The new cohort of the MA in Human Rights Program attended their annual excursion to Geneva from 10th to 13th March, 2025. The students had the opportunity to interact with different people from a host of different organizations working in the field of human rights in the city. The visit started with an interactive dialogue with a member of the Special Procedures department on Right to Food at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , followed by observing the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council session where Michael Fakhri, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food presented his report on food, finance and national action plans, and briefed the council on his visit to Venezuela the next day. On the first day, the cohort also attended the 32nd Session of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was constituted by an interactive dialogue with the delegation of Canada.
“One of the highlights of the Geneva excursion was meeting the Human Rights
Officer at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). She provided key insights into the work of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, which was essential for understanding his intervention the following day during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council. Observing this special procedures mechanism in action was particularly fascinating, as it revealed how countries engage with and respond to the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations.”- Alejandro Gómez, Mexico, student
The students also had the opportunity to meet people from different organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations Environment Programme as well as political think tanks like the Universal Rights Group to get a holistic overview of the human rights and humanitarian work landscape in Geneva, Switzerland. The excursion concluded with a lunch meeting with Dr. Michaela Lissowsky, Director of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Human Rights Hub who is also a member of the FAU Friends Association, that supports our students and the MA in Human Rights Program.
“The excursion to Geneva was an incredible experience. I am grateful for the unique insights we gained into the UN system and the opportunity to visit the Headquarter at Geneva. Additionally, we had the chance to meet with various NGOs and learn about their work in the broad field of human rights. I especially liked our meeting with the Universal Rights Group (URG), where we gained a deeper understanding of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, guided by an experienced expert who shared critical perspectives and valuable firsthand knowledge.”- Hannah Kuhl, Germany, student
Overall, it was a 3 day excursion packed with a lot of learning, networking and new insights into the important work of implementing human rights for all!
“The meeting with the Aide for the Special Rapporteur for food was singularly enlightening,
because it opened my mind and exposed me to different dimensions of the simple statement
“Right to Food”.This exposé has enlightened me as to why it is ever more expedient to ensure
that these rights are not infringed upon.”- George Kwame Gyan-Kontoh, Ghana, student
The new cohort of the MA in Human Rights Program attended their annual excursion to Geneva from 10th to 13th March, 2025. The students had the opportunity to interact with different people from a host of different organizations working in the field of human rights in the city. The visit started with an interactive dialogue with a member of the Special Procedures department on Right to Food at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , followed by observing the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council session where Michael Fakhri, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food presented his report on food, finance and national action plans, and briefed the council on his visit to Venezuela the next day. On the first day, the cohort also attended the 32nd Session of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was constituted by an interactive dialogue with the delegation of Canada.
The students also had the opportunity to meet people from different organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations Environment Programme as well as political think tanks like the Universal Rights Group to get a holistic overview of the human rights and humanitarian work landscape in Geneva, Switzerland. The excursion concluded with a lunch meeting with Dr. Michaela Lissowsky, Director of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Human Rights Hub who is also a member of the FAU Friends Association, that supports our students and the MA in Human Rights Program.
Overall, it was a 3 day excursion packed with a lot of learning, networking and new insights into the important work of implementing human rights for all!