Geneva, The United Nations Human Rights Office is set to host a High-level Event on December 11 and 12, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This event marks the culmination of a year-long initiative, Human Rights 75, aimed at reaffirming the values of the Universal Declaration and recommitting to human rights as a solution to contemporary and future challenges.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the event will be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, bringing together a diverse group of participants including heads of state, government officials, human rights defenders, youth, civil society organizations, business leaders, sportspeople, artists, economists, UN representatives, and regional organizations. The program will focus on deep reflection and finding common solutions based on human rights principles.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted the critical global challenges, such as violent conflict, inequality, discrimination, and the triple planetary crisis of climate emergency, pollution, and biodiversity loss. He emphasized the need for collective action based on the promise and blueprint for action provided by the Universal Declaration.
Key features of the event include Pledging Sessions on December 11, where states will announce commitments to advance human rights protection, and Voices in defence of human rights segments, where participants will share their experiences and perspectives on the impact of the Universal Declaration. Expert panel discussions will address the universality of human rights, challenges to the human rights system, and ways to strengthen it.
The Opening Ceremony on December 12 will feature a discussion with heads of state, moderated by the High Commissioner, followed by roundtables on pressing human rights issues such as peace and security, digital technologies, climate and environment, and development and economy. These discussions are guided by papers aimed at generating fresh ideas on these fundamental issues.
The Geneva event will offer accessibility through international sign language interpretation, real-time captioning, and simultaneous interpretation in six UN official languages. It will connect online to regional hubs in Bangkok, Nairobi, and Panama, where related discussions and events will occur.
Additionally, the event will be accessible through a virtual human rights center, allowing up to 3,000 people to participate online. Preceding the December event, national and regional dialogues took place, and a high-level event in Vienna in June commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and of the UN Human Rights Office.
This significant event underscores the UN’s commitment to human rights as a cornerstone of global peace and security, addressing current global crises and shaping a sustainable future.