Happy World Tourism Day!

Tourism is extremely important for every nation for its great social, cultural, political and economic value. In 2015 alone, international tourism generated US $1.5 trillion in export earnings. International tourist arrivals grew by 4.6% in 2015 and the number is forecasted to increase in the coming years, expecting to reach 1.8 billion tourists by the year 2030. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience the diversity and beauty of our world, which is why it is important to support universal accessibility to tourism. The official celebration for World Tourism Day (WTD) is being celebrated in Bangkok, Thailand today.  Experience the beauty of this...

High-Level Panel on Human Rights Education and Training

On the 14th of September 2016, the United Nations in Geneva held a High-Level Panel on the Fifth Anniversary of the Adoption of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training during the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council. H.E. Mr.Choi Kyong-lim, President of the Human Rights Council, declared the start of the High-Level Panel. The panel was introduced by Ms. Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, followed by a keynote address by Mr. Jordan Naidoo, Director of the Division for Education 2030 Support and Coordination, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural...

“A legitimate concern of the International Community” – Opening Statement of 33rd Session of Human Right Council

On 13th of September 2016 the Office attended the Opening Statement of the 33rd Session of the Human Rights Council that, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights read in front of all the Representatives of the States and civil society brought together. The speech began with a serious complaint that Al Hussein wished to share after two years as High Commissioner: the growing refusal on the part of an increasing number of Member States to grant OHCHR, or the human rights mechanism, access to countries when this is requested explicitly or even in other...

Today is the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

Global nuclear disarmament has been on the table for the General Assembly (GA) since the beginning. This was the subject of the GA’s very first resolution in 1946. Since then and the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1975, the call for nuclear disarmament has only increased. In spite of this, 15,000 nuclear weapons continue to exist in the world and no steps have been taken to dispose of them. With this disproportionate amount of nuclear weapons in our global arsenal, we have the fire power to destroy our...

IIMA delivers oral statement on Unaccompanied Migrant Children

On September 20, 2016, IIMA representative Christian Ruehling delivered an oral statement to the Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on the global issue of unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents.  The intervention occurred after the Committee presented its progress report on this issue, which was mandated by Human Rights Council resolution 29/12 at its 29th session in June 2015. The progress report highlighted the complexities and challenges facing States and civil society in tackling such a global issue. Unaccompanied migrant children are a vulnerable segment of society whose access to primary and secondary education is interrupted when...

Human Rights Council Session : Week 1 (Sept. 13-16)

On September 13, the Human Rights Council (HRC) opened its 33rd regular session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.   HRC President CHOI Kyong-lim presided over the opening of the session which will take place in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room (also known as Room XX) from September 13-30. Room XX was filled with Member States delegates, civil society observers, and NGO representatives who were electrified from the outset by the opening statement of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.  The tone of his statement was a change from the...

International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime

In September 2015, the UN General Assembly established the “Day of December 9th” because it marks the anniversary of the 1948 adoption, of the Convention on Prevention and Punishment for crimes of Genocide also known as, The Genocide Convention. This day raises awareness of the Genocide Convention and its role in fighting and preventing genocidal crimes as well as commemorating and honoring the victims. "Prevention of genocide is a specific obligation under international law. Governments must work on this imperative by investing in preventative actions. On this international observation, let us...

IIMA and VIDES participate in a Day of National Mourning observed by Italy badly affected by the earthquake in recent days. We are close to families in this moment of grief and we express our solidarity with the Italian people . ...