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
Statement in support of the 53rd Session of the Human Rights Council's upcoming "Panel Discussion on the measures necessary to find durable solutions to the Rohingya crisis and to end all forms of human rights violations and abuses against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar," scheduled for June 21, 2023.
Statement in Response to the crisis in Sudan
Open Letter to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on the Potential Readmission of "Neutral" Russian and Belarusian Athletes for the 2024 Olympics
Statement in Response to the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine
Statement on the Current Situation in Nicaragua
Statement in Response to the Human Rights Situation in Iran
Statement on the Situation of Human Rights in Nicaragua
Statement in response to the Amnesty International Press Release titled "Ukrainian tactics endangers civilians" dated August 4, 2022
Statement in Support of Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka
PILPG Circle of Former Ambassadors Statement Supporting Ukraine and Condemning Russian Aggression
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
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