Events

HRC60 Side Event, 25 September 2025

The Role of the Human Rights Council in Advancing the Right to Health: From Guidance to Implementation

Side Event to the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Organized by the South Centre

Date & Time: 25 September 2025, 15h00-16h00

Venue: Room Concordia 1, Palais des Nations, Geneva

This side event to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council is convened to discuss the critical implementation gap at domestic level of oversight over state obligations related to health, placing the voices and priorities of the Global South at the center of the discourse to chart a course for a more effective approach to advancing the right to health for all.

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WTO Public Forum Working Session, 18 September 2025

Mapping Africa’s Digital Trade: AfCFTA, JSI & AU AI Strategy

WTO Public Forum Working Session 49

Organizer: South Centre

 18 September 2025    10:45-12:00    Room S3

This session explores how Africa is shaping its digital trade future through the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, engagement in WTO e-commerce discussions, and the Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy. It will examine the region’s priorities on data governance, local value creation, and inclusive digital markets, while assessing risks of fragmentation across regimes. Speakers will consider how African countries can assert greater agency in global digital rulemaking and align trade, technology, and development strategies. The session offers a forward-looking perspective on what a fair and inclusive global digital trade architecture could look like from an African and Global South perspective.

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HRC60 Side Event, 8 September 2025

Sustainable Development with an Unsustainable Investor – State Dispute Settlement Mechanism?

Side Event to the 60th Session of the Human Rights Council

Co-organized by the South Centre, Permanent Mission of Honduras in Geneva and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development

Date: Monday, 8 September 2025, 2-3 PM

Venue: Concordia 1, Building A, Palais des Nations

Is the current ISDS mechanism undermining human rights & sustainable development?

Join our HRC60 side event to discuss the impacts and explore fairer alternatives.

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South Centre 30th Anniversary

The First Meeting of the Council of Representatives of the Member States of the South Centre, 1995

 

The South Centre, an independent intergovernmental think tank of the Global South, was established by an Intergovernmental Agreement which came into force on 31 July 1995. This year, as the South Centre commemorates its 30th anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on the collective journey we have undertaken in advancing the interests of developing countries. Over the past three decades, the South Centre has had the opportunity to work alongside government officials and diplomats, academics, civil society, and development partners to champion South-South cooperation, equitable development, and a more just and inclusive global governance system. Our shared commitment to amplifying the voices of the Global South has aimed at shaping policies, strengthening capacities and fostering collaboration on critical global challenges relating to health, intellectual property, trade, finance for development, human rights, taxation, investment, and sustainable development amongst others.

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44th FAO Conference Side Event, 2 July 2025

Implementing the 2024 AMR Political Declaration: Industry Accountability and Equity in Agrifood Sector Transformation

High-Level Dialogue on AMR, with the support of South Centre

2 July 2025, 12:30 – 16:00 CEST

FAO Headquarters (Rome), Iran Room (B-116 bis)

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SC & IDEAs FfD4 Side Event, 2 July 2025

Reform of the International Debt Architecture: A Developing Country Perspective on Credit Rating Agencies and Financing for Sustainable Development

FfD4 Side Event Co-Organized by IDEAs and South Centre

2 July 2025, 12:30 – 14:00, Room Side Event 17,

FIBES Sevilla Exhibition & Conference Centre, Seville, Spain

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HRC59 Side Event, 23 June 2025

Upholding health equity:

Access to medical products and reproductive rights

Side Event to the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council

23 June 2025

12:00 to 13:00

Room XXVII, Palais de Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

The pursuit of health equity, encompassing fair and just opportunities for all to achieve their full health potential, remains a paramount global challenge. The right to health is a fundamental part of our human rights and of our understanding of a life in dignity. This event will explore the indivisible links between equitable access to medical products, the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and the strengthening of international cooperation as pillars for upholding this fundamental right for everyone, everywhere. The interconnectedness of these themes is central; they are not disparate issues but integral components of a holistic approach necessary to realise comprehensive health equity.

