Events
15 November 2024 – Pledging Event of the HRC LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund
Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Work of the Human Rights Council: Pledging Event and Cocktail Reception
This pledging event was organized following the side-event entitled “Our Success Stories” held on the margins of the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, where several delegations expressed their hopes for official pledging opportunities towards the Trust Fund. The pledging event also provided an opportunity for former beneficiaries of the Trust Fund who are now based in Geneva to share their experiences, on how the contributions of donor countries and the capacity-building training provided by OHCHR have empowered them to better engage with human rights mechanisms beyond the Council, and even contribute to the opening of their Permanent Missions in Geneva.
Pictures of the event:
Opening remarks:
- Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;
- H.E. Mr. Omar Zniber, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco and President of the Human Rights Council;
- H.E. Ms. Salma Rasheed, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives; and
- H.E. Ms. Usha Chandnee Dwarka-Canabady, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Mauritius
Panellists (former beneficiaries):
- Ms. Bafou Jeng, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Gambia and former beneficiary of the Trust Fund;
- Ms. Janice R. Alladin, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Suriname and former beneficiary of the Trust Fund;
- Ms. Marissa Noelani Toomata, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Independent State of Samoa and former beneficiary of the Trust Fund
Media
This event was a unique opportunity for existing and potential funding partner countries to show their support and commitment to the participation of LDCs/SIDS in the Council by making pledges for the Trust Fund. The following countries took the floor and announced their pledges (financial and non-financial).
- Albania
- Australia
- Azerbaijan (contributed 15,500USD in 2024)
- Bahamas (pledged 2,000USD)
- Benin (pledged 1,000USD)
- Burkina Faso
- Canada (pledged 72,000USD)
- Commonwealth
- Cyprus (pledged 15,000USD)
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Estonia (pledged 10,500USD)
- Finland
- France (contributed 10,893USD in 2024)
- Georgia (contributed 7,000USD in 2024)
- Iceland
- Italy (pledged 21,000USD)
- Ireland (contributed 53,996USD in 2024)
- Jamaica (pledged 3,000USD)
- Kuwait (pledged 20,000USD)
- Lesotho
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg (pledged 20,000USD)
- Mauritius (pledged 5,000USD)
- Morocco (pledged 30,000USD)
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Kingdom of the Netherlands (contributed 40,000USD in 2024, pledged a top-up of 5,000USD)
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Korea (contributed 150,000USD in 2024)
- Singapore (contributed 5,000USD in 2024)
- South Sudan
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland (pledged 20,000USD)
- Thailand
- Turkey (pledged 10,000USD)
- United Arab Emirates (pledged 25,000USD)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (contributed 42,391USD in 2024)
- Zambia
21 June 2024 – Side Event of the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council
Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Work of the Human Rights Council: Our success stories
This side event showcased inspiring success stories from four former beneficiaries of the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund—representatives from Lesotho, Maldives, Samoa, and Uganda—who have subsequently joined their respective Permanent Missions in Geneva as delegates. The side event was co-convened by the Permanent Mission of Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Permanent Mission of Mauritius to the United Nations Office at Geneva, together with the two co-facilitators for SIDS/LDCs (Finland and Malawi), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The event drew a remarkable attendance of over 240 participants, including traditional and prospective donor countries, former beneficiary countries, as well as the 14 LDCs/SIDS delegates who were supported by the Trust Fund at HRC56. Opening statements were made by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Permanent Representatives of Maldives and Mauritius.
The beneficiaries shared how the contributions of donor countries and trainings provided by OHCHR have empowered government officials from under-represented countries to not only build capacity but also play pivotal roles. These include supporting their countries' universal periodic review process and treaty body reviews, spearheading initiatives at the Human Rights Council, and even contributing to the establishment of their first Permanent Missions in Geneva. Their stories underscored the tangible impact and far-reaching benefits of the Trust Fund, highlighting its critical role of promoting universal and meaningful participation of all Member States in the Council.
Flyer of the side event - Concept note
Pictures of the side event:
Opening remarks:
- Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
- H.E. Ms. Usha Chandnee Dwarka-Canabady, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Mauritius
- H.E. Ms. Salma Rasheed, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives
Panellists (former beneficiaries):
- Ms. Nthabiseng Matlhohonolofatso Lelisa, Minister-Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Lesotho
- Mr. Adam Hamid, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives
- Ms. Marissa Noelani Toomata, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Independent State of Samoa
- Ms. Mary Kibere Namono, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Republic of Uganda
15 June 2016 – Photo Exhibition
“Ensuring that the Voices of all UN Member States are Heard Voices of the Beneficiary Delegates of the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the work of the Human Rights Council".
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the HRC, the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund organized an exhibition on 15 June 2016. The event was very well attended with 200 participants, including several Permanent Representatives and the 18 SIDS delegates who were supported by the Trust Fund at HRC32. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Permanent Representatives of Australia and Ireland (co-sponsors of the event). Introductory remarks were made by the Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Permanent Observer of CARICOM to the UN in New York.
The exhibition, which is available in English (PDF) and French (PDF), features the testimonies of 30 delegates (16 from Africa, 7 from Asia and the Pacific and 7 from the Caribbean) who were Beneficiaries of the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund between 1 January 2014 and 31 March 2016. It also includes statements from the 10 Permanent Representatives of the donor countries to the Trust Fund which outline their motivations for contributing to the Trust Fund.
Brochure of the Exhibition [English] [French] (PDF)