The CCIG’s annual training on the United Nations Human Rights Mechanisms, in partnership with UN ETXEA – Basque Country Association for UNESCO, took place from September 14th to 17th, 2026, in Geneva. CCIG is very honored to have welcomed a passionate cohort of young activists from the Basque Country, Spain, who participated in varying sessions about Human Rights, had the opportunity to participate in the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council and deliver an oral statement under item 3 General Debate.
The four-day training included information sessions regarding UN mechanisms for the protection of human rights, including the HRC, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the UN Treaty Bodies. The training, moderated by Maria D’Onofrio (CCIG Secretary General), sought to encourage analysis from youth civil society leaders to link their own livelihood in the context of the international human rights system.
Accordingly, we were very pleased to have wise guest speakers as part of the training program. First, Helen Griffiths (Child and Youth Unit, OHCHR) presented about youth rights and youth participation within the HRC and beyond. We also welcomed Chiara López Palomino, an OHCHR Intern, to share her journey as an advocate for children and youth as well as her personal experiences as a young person within the UN. Finally, we were privileged to welcome Vaibhavi Sharma Pathak (Human Rights Education and Training Unit, OHCHR) who inspired the youth participants to explore and think critically about the significance of human rights education, specifically identifying the different actions to protect human rights in their local communities.
These enthusiastic participants also had the opportunity to attend the High-level Panel Discussion of the Fifteenth Anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training aimed to reflect on the progress made since the adoption of the declaration in 2011 and propose practices to strengthen its implementation. The youth group also contributed to the preparation of an oral statement to the Human Rights Council during the presentation of the report on the Impact of mental health challenges on the enjoyment of human rights by young people prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. Ms. Maitan Marsal Vegas, one of the training participants, delivered the statement on behalf of UN ETXEA, with the technical support from CCIG. She called for Member States to implement mental health as a fundamental human right, ensure free, quality and accessible mental health services for all young people, and address structural discrimination to promote participation of young people in the implementation of new policies.
The CCIG is deeply gratified to conclude a successful 2026 edition of our annual training with UN EXTEA. We are appreciative of the youth’s active participation through the program, and we look forward to seeing them make a difference with their new insights. We hope they can share their experiences with fellow youth in the Basque Country to continue the cycle of important contribution to human rights by young people.
Watch the oral statement at HRC63 through video.
Read the Youth Friendly Annex to the Study on mental health.