In April 2022, the Public International Law & Policy Group, an ECOSOC-accredited NGO, convened a Circle of Former Ambassadors to the United Nations Human Rights Council, a group of several former Ambassadors to the Human Rights Council, including two former Presidents of the Council - Ambassador Joachim Rucker (2015) and Ambassador Vojislav Suc (2019), and three former Vice Presidents of the Council - Ambassador Filloreta Kodra (2015), Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre (2015), and Ambassador Dr. Iruthisham Adam (2013).

Members of PILPG’s Circle of Former Ambassadors regularly weigh in on changing events that impact human rights and global peace.

Click on the buttons below to access the Circle’s previous Statements and Expert Roundtables.

Statements Expert Roundtables Circle Members

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is arguably one of the most integral documents ever adopted by the United Nations. It’s anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the incredible steps that have been taken towards freedom, justice, and peace since 1948. At the same time, the anniversary allows the international community to recognize the challenges facing the world in 2023, such as insecurity and conflict, disinformation and polarization, and ever-increasing inequalities.

During this event, PILPG’s Circle of Former Ambassadors came together to discuss 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the work of the Human Rights Council. Our panelists reflected on the Human Rights Council’s ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights 75’ Initiative, and the challenges that lie ahead for the Council as it looks to the future.

The event was organized in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Ukraine in Geneva and co-sponsored by 42 members of the Group of Friends of Accountability, following the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It featured contributions by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for Ukraine, high-level officials from Ukraine, and prominent experts in the field of international law.

The speakers discussed the means of ensuring accountability for violations and crimes committed in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

 

The Human Rights Council convenes in several regular sessions during the year and special sessions on topics of urgency.  It also conducts thematic intersessional activities.  The Human Rights Council is composed of several bodies, including the Universal Periodic Review Working Group, Advisory Committee, Complaint Procedure, and several special procedures. 

With the 48th regular session of the Human Rights Council convening in Geneva from September 13, 2021 to October 8, 2021, five panelists—Ambassador Yvette Stevens, Ambassador Zorica Marić-Djordjević, Ambassador Keith M. Harper, Ambassador Filloreta Kodra, and Ambassador Amanda Ellis—discussed their personal experiences engaging with the Human Rights Council and their thoughts about it and its effectiveness.  

 

Zorica Marić-Djordjević
Chair, PILPG Circle of Ambassadors
Former Ambassador of Montenegro
PILPG Senior Peace Fellow

Jorge Lomonaco
Former Ambassador of Mexico


Elayne Whyte-Gomez
Former Amabassdor of Costa Rica

Amanda Ellis
Former Ambassador of New Zealand

Joachim Ruecker
Former Ambassador of Germany
Former UN Human Rights Council President

Dr. Iruthisham Adam
Former Ambassador of the Maldives
Former UN Human Rights Council Vice President

Dr. István Lakatos
Former Ambassador of Hungary

Julian Braithwaite
Former Ambassador of the United Kingdom

Vojislav Suc
Former Ambassador of Slovenia
Former UN Human Rights Council President

Filloreta Kodra
Former Ambassador of Albania
Former UN Human Rights Council Vice President

Juan Esteban Aguirre
Former Ambassador of Paraguay
Former UN Human Rights Council Vice President

Yvette Stevens
Former Ambassador of Sierra Leone

Tudor Ulianovschi
Former Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova

Keith Harper
Former Ambassador of the United States