Geneva Institute for Human Rights

Our Accomplishments

Promoting Human Rights: Beyond the legal protection of citizens through International, Regional and State laws, there is a need to promote human rights knowledge and information on human rights to all stakeholders in society. Having a law without the understanding of what a human beings right’s are, would not achieve the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognized that human rights are, by their nature universal and that every human was entitled to. To fulfil its role in promoting human rights GIHR delivered consultancy and training services to hundreds of participants from different countries from the Arab region, including representatives from governmental institutions, Regional and International organizations, NGOs and National Human Rights Institutions.

Promoting Dialogue: Establishing dialogue amongst different cultures, religions and societies is detrimental to ensure peace and harmony amongst different societies. In order to promote dialogue in the Arab region on human rights, GIHR held several Seminars attended by Arab thinkers and activists from different governmental and non governmental institutions, beside academics from different universities, representatives from the media and students.

Promoting Knowledge Sharing: Since its establishment in 2004, one of the main objectives of GIHR has been to be able to share its knowledge and expertise to aid different stakeholders in the Arab region. Our being situated in Switzerland is also unique in enabling us to be the heart of where the main international human rights organizations are. Beside our training courses, GIHR provides its time and expertise to also participate with other organizations in different trainings and events. To further promote knowledge sharing on human rights issues it has been crucial for the Institute to be on the top of current and latest issues and events on human rights. As such, we also participated actively to meetings in the United Nations Human Rights Council and the UN Treaty Monitoring Bodies.

GIHR in the Arab Region

Since its establishment, GIHR has geographically concentrated its activities in countries that belong to the Arab region. Since many GIHR staff members originate from Arab countries, the Institute has been able to increasingly gain access to some of these most closed countries and it has succeeded in establishing close relations and permanent contacts that enable GIHR to not only access the countries, but to also develop long lasting partnerships and lead projects with an enduring impact.

Throughout its years of existence, GIHR has demonstrated a commitment towards the promotion and the dissemination of international human rights, acquainting concerned institutions with these principals. Indeed, different governmental and non governmental institutions and civil society organizations within the Arab region have expressed their need for a better understanding of International Human Rights instruments, in order for them to be able to use them in their advocacy and implementation at the national and grassroots level.

To reach people from the Arab region engaged in human rights activities it has been considered important to offer training programs in Arabic to get human rights information to the grass-root level and to offer such services to those representatives who are not familiar with English or French.

Throughout its endeavours the GIHR has gained experience as a technical agency that can strengthen the capacity of organizations and institutes in the African and Arab Regions on the different UN Human Rights instruments in addition to being an institute that advocates and calls for reform on how the region views human rights, in particular women and child rights.

In the Arab region, GIHR has been able to win the trust and confidence of several governmental institutions through providing them with technical support and expertise on training.

Presently, the Institute aspires to not only continue its successful work in countries of the Arab region, but also to broaden its geographical focus and to expand its work and activities to other countries.

Our Partners

GIHR's intention is to contribute to the prevention of human rights violations and to the promotion of human rights in close cooperation with international and national partners. GIHR cooperates with various academic circles and human rights related bodies or organizations to take advantage of their respective knowledge or areas of experience, in particular with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Since its inception, the GIHR has gained a good reputation amongst International and regional bodies and UN agencies.

Collaboration/Partnership with International Organizations, among others:

• The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• The African Union (AU)
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• The World Trade Organisation (WTO)
• The International Labour Office (ILO)
• The Worldwide Academy- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• The Organization of the Islamic Countries (OIC)
• The Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR)
• The International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• The Regional Office in the Middle East and Northern Africa Region for the Coalition of the International Criminal Court (MENA CICC)
• The Civic Aid International Organization (CAIO)
• The Islamic Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)

National Partners:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Libya
• National Human Rights Committee - Qatar
• Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Justice - Sudan
• Advisory Council for Human Right - Sudan
• Ministry of Interior - Syria
• Ministry of Social Affairs - Sudan
• Umma Party- Sudan
• Sudanese Studies Centre (SSC)
• Sudanese Bar Union
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Jordan)
• Dubai Police
• Syrian Commission on Family Affairs
• Ministry of Interior (Sudan)
• Ministry of Justice (Morocco)

Partner NGOs:

• Arabic Network for Human Rights Information - Egypt
• Women Centre for Human Rights (WCHR) - Sudan
• the Human Rights Training and Information Center (HRTIC) - Yemen
• the Bahrain Society for Human Rights (BSHR) - Bahrain
• Adaleh Center for Human Rights - Jordan
• Raoul Institute for Human Right - Jordan
• Friedrich Ebert
• Freedom House (FH)- USA
• Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR)
• International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
• CARAM Asia- Malaysia
• Arab Penal Reform Organization (APRO)
• Oxfam Yemen
• Yemeni Women Union (YWU)
• Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights (SAF) - Yemen
• Arab Center for the independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession (ACIJLP)
• Arab Program for Human Rights Activists (APHRA)

Media:

• AlJazeera Network