In an environment where short-term and national interests are taking over, UN institutions are under attack. The UN Human Rights Council is a vital mechanism for preventing and monitoring human rights violations and abuses and for enhancing access to justice and remedies for victims. States and non-state actors have called for strengthening the fulfilment of its mandate and purpose and to make it more efficient. What is the best way to achieve these reforms? Are we heading in the right direction? Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Coly Seck, President of the Human Rights Council, will discuss the importance and contribution of UN institutions to ensure that each country upholds and promotes human rights.

Michelle Bachelet has been the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights since September 2018. She was the first female President of Chile and elected for two terms (2006–2010 and 2014–2018). She also served as the first Director of UN Women, Health Minister of Chile, and was  Chile’s and Latin America’s first woman Defense Minister.

Coly Seck is President of the 13th Cycle of the Human Rights Council, serving a one-year term beginning 1 January 2019. He is the Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations Office in Geneva since October 2016.

This discussion will be moderated by Vincent Chetail, Head of the International Law Department, Professor of International Law and Director of the Global Migration Centre at the Graduate Institute, and will then be followed by a Q&A with the public.

This conference is organised in partnership with the Club Diplomatique de Genève.

@UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré