2021 Human Rights Week Scientific Colloquium: Discrimination and Inequalities – Geneva, 25-26 November

While discriminations and inequalities have always been a subject of international concern, the trend in recent years indicates an increase rather than a decrease of the phenomenon. This tendency has been further aggravated by the COVID 19 pandemic, despite the fact that the prohibition of discrimination is well-entrenched in international human rights law and appears high on the agenda of the international community.

The two-day Scientific Colloquium of the 2021 Human Rights Week will explore the different facets of discrimination and inequalities and will discuss their human rights impact in our contemporary world. Experts, academics, and practitioners as well as young scholars will discuss four main issues:

• Discriminations against specific groups and in relation to specific rights
• Discriminations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and inequalities in accessing the COVID-19 vaccine
• Discrimination in armed conflicts, counter-terrorism, and states of emergencies;
• Algorithmic discrimination.

About the Human Rights Week

The Human Rights Week is one of the key events in Geneva that addresses contemporary challenges and issues in the field of human rights. The 2021 edition will discuss – via conferences, debates, film screenings, exhibitions, artistic performances, and the scientific colloquium – the question of discrimination and inequalities.

During one week, experts, practitioners, artists, students, academics, diplomats, and civil society representatives will exchange around this issue, debate, identify solutions and raise awareness about ongoing discriminatory practices and inequalities.

This major event is organized by the University of Geneva, in partnership with the Geneva Academy, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights and Les Créatives.

In Geneva and Online

The Scientific Colloquium will take place both in Geneva (Villa Moynier, 120B Rue de Lausanne) and online via Zoom.

Registration

Online

Register here to follow the Human Rights Conversation online. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

In Geneva

Register here to follow the event at the Geneva Academy headquarters Villa Moynier.

Due to sanitary measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, access to the Scientific Colloquium will be limited to those who have a valid Swiss COVID Certificate; an EU Digital COVID Certificate; or a paper or digital document proving that s.he has been tested negative following a rapid antigen test or a PCR one conducted within 48 hours and 72 hours respectively prior to the start of the event.

Programme

DAY 1: THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2021
9:00 – 9:30 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
9:30 – 10:15 KEYNOTE
10:15 – 10:30 BREAK
10:30 – 11:40 SESSION 1: DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
11:40 – 12:40 SESSION 2: DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LGBTIQ COMMUNITIES
11:40 – 13:50 LUNCH
13:50 – 15:00 SESSION 3: DISCRIMINATIONS IN RELATION TO SPECIFIC RIGHTS

15:00 – 16:10

SESSION 4: DISCRIMINATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

16:10 – 16:55

KEYNOTE SPEECH – INEQUALITIES IN ACCESSING THE COVID-19 VACCINE: A MORAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS FAILURE

3
DAY 2: FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2021

9:00 – 10:10

SESSION 5: DISCRIMINATION IN ARMED CONFLICTS, COUNTER TERRORISM AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

10:10 – 10:55

KEYNOTE SPEECH – DISCRIMINATIONS IN COUNTERING TERRORISM AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM

10:55 – 11:15 BREAK
12:15 – 12:30 CLOSING

From 12:30

VISIT OF A PHOTO EXHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION AT THE BAINS DES PÂQUIS

END OF THE SCIENTIFIC COLLOQUIUM