On 16 September 2025, the voices of young people, powerfully resonated at the Human Rights Council’s Biennial Panel “The role of youth in fostering peaceful societies and creating an enabling environment for the enjoyment of human rights by all” (watch the Session here). With 1.9 billion young people worldwide, the message was clear: youth are not only future leaders, but present agents of peace and human rights. Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif opened with a call to take youth seriously as bridge-builders in an increasingly polarized world. She warned of shrinking...

The 8th of September commemorates United Nations International Literacy Day (ILD) which was established in 1966 to draw attention to a fundamental right, that is, the ability to read, write, and access knowledge. Today, however, the word “literacy” also refers to the capacity to access online information, understand it, evaluate it critically, and use it responsibly. UNESCO emphasizes that: “Literacy is a key to making transformation inclusive, sustainable, relevant, and meaningful. Beyond reading and writing on paper, literacy in the digital age allows people to access, understand, evaluate, create, communicate,...

The United Nations Human Rights Council held its 59th session from June 16 to July 8, 2025, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. This was a crucial appointment, where the international community addressed the most urgent challenges: from the defense of human dignity to the growing alarm over xenophobia and intolerance, and the dramatic situations marked by systematic violations of fundamental rights. In this context, IIMA and VIDES International strongly raised the voice of young people, bringing to the heart of the Council four oral statements dedicated to the vital...

The United Nations Human Rights Council held its 58th session from 24 February to 4 April 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The session’s agenda included several high-level meetings and numerous discussions dedicated to crucial human rights issues. IIMA and VIDES delivered several oral statements on item 3. In particular, during the Interactive Dialogue (ID) with the Special Rapporteur on the Sale, Exploitation and Abuse of Children (text and video), the ID with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Children and Armed Conflict (text and video) and...

Istituto Internazionale Maria Ausiliatrice (IIMA) works to promote the right to education and Human Rights Education for all, prioritizing preventive intervention in urgent situations and the sharing of best practices. The online event, “The Commitment of the Human Rights Council to Youth and Human Rights: Addressing the Digital Divide, Online Threats and Mental Health” organized by IIMA, VIDES Internazionale, the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepard, Fondazione Comboniane nel Mondo, and the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, intended to provide insights on the relevance...

The United Nations Human Rights Council held its Fifty-fourth session from 11 September to 13 October 2023 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The agenda of the session included several high-level meetings addressing crucial human rights issues. IIMA and VIDES International, together with other partners, delivered two oral statements on youth and human rights, one under Item 3 – Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order (text and video) and a another one on the occasion of the Panel discussion on...

Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies The International Literacy Day will be celebrated one more time on the 8th September. Each year, a specific theme is chosen to focus the event on one important problematic. For 2023, the theme is: “Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies”.[1]   This theme serves as a reminder of the utmost importance of literacy in an ever-changing world. Therefore, it becomes necessary to adapt the means of promoting literacy. Indeed,...

The Committee on the Rights of the Child is composed of independent experts who monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by its States parties. It also monitors the implementation of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. All states parties are required to report to the committee on how the rights are being met.  On May 9 and 10, 2023,...

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women – 85th Session on Venezuela 18 May 2023 The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system. It requires countries to eliminate discrimination against women and girls in all areas and promotes women’s equal rights to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. On May 18, 2023, Venezuela was reviewed by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. The...

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a cyclical review process of all 193 UN Member States. Once every four years the human rights situation in each State is reviewed. The State under review declares what action has been taken and the measures to be adopted to improve human rights within the Country. During the UPR, specific recommendations are made by the Member States of the Human Rights Council to the State under review. The 43rd UPR session was held from May 1 to 12 in Palais des Nations, Geneva. Among other...