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When business meets human rights at the local level

The 11th annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights focused on efforts at securing accountability and access to remedy for business-related human rights abuse, in order to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on business and human rights (UNGPs). The UNGPs provide a global framework for States and businesses to prevent …

Complex urban crises have become the new normal

Cities at war and in protracted crises was the focus of the Annual meeting of the UCLG Working Group on the territorial prevention and management of crises (28 November 2022), chaired by Mr. Sami Kanaan, Deputy Mayor of Geneva, and President of GCH. In his opening remarks, Mr. Kanaan, reaffirmed that “cities play an increasing …

Annual retreat 2022 of the Geneva Cities Hub

On 9 December 2022, the Geneva Cities Hub will hold its Annual strategic retreat. This year, the retreat will explore what further efforts are necessary to position International Geneva as the main entry point for cities and other local and regional governments (LRGs) in view of an effective and inclusive multilateralism. For that purpose, the …

The role of local authorities in armed conflict: Ukraine situation addressed by UCLG Working Group on territorial prevention and management of crises

On 28 November, Geneva Cities Hub will be partnering with UCLG, Cités Unies France and the City of Geneva to organize the annual meeting of the UCLG Working Group on the territorial prevention and management of crises, chaired by Sami Kanaan, Deputy Mayor of Geneva and President of the Geneva Cities Hub. This year, the …

Municipalities have a unique role to play in the UPR

Municipalities, as well as local and regional governments (LRGs), have a unique role to play in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council is a peer-review mechanism among States established in 2006. It looks into the human rights record of all UN member States over a …

Interview of Axel Grael, Mayor of Niterói

Mayor of Niterói Axel Grael granted Geneva Cities Hub an interview. This is a follow-up to his participation at the event “Mayors, human rights and the United Nations Universal Periodic Review”, on 15 November 2022, in Geneva. What was the purpose of your visit to Geneva and what was its highlight? I was invited by …

World Cities Day: discussion on the digital transformation in cities to improve adaptation actions to the looming climate and water challenge

To celebrate World Cities Day 2022 and as part of the WSIS&SDG TalkX series, Geneva Cities Hub in cooperation with ITU and UN-Habitat organized on 3 November 2022 a webinar dedicated to supporting cities to use digital transformation to improve adaptation actions to the looming climate and water challenge in urban settlements. Climate change is …

Involve cities in the negotiations on plastic pollution!

Starting discussion on a new international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution (as per resolution 5/14 adopted by the UN Environment Assembly in March 2022) is a very positive step for humanity. But this can only be achieved with the full involvement of all stakeholders, including those at “local level”, as referred to in …

Time left to reach SDG11 by 2030 is short

The 5th edition of the event “In Focus SDG11” was co-organized by UNECE and the Geneva Cities Hub and took place on 3rd October 2022, as part of the 83rd session of the UNECE Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management (CUDHLM). This year, the event focused on sustainable and inclusive urban design and …