A HIGH-LEVEL VIRTUAL SIDE EVENT TAKING PLACE ON 2 OCTOBER 2020, 9 - 10 AM EDT

French and Spanish interpretation will be available

This high-level event is part of a joint effort between Civil Society and Member States to ensure participation in response to the accelerating shrinking of civic space following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will draw attention to the challenges and threats posed to civic space in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

Throughout the event, practitioners and civil society activists from the ground will share their first-hand experiences, while high-level representatives from the UN system and Ministers from Denmark and Costa Rica will discuss how to best respond to threats to civic space and ensure a more enabling environment for civil society and human rights defenders.

A concept note is available here.

Speakers include:

• H.E. Mr. Rasmus Prehn, Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark
• H.E. Mr. Rodolfo Solano, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica
• Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights
• Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth
• Ms. Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO of the UN Foundation
• Ms. Julia Sánchez, Secretary-General of ActionAid International
• Ms. Trisha Shetty, Founder of SheSays

Register here