IIMA and VIDES Participation in the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council
The 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council took place from 7 September to 9 October 2026 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The agenda featured a wide range of discussions focused on key human rights issues, such as the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, the protection of youth, the right to development and the implications of AI for the protection and promotion of human rights.
In particular, during the High-Level Panel Discussion on the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training (more information here), IIMA and VIDES International delivered an oral statement reaffirming the essential role of Human Rights Education in empowering children and young people as active rights holders and agents of change (text and video).
As part of our on-going commitment to promoting the rights of young people, IIMA and VIDES also delivered an oral statement under Item 3 General Debate, welcoming the OHCHR study on the impact of mental health challenges on the enjoyment of human rights by young people. Drawing on the results of their global survey lunched earlier this year, which gathered 1,778 responses from more than 46 countries, IIMA and VIDES highlighted the need for accessible and inclusive mental health services and for the meaningful participation of young people in decisions and policy making processes related to mental health (text and video).
During the adoption of the UPR outcome of Paraguay, IIMA and VIDES delivered an oral statement under Item 6, calling for equal access to quality education, stronger protection of children from violence and sexual abuse, and effective measures to prevent gender-based violence (text and video) .
Additionally, IIMA and VIDES participated in several HRC panels and events. Discussions on the Right to Development highlighted the importance of people-centred development and addressing inequalities (more information here). One particularly meaningful event explored human rights education through theatre: Alessandro Ienzi of Raizes Teatro showed how artistic practice can give young people a voice, and, above all, create the conditions for that voice to be heard. Finally, we were happy to actively participate in a very insightful side event called for advancing meaningful youth participation in the UN Human Rights Council, highlighting the need to shift from consultation to influence, from ad hoc engagement to institutionalized participation, and from invitation to genuine partnership with young people.
Accordingly, throughout this session, IIMA and VIDES followed closely the negotiation of the new HRC resolution on youth and human rights, which was adopted by consensus on October 6 (read more here).
Through their participation in the 63rd session, IIMA and VIDES continued their commitment to bringing the rights and voices of children and young people to the heart of international human rights discussions.