Geneva Institute for 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.

Much of our work consists of capacity building through trainings, consultations and development of reports and publications so as to effect change.

The Institute co-operates with international and national partners. In particular, it is concerned with the promotion of human rights treaties, with issues in the framework of security policy, peace policy and human rights, and with strategic issues with regard to human rights policy.

Our Values

• Dignity and Respect- Every human being is entitled to have their dignity and human rights respected equally whatever their gender, age, religion or disability.
• Knowledge- knowledge is an asset, through promotion of human rights principals effective social change can occur.
• Integrity- Transparency, democracy and integrity are crucial to enable empowerment of the community.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the HRC Resolution 6/9

The work of the GIHR is focused on the respect of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Following the recommendation 2 of resolution 6/9 adopted during the 6tth session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, GIHR tries to help "States to develop specific public information activities within the framework of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sixtieth anniversary activities, and to enhance their education and training efforts, also in the context of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, including targeted training programmes for professional audiences in the field of human rights in close contact with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights."

Our Objectives

The Geneva Institute for Human Rights' main objective is to promote and disseminate on all legislative and practical levels international human rights principles as they are expressed in the international Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other covenants related to human rights, with a special focus on women, children, and vulnerable groups in order to enable them to actively contribute to a professional life and to decision-making processes.

The Institute works to acquaint any concerned civil societies and governmental institutions with these principles. It provides assistance for NGOs and governmental organisations, in order to practically monitor and document the status of human rights. It also provides advisory services to governmental and non-governmental bodies related to human rights, as well as to any instance that might require such services. Therefore, it created a statistical and informational database on international and regional declarations, conventions and covenants related to human rights.

GIHR aims to contribute to the review process of legislations and laws by presenting practical proposals to keep them in conformity with the International Bill of Human Rights and related international declarations or conventions. It serves as a democratic forum for dialogue, orchestration and integration of efforts exerted by human rights related NGOs and governmental organisations, in order to establish the rule of law and institutions as well as a democratic human society.