On Thursday, October 30th, the Institute for the Study of Human Rights hosted a conversation with H.E. Ambassador Jürg Lauber, President of the Human Rights Council and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva. The talk was moderated by Human Rights M.A. student, Céline Pfister. Gergana Halpern, ISHR Deputy Director, gave introductory remarks.
Ambassador Lauber discussed the Council's mandate as the primary UN human rights body and reflected on the challenges, priorities, and opportunities of his presidency and the current moment. The discussion centered on the United States’ disengagement from the Universal Periodic Review, the shrinking academic and civic space in the US, attacks on the work of human rights Special Procedures, and the financial and logistical challenges constraining the work of the Council. Following the moderated discussion, Ambassador Lauber responded to questions from the audience on a range of topics.
