made marginal gains, EAFORD acknowledged significant systemic challenges that require immediate and urgent attention. He stressed the need for concrete steps to ensure justice and accountability, particularly regarding the excessive use of force by law enforcement. The statement emphasised the prevalence of racial profiling, harassment, and discriminatory practices that continue to affect marginalised communities. Additionally, the systemic racism faced today by Africans and people of African descent is deeply concerned by intersectionality, with multiple identities compounding their experiences of discrimination. Furthermore, one of the independent experts, Akua Kuenyehia, noted that women and girls of African descent face compounded challenges due to their race and gender. EAFORD calls for the establishment of independent civilian oversight bodies to combat racial profiling and enhance accountability measures. To close her statement, one of the Independent Experts, Paola Yañez Inofuentes, Regional Coordinator of Red de Mujeres Afro Latinoamericanas, Afro Caribeñas y de la Diáspora, emphasised the need to strengthen justice systems and provide guarantees for all, especially those of African descent. She underscored the importance of reforming judicial systems and ensuring accountability, stating that it is vital for the international community to take immediate action to address these alarming human rights violations rather than waiting for them to worsen. #HRC57 #EndRacialDiscrimination #JusticeForAll #EAFORD #DurbanDeclaration #HumanRights #Intersectionality #Accountability

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐉’𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐑𝐂 𝐒𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐫 𝘉𝘺 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘈𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘦 / 𝘎𝘐𝘊𝘑 Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) has been participating in the 57th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), which began on Monday, 9 September 2024. We have worked closely with various non-governmental organisations and member states, and have provided reports, presentations, oral and written statements on human rights violations. Colleagues have attended and participated in General Debates, Interactive Dialogues, and Side Events. At the beginning of this HRC, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, provided an overall summary of the situation of human rights worldwide. He began with a thought-provoking statement: “We can and must make a different choice.” This call for awareness has influenced GICJ, as we have written and spoken about various States and topics. Just this half of the HRC, these have discussed Burundi, Iraq, Israel, Myanmar, Palestine, Venezuela, Yemen, arbitrary detentions, artificial intelligence, climate change, contemporary forms of slavery, development, mercenaries, transitional justice mechanisms, and water and sanitation. GICJ members have called for accountability and for sustainable measures to be adopted by Member States to ensure the promotion, protection, and regulation of international human rights. We are prepared for the second half of this HRC, and ready to continue fighting for justice. #HRC57 #HumanRights #UnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil #FreedomofSpeech #GenevaInternationalCentreForJustice #Geneva4Justice #GICJ