Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
I am currently teaching and training on the UN intergovernmental human rights system, consultancies with International Organizations; academic research and writing; and delivering lectures or keynote addresses at various meetings, conferences and panel discussions. I also created and I am leading the Lake Room Initiative aiming at building bridges between Ambassadors at the Human Rights Council. For a long period of time, I was Chief of the Human Rights Branch at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, specialized in intergovernmental negotiations in complex situations. Served as the last Secretary of the Commission on Human Rights and the first Human Rights Council Secretary. Involved in many negotiations in the human rights intergovernmental sphere. Teach and write about HR and the intergovernmental system. I am the author of the "UN HRC: A Practical Anatomy" published by Elgar Publishers in 2020 - working on the 2nd edition to be published in September 2025.
Against the background of a very politicized and polarized multilateral environment, the Lake Room Initiative enable Ambassadors to meet outside the United Nations, in a neutral space, without any constraints from the public nature of UN meetings. The Lake Room meetings aim at providing a safe space for discussing substantive issues of a non-consensual nature between Ambassadors from various backgrounds thus in a position to hear other Ambassadors’ viewpoints and conversely share their own all this in a discrete and constructive manner. It is a major tool aimed at upholding multilateralism in the human rights field and contributing to Geneva International. This enables strengthening trust and confidence among Ambassadors including on delicate matters thus helping in overcoming some of the challenges faced in the Council. This soft diplomacy triggers dialogue and the identification of convergences between several States from different regions and political groups. The Lake Room discussions serve as building bridges between Ambassadors in understanding each other’s viewpoints, including possible red lines and conversely areas were compromise is possible. Each month, I am convening meetings of between 15 and 25 Ambassadors selected on a rotational basis to address topics in relation with the Human Rights Council. As of June 2025, Ambassadors from 105 countries have attended at least one such meeting.
Seminar on the Past, Present and Future of the UN HR Intergovernmental System (6 ECTS)
20 h de cours sur la pratique des États et la diplomatie des droits de l’homme
Course on the human rights diplomacy (18 hours - 3 ECTS)
Seminar on the UN HR system