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Tips for Local and Regional Governments wishing to participate to the Universal Periodic Review

The Coalition for Local and Regional Governments (LRGs) in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) publishes “UPR Tips for LRGs” to provide information to LRGs interested to take part and contribute to this unique human rights mechanism. The leaflet provides background information on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism and its functioning, the features that makes …

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Cities are key to beating plastic pollution  

The Geneva Cities Hub (GCH) organized an informative discussion at the attention of Local and Regional Governments (LRGs), who are directly concerned but not involved yet in the negotiation of the new treaty tackling plastic pollution and looking at the full life cycle of plastic: production, distribution, use and waste management. Leading negotiators from Peru …

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Historic decision to institutionalize the Forum of Mayors

“I would be tempted to call this decision historic and a remarkable step in the direction of modern and more inclusive global governance; especially here in Geneva which is recognized as a major center of multilateralism.” – said Sami Kanaan, President of GCH, after UNECE Member States took an important decision to institutionalize the Forum …

  • January 13, 2023
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Geneva Cities Hub and United Cities and Local Governments sign a MoU

In November 2022, the Geneva Cities Hub (GCH) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), thus formalizing their cooperation in various fields. The MoU affirms among others, that the GCH and UCLG will continue to co-organize events, to cooperate on matters related to Geneva-based international organizations, including UN-related …

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Urbanization affects how development cooperation works. It also affects diplomacy.

On 6 December 2022, the Geneva Cities Hub was invited to speak about “Urbanization and climate change: what challenges for the countries from the Global south?” at an event organized by Helvetas.  GCH emphasized that urbanization had not only impacted the way development cooperation works, but also how diplomacy is conducted. Indeed, as cities grow day …

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Refugees go to camps for safety, but they go to cities for opportunities

City governments are best placed to leverage their presence into positive economic and social outcomes for their cities. On 6 December 2022, ahead of the High Commissioner for Refugees’ Annual dialogue on protection challenges, the Geneva Cities Hub co-organized an event with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) entitled “Cities for refugees: places …

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When business meets human rights at the local level

The 11th annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights focused on efforts at securing accountability and access to remedy for business-related human rights abuse, in order to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on business and human rights (UNGPs). The UNGPs provide a global framework for States and businesses to prevent …

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Complex urban crises have become the new normal

Cities at war and in protracted crises was the focus of the Annual meeting of the UCLG Working Group on the territorial prevention and management of crises (28 November 2022), chaired by Mr. Sami Kanaan, Deputy Mayor of Geneva, and President of GCH. In his opening remarks, Mr. Kanaan, reaffirmed that “cities play an increasing …

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Annual retreat 2022 of the Geneva Cities Hub

On 9 December 2022, the Geneva Cities Hub will hold its Annual strategic retreat. This year, the retreat will explore what further efforts are necessary to position International Geneva as the main entry point for cities and other local and regional governments (LRGs) in view of an effective and inclusive multilateralism. For that purpose, the …

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