On 8 September 2026, on the margins of the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect convened a side event, co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Armenia and Australia, to explore how the UN human rights system can contribute more effectively to the prevention of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

The discussion examined opportunities to strengthen connections between the HRC and other Geneva-based human rights mechanisms and the UN’s broader atrocity prevention architecture. Panelists considered how early warning information, human rights monitoring and recommendations, Special Procedures, treaty bodies, investigative mechanisms and accountability processes can contribute to identifying emerging risks and translating warning signs into timely preventive action.

The event also focused on moving from analysis to action. During the interactive discussion, participants were invited to identify concrete recommendations for strengthening cooperation between Geneva-based human rights mechanisms and UN atrocity-prevention efforts, including ways to ensure that information and recommendations generated by the human rights system lead to sustained preventive engagement.

Speakers included:

• • • Representatives of the Permanent Missions of Armenia and Australia, delivering opening remarks
    • Chaloka Beyani, United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
    • Peggy Hicks, Director for Thematic and Special Procedures, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
    • Mô Bleeker, United Nations Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect
    • Surya Deva, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development
    • Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan
    • Mr. Guisse, Vice Chair and Coordinator of the CERD Working Group on Early Warning and Urgent Action Procedure
    • Elisabeth Pramendorfer, Geneva Director, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, who moderated the panel discussion.