Reflecting on the future of the United Nations
In January, UPR Info had the opportunity to attend the In Conversation with the Experts: The future of the United Nations conference, hosted by Birmingham City University (BCU).
Although the event took place a couple of months ago, we’re excited to share the key takeaways now that the discussions are publicly available on the BCU website. With global challenges such as armed conflicts, democratic backsliding, and environmental degradation continuing to threaten humanity, the insights from the conference remain crucial and timely.
As the international community grapples with complex issues, the future of the United Nations (UN) stands at a critical crossroads. The need for reform in the UN system emerged as a central theme of the conference. It became clear that the UN must be empowered to address these challenges more effectively, strengthening its ability to hold governments accountable and respond to the rapidly evolving global landscape.
In addition to the discussions, the event marked the launch of BCU’s first United Nations Student Society, an exciting initiative aimed at inspiring students to engage with the UN’s core principles and learn about human rights both on and off campus.
The conference featured influential speakers, including Her Excellency Dr. Fatou Bensouda, the Gambian High Commissioner and former Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, as well as experts such as Mr. Gianni Magazzeni, former chief of the UPR branch at OHCHR, Ms. Barbara Fontana, Counsellor and Head of the Human Rights Team in the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN, Ms. Nicoletta Zappile, Deputy Director of UPR Info, Ms. Francesca Restifo, Senior Human Rights Lawyer and the UN Representative of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), and Mr. Imri Shattner-Ornan, Former Consultant
at Médecins Sans Frontières.
The discussions began with reflections on the Pact for the Future, a framework designed to strengthen multilateral cooperation and safeguard the needs of current and future generations. The conversation then focused on setbacks to the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the effectiveness of the UPR process, and the need for broader collaborations among UN institutions and mechanisms.
A major highlight of the conference was the emphasis on the role of the UPR in preserving multilateralism and ensuring that human rights remain central to the UN’s future framework. Gianni Magazzeni stressed that the UPR is the best tool for realizing the purposes of the UN Charter while ensuring peace, security, and the achievement of the SDGs. “The UPR, with its regular check-up on the human rights health of each state, provides a clear roadmap for improving compliance with international human rights obligations,” Magazzeni explained.
Magazzeni also proposed integrating UPR recommendations into UN planning and programming. For example, incorporating recommendations on children’s rights from UNICEF and gender equality from UN Women could help achieve the SDGs with a human rights lens. He further suggested that donor countries in the OECD-DAC group should prioritize supporting UPR recommendations in the states they assist. He also emphasized the importance of complementarity among human rights mechanisms, urging states to use the UPR as the primary entry point for reforming laws and practices at the national level.
“States must end the compartmentalization between human rights and development actors, securing the necessary resources to implement accepted recommendations,” Magazzeni noted.
UPR Info highlighted the importance of civil society participation in the UPR process, particularly as civic space faces increasing restrictions. The UPR’s inclusive approach ensures that a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), and human rights defenders, can contribute to the process.
Through submissions, civil society organizations can raise awareness of human rights challenges and propose recommendations to their governments. "Everyone, depending on their role in society, has both the opportunity and the responsibility to engage in the UPR," said Ms. Nicoletta Zappile.
However, the shrinking of civic space remains a significant challenge. Human rights defenders often face online harassment, threats, and physical attacks. Anti-rights groups are gaining ground, and there are worrying trends of self-censorship among activists due to fear of reprisals. Despite these challenges, the UPR process remains a vital tool for holding states accountable and ensuring that human rights are prioritized.
As the world faces pressing issues, it is clear that a robust, human rights-focused approach is more essential than ever.
Moving forward, we must remember the closing words of Her Excellency Batuda:
“History is shaped not by the complacent, but by the courageous. It is shaped by those who refuse to accept the status quo, who dare to imagine a better world, and who work tirelessly to bring that vision to life.”
The tools are in our hands—let's use them wisely and boldly.
For more information about the conference and to access the full discussions, be sure to check out the materials published on the BCU website.