The side event is anticipated to significantly enhance participants’ understanding of the complex, intersecting challenges and opportunities in upholding health equity, particularly through improved access to medical products and the full realization of SRHR. The discussions aim to identify potential policy pathways, innovative approaches, and actionable strategies for key stakeholders to address existing inequities. Furthermore, a crucial outcome will be a reinforced commitment to multilateralism and collaborative action as essential tools for tackling global health challenges and advancing the right to health, with the dialogue contributing valuable insights to ongoing policy debates in relevant international fora, especially concerning the implementation of recent global agreements and agendas, while also strengthening networks and partnerships dedicated to health equity and human rights.

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User Rights Symposium 2025, 16-18 June 2025

User Rights Symposium 2025: Principles for Progress in Digital Copyright

Geneva, Switzerland 

16-18 June 2025

This year’s symposium will be hosted by PIJIP’s Geneva Center on Knowledge Governance and the South Centre, with collaborating partners IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions), the Knowledge Rights 21 Project, COMMUNIA Association for the Public Domain.

American University’s Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property invites you to participate in this year’s annual meeting and Symposium of the Global Expert Network on Copyright User Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. The goal of this year’s symposium is to share research and deliberate over principles that guide protection of the public interest in the digital copyright issues WIPO is considering. We seek presentations of research and views on the following:

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10th Regional AMR Conference, 11-12 June 2025

ReAct Africa-South Centre Annual Conference 2025:

From global to local action: Operationalising AMR commitments in Africa and beyond

11-12 June 2025

Lusaka, Zambia

The ReAct Africa-South Centre Annual Conference 2025 aims to translate these global and regional commitments into actionable strategies for local and national contexts in low- and middle-income countries; with a specific focus on Africa’s needs and priorities. It will serve as a platform for key stakeholders from, but not limited to governments at the regional, national and sub-national levels

A great variety of stakeholders will join the conference in Lusaka: International & regional organizations (Quadripartite organs – FAO, WHO, WOAH & UNEP; Africa CDC, ECSA-HC, etc.), public health professionals and health practitioners, civil society and community organizations, academia and research institutions, youth in AMR, faith sector, private sector leaders and innovators, media and communication experts.

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SC and Cuba Side Event for WHA78, 20 May 2025

South-South Cooperation to Address Health Challenges in the Caribbean. The Role of Medical Cooperation

Side Event organized by the South Centre and the Republic of Cuba during the World Health Assembly 2025

Date and Time: 20th May 2025, 6:00 – 7:30pm

Venue: South Centre (IEV II Conference Centre, Ground Floor, room Rhin, Chemin de Balexert 7/9, 1219 Geneva)

Within the framework of the World Health Assembly 2025, this side event, organized by Cuba, will bring together distinguished Ministers of Health from the Caribbean and Latin America to exchange experiences on the current challenges facing their health systems and the solutions implemented through South-South cooperation.

The panel will focus on how to strengthen South-South collaboration in the health sector, with the aim of building more resilient, equitable, and sustainable health systems in the Caribbean region.

This session will explore how collaboration between Caribbean and Latin American countries has contributed to strengthening regional health systems. Successful initiatives in medical training, professional exchange, and technical assistance will be highlighted. Additionally, innovative medical cooperation strategies that have improved access to and quality of health services for the most vulnerable populations will be discussed, consolidating an exemplary model of solidarity and mutual support.

The event will be conducted in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation into English.

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South Centre AMR Webinar, 14 May 2025

Gender Intersectionality in Antimicrobial Resistance

Date & Time: 14 May 2025, 4PM CET Geneva time / 10AM EST / 2PM GMT

Key Discussion Points:

  • The intersectionality of gender with other social determinants (e.g. socioeconomic status, education, occupation) in shaping AMR vulnerabilities and outcomes.
  • How gender influences antibiotic use, access to healthcare, and infection prevention and control practices?
  • Strategies for integrating gender-sensitive approaches into AMR policies, programs, and research

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