The URG Team

The tenth Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion X), organised by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Universal Rights Group (URG), in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Mexico, Paraguay, Portugal, The Gambia, Marshall Islands, and Thailand, with the support of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was held from 16-17 October 2024 in Marrakech, Morocco, and focused on the topic:

Transforming universal norms into local reality – NMIRFs and the strengthening of the UN human rights system’s effectiveness and on-the-ground impact.

This report on Glion X is divided into four parts. The first three summarise the discussions and good practices exchanged during the retreat (i.e., in the opening and closing ceremonies, and the three breakout groups) relating to the different key characteristics and success factors of NMIRFs. Those discussions and exchanges benefited, in turn, from the outcomes of the 23 April and 10 June pre-Glion policy dialogues. The fourth part presents the Marrakech Guidance Framework – a collation and distillation of those good practices and success factors.

More specifically, the report presents the following content:

Part one summarises good practices and success factors related to the legal basis/mandate, terms of reference, organisational structure, composition, secretariat function, and budget of NMIRFs.

Part two presents shared good practices and success factors related to the working methods (e.g., regularity of meetings, focal points, clustering) of NMIRFs, and how they track implementation, measure impact, prepare periodic reports, use implementation-reporting technology, and connect human rights and the SDGs.

Part three summarises shared good practices and success factors related to how NMIRFs engage and consult with the judiciary, civil society, NHRIs, UN Country Teams/UN entities, and bilateral development partners.

Part four presents the Marrakech Guidance Framework (MGF), a summary and distillation of good practices and lessons learnt (from all regions) shared between participants at Glion X, as well as during the preparatory meetings held in Geneva. The MGF was compiled under the authority of the co-chairs of the 10th Glion Human Rights Dialogue.

The report is an informal document summarising (in a non-attributable manner) some of the key ideas, good practices, and lessons learnt shared during the Glion retreat, based in-turn on the preparatory policy dialogues. The document does not represent the positions of Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, The Gambia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Thailand, nor of any of the participants, but is rather a non-exhaustive collection of ideas, views, and good practices shared during those meetings.