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Human Rights Council: Taking stock and identifying challenges for 2018-2020
December 11, 20177:00 p.m.
MADRID
Casa Árabe Auditorium (at Calle Alcalá, 62).
7:00 p.m.
Free entry until the event’s capacity is reached.
In Arabic and English, with simultaneous translation into Spanish.
Casa Árabe and the Human Rights Office of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Cooperation have organized this conference as part of the
69th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The event will be presented by Pedro Martínez-Avial, the General Director of Casa Árabe and moderated by Adela Díaz, Director of the Office of Human Rights, with speeches by Juan Ignacio Morro, the United Nations Director General of Human Rights; Shalva Tsiskarashvili, Vice-President of the Human Rights Council; Walid Doudech, the Permanent Representative Ambassador of Tunisia to the United Nations Office in Geneva, and Esteban Beltrán, director of the Spanish section of Amnesty International.
As occurs each year, on December 10 we celebrate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is focusing this year’s celebration on the Human Rights Council. Last October 16, Spain was chosen to become a member of this main body for defending and promoting Human Rights around the world, for the time period of 2018-2020. Becoming a member of the Human Rights Council can be seen as an acknowledgment of a State’s commitment in this arena and also provides an opportunity to contribute actively to the Council’s development and work. The round table discussion will attempt to take stock of events and foresee the main challenges to be faced by the Council looking ahead to the upcoming years, from different perspectives: from that of a current member State, that of a future member State and that of the structure of the Council itself and civil society.
As occurs each year, on December 10 we celebrate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is focusing this year’s celebration on the Human Rights Council. Last October 16, Spain was chosen to become a member of this main body for defending and promoting Human Rights around the world, for the time period of 2018-2020. Becoming a member of the Human Rights Council can be seen as an acknowledgment of a State’s commitment in this arena and also provides an opportunity to contribute actively to the Council’s development and work. The round table discussion will attempt to take stock of events and foresee the main challenges to be faced by the Council looking ahead to the upcoming years, from different perspectives: from that of a current member State, that of a future member State and that of the structure of the Council itself and civil society.
Shalva TSISKARASHVILI (Georgia), Vice-President of the 11th Cycle (January 1-December 31, 2017) of the Human Rights Council
Shalva Tsiskarashvili has been Georgia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Offices in Geneva since June of 2012. Before being appointed to this position, Mr. Tsiskarashvili was the Assistant Permanent Representative of his country to the United Nations in New York as of October 2009, where he had already been stationed since 2005, initially as the First Secretary, and later as a Council Member. A career diplomat, Mr. Tsiskarasvili joined Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998, working as the Third and Second Secretary in the International Legal Department until 2004, and from then until 2009 as the Assistant Director of the Department of International Entities.
Walid Doudech, the Permanent Representative Ambassador of Tunisia to the United Nations Office in Geneva
Walid Doudech is currently the Permanent Representative Ambassador of Tunisia to the United Nations Office in Geneva. A career diplomat since 1989, he has been stationed at the Office of the Permanent Representative of his country to the United Nations in New York, as well as the African Union, where he has been a Deputy Ambassador. He was Tunisia’s Ambassador to Sudan from 2011 to 2013, and at the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs he has held positions such as those of Director of Legal Affairs and Head of the Cabinet of the Minister, as well as being a professor at the Diplomatic Institute.
Juan Ignacio Morro, United Nations Director General of Human Rights
A career diplomat, Juan Ignacio Morro has been stationed at the Embassies of Spain in Seoul, Moscow and Beijing, at the Spanish Consulate in Geneva and at the Office of the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. At the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs he has held several positions, including Head of the Office of the Undersecretary and that of the Assistant Director General of Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. Since November of 2017, he has been a United Nations Director General of Human Rights.
Esteban Beltrán, director of the Spanish Section of Amnesty International
For 20 years, Esteban Beltrán has been the director of the Spanish Section of Amnesty International, which has over 85,000 members. He is also a professor of Human Rights and Development in graduate courses at six universities in Spain and the Americas. He has researched human rights violations in Central America, as well as being the Director of the Office of the Secretary General of Amnesty International and forming part of over 20 research missions in different countries, interviewing victims, governments, members of the media and organizations. He has lived in the United Kingdom, Argentina and Ecuador.
Shalva Tsiskarashvili has been Georgia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Offices in Geneva since June of 2012. Before being appointed to this position, Mr. Tsiskarashvili was the Assistant Permanent Representative of his country to the United Nations in New York as of October 2009, where he had already been stationed since 2005, initially as the First Secretary, and later as a Council Member. A career diplomat, Mr. Tsiskarasvili joined Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998, working as the Third and Second Secretary in the International Legal Department until 2004, and from then until 2009 as the Assistant Director of the Department of International Entities.
Walid Doudech, the Permanent Representative Ambassador of Tunisia to the United Nations Office in Geneva
Walid Doudech is currently the Permanent Representative Ambassador of Tunisia to the United Nations Office in Geneva. A career diplomat since 1989, he has been stationed at the Office of the Permanent Representative of his country to the United Nations in New York, as well as the African Union, where he has been a Deputy Ambassador. He was Tunisia’s Ambassador to Sudan from 2011 to 2013, and at the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs he has held positions such as those of Director of Legal Affairs and Head of the Cabinet of the Minister, as well as being a professor at the Diplomatic Institute.
Juan Ignacio Morro, United Nations Director General of Human Rights
A career diplomat, Juan Ignacio Morro has been stationed at the Embassies of Spain in Seoul, Moscow and Beijing, at the Spanish Consulate in Geneva and at the Office of the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. At the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs he has held several positions, including Head of the Office of the Undersecretary and that of the Assistant Director General of Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. Since November of 2017, he has been a United Nations Director General of Human Rights.
Esteban Beltrán, director of the Spanish Section of Amnesty International
For 20 years, Esteban Beltrán has been the director of the Spanish Section of Amnesty International, which has over 85,000 members. He is also a professor of Human Rights and Development in graduate courses at six universities in Spain and the Americas. He has researched human rights violations in Central America, as well as being the Director of the Office of the Secretary General of Amnesty International and forming part of over 20 research missions in different countries, interviewing victims, governments, members of the media and organizations. He has lived in the United Kingdom, Argentina and Ecuador.