Aicha Duihi
@2006_aicha · Africa
Aicha Duihi is followed by Storyz World for business and civil society coverage connected to Morocco in the Africa chapter.
From the Palais des Nations in Geneva, I am pleased to take part in the opening of the 63rd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), a new milestone in our collective efforts to promote and protect human rights and uphold the principles of dignity, justice and equality. The 63rd session of the Human Rights Council is being held in Geneva from 7 September to 7 October 2026, under the Presidency of H.E. Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations Office at Geneva and President of the Human Rights Council for 2026. The session opened with an address by Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who highlighted the human rights situation around the world and the importance of strengthening international cooperation in addressing the many challenges facing the international community today. The session will address a wide range of important human rights issues, including the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights and the fight against inequalities, the right to development, human rights education, the 60th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the integration of a gender perspective into the work of the Council and its mechanisms. The Council will also consider a number of human rights situations around the world, as well as issues relating to racism and discrimination, human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, justice and accountability, and the protection of human rights defenders, among other matters on its agenda. The participation of civil society and non-governmental organizations remains an essential component of the work of the Human Rights Council. Their contribution is vital in bringing the voices and concerns of communities and victims to the international human rights dialogue and in strengthening efforts to ensure that human rights are effectively protected on the ground. As a participant in this session, I am proud to continue contributing to this international human rights process, with the conviction that the protection and promotion of human rights is a shared responsibility, and that the voice of civil society remains essential in building a more just, equal and dignified world. #HRC63 #UNHRC #HumanRightsCouncil #HumanRights #UnitedNations #Geneva #HumanRightsDefenders #CivilSociety #HumanRightsProtection #HumanRightsPromotion #NGOs
At a pivotal international moment, and 25 years after the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the discussion is renewed about our collective ability to turn commitments into tangible reality. This declaration has served as a key global reference in the fight against racism and discrimination, and has helped achieve important progress, especially in recognizing historical injustice and strengthening legal frameworks. Yet, despite these gains, structural and systemic forms of racism persist and are becoming more complex amid accelerating global changes. Today, as the Second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025–2034) begins, a real opportunity emerges to move from standard-setting to effective, impact-based implementation. The challenge is no longer formulating principles, but putting them into effect through: - national policies based on precise and measurable indicators - ensuring fair justice free from discrimination and impunity - strengthening inclusive education and historical memory - enabling meaningful participation, especially by young people, in decision-making - supporting the development of a UN framework that reflects reality and delivers tangible results Strengthening international solidarity today is no longer an option, but a necessity grounded in shared responsibility and collective action among states, institutions, and civil society. The credibility of our efforts is measured by our ability to turn the principles of justice and equality into a reality people live, not merely a commitment recorded in documents. #HumanRights #FightAgainstRacism #SocialJustice
Translated from Arabic