Geneva Institute for Human Rights

The Geneva Institute for Human Rights concluded its first-ever human rights training course in Libya on October 21, held in cooperation with the Organization of Solidarity for Human Rights in Libya in the city of Benghazi.

The five-day course, "Basics of Human Rights," lasted from October 17 to 21 and trained 25 participants, primarily young people, from different disciplines.

The course covered basic human rights terminology, the United Nations system, international standards for maintaining human rights, and international laws on human rights protection.

The program set aside extra time to focus on the Human Rights Council and Universal Periodic Review mechanism, given the significant role the Council played in Libya's recent revolution by suspending the country's membership last February and conducting fact-finding missions to investigate violations of human rights.

Instructors also familiarized participants with international conventions, such as the Convention against Torture, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on Protection of the Rights of the Child, explaining how human rights commissions monitor, document, and report on states' observance of each convention.

The session concluded with a discussion of the role NGOs could play in promoting human rights in Libya.

A second five-day training course was held in Benghazi the following week, starting October 23. The Institute hopes to expand its activities in Libya, working with both government agencies and non-governmental organizations alike on issues related to transitional justice and the reconstruction of state institutions.