For the first time, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is organizing a Forum on the role of youth in public decision-making. The Forum will take place on November 21-22, 2016 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The United Nations Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law will be on the theme of “Widening the Democratic Space: The Role of Youth in Public Decision-making.” The Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, has been appointed co-chair of the Forum together with Ambassador Daniiar Mukashev, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN Office in Geneva. 

You have until November 16 (6:00 PM Geneva Time) to register and attend the Forum. Complete information on registration and attendance is available here. 

In June 2016, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 28/14 to establish a Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. The purpose of the Forum is “to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to the relationship between these areas” and to “identify and analyze best practices, challenges and opportunities for States in their efforts to secure respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”

Below are the submissions received by OHCHR in response to the call for inputs on the topics to be discussed during the first session of the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law:

Member States

National Human Rights Institutions

United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes

International and regional organisations

NGOs

Academics and experts