Événement Conférence
Safeguarding Civil Society Space at the United Nations | HRC61 Side Event
17 Mar 2026
14:00 – 15:00
Lieu: Palais des Nations | Room XI & Online | Webex
Organisation: Commission Internationale de Juristes, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
This side event to the 61st session of the Human Rights Councill discussed the vital contribution of civil society organizations and Indigenous Peoples to the UN human rights system and why it matters to safeguard their space in the context of reforms and crises.
About this Event
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Geneva Office organized a Side Event on Safeguarding Civil Society Space at the United Nations.
Since the founding of the UN, civil society organisations have played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing global human rights protections. Yet today, the conditions that once enabled meaningful civil society participation are increasingly under strain. Against this backdrop, ICJ and the FES Geneva Office have issued the report “Safeguarding Civil Society Space at the United Nations – A Crucial Element in Human Rights Promotion and Protection”. The report analyses the importance of civil society participation in the UN human rights system and the risks posed by shrinking civic space, funding constraints and institutional reforms, which threaten legitimacy, inclusivity and the effectiveness of multilateral human rights mechanisms.
This side-event offered the opportunity to reflect on these issues at a time when multilateralism, the UN and the human rights pillar in particular are under severe attacks and reform.
Environment @ HRC61
The 61st Regular Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC61) is taking place in Geneva from 23 February to 31 March 2026. Consult this regularly-updated page that highlighted the environmental-related activities of this session.
