The media has a crucial role to play in increasing the transparency, accountability, and visibility of the Human Rights Council. That is, it can help break the ‘Geneva bubble’ and provide journalists and citizens on the ground with the necessary information to hold Council Members accountable to their human rights obligations and commitments. Notwithstanding this importance, URG research has shown that international press coverage of the Council is limited, and a narrow focus on country-specific situations, means that important thematic issues are often overlooked.
This programme seeks to strengthen media interest in, and knowledge of, the Council at national and international levels. It does so through monitoring global media trends vis-à-vis the Council, to better understand public perceptions of the UN’s human rights pillar, and through engaging with, and providing opportunities and capacity building, for journalists during regular sessions of the Council.
