FIFDH 2023: debates, fiction and documentaries on human rights

Image

The 2023 edition coincides with a symbolic event – the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Some 36 films and 21 debates are on the programme together with, for the first time, three events dedicated to a younger audience aged 6 and over.

Promotion of human rights

An international, multi-cultural city that is home to numerous governmental and non-governmental organisations, Geneva has for a number of years made the defence of human rights one of the key values of its political action. At its specific level, the municipality makes every effort to work towards a fairer, more egalitarian world where the human aspect is at the very heart of a society fostering sustainable social and environmental development in line with the fundamental rights of every individual.

Support for associations

The City of Geneva supports numerous high-quality projects addressing the promotion of human rights and the protection of those who defend human rights, both in Switzerland and abroad. Around the globe, the defenders of human rights are in particular committed to peace, democracy, justice and the environment. These commitments are essential, but can also prove hazardous.

To counter the threats and, in some cases, violent acts that can place their lives at risk, human rights defenders need tangible help. To this end, for example, the City supports Peace Brigade International (PBI), a non-governmental organisation which brings together teams of volunteers to discourage violence against human rights defenders while respecting the principles of non-violence, impartiality and non-interference. PBI is active in several countries, in particular Guatemala where the NGO accompanies defenders of human rights fighting to achieve territorial and environmental rights for disadvantaged indigenous peoples who are often the targets of smear campaigns and are persecuted or even killed (15 murders in 2020).

Increasing public awareness

Increasing awareness among the citizens of Geneva of human rights and the violations to which those who defend them are subjected is another key component of the support provided by the City of Geneva. The City either supports or organises different events in Geneva, some of which have become regular dates on the calendar such as the Marche de l’espoir de Terre des Hommes, the Filmar en América Latina festival, the Prix Martin Ennals and, of course, the FIFDH. 

This year, the City of Geneva is a partner of four evening events:

• Femicide: why do men kill? –  in partnership with the BPEV (Office for the Promotion of Equality and the Prevention of Violence) of the Canton of Geneva and the Agenda 21 – Sustainable City Service of the City of Geneva – Saturday 11 March at 7.30 p.m. – Espace Pitoëff
• Is health just another market? – in partnership with the University of Geneva and the Agenda 21 – Sustainable City Service of the City of Geneva – Sunday 12 March at 8 p.m. – Espace Pitoëff
• Decolonial ecology – in partnership with the Agenda 21 – Sustainable City Service of the City of Geneva – Wednesday 15 March at 7 p.m. – Espace Pitoëff
• Rights for young transgender* and non-binary people – in partnership with the Agenda 21 – Sustainable City Service of the City of Geneva – Sunday 19 March at 2.30 p.m. – Espace Pitoëff

Programme

The full programme for the festival can be found on the FIFDH website