During this session, Secretary-General Foreign Affairs Christiaan Rebergen and philosopher Michael Eze will delve into the Africa Strategy, with a strong focus on the principle of equality. A key theme is the balance between reality and ideals, a long-standing tradition for the Netherlands. The Africa Day encourages critical reflection on how we project our values internationally, a dilemma also addressed in the development of the Africa Strategy.

Speakers: Christiaan Rebergen (Secretary General Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professor Michael Onyebuchi Eze (CSU Fresno), Meike de Goede (Moderator)

Language: English

Trade union rights are human rights. In particular, they are social rights. For more than 10 years, the ITUC has been tracking trade union rights worldwide. The annual Global Rights Index compares countries around the world about labor conditions. A neo-colonial view in which Western countries tend to score better? Or a useful tool in the hands of trade union movements globally? We then discuss the importance of trade union rights for African workers and how in Africa, struggles for better working conditions often go hand in hand with struggles for more democracy and equal rights. Finally, we consider the case of Zimbabwe, where trade union rights are trampled on.

Speakers: Alex Nkosi ( IVV-Africa), Zakeyo Mtimtema (Human and Trade Union Rights Regions Officer- Africa)

Language: English

Despite being silenced for decades, communities torn by conflict in eastern DRC are starting to claim their rights. But what does justice look like for them? How can justice be delivered amidst ongoing violence? And what can be done to guarantee their rights are respected? Over recent years, the Congolese government has implemented policies for victims' reparations, and a national policy is about to be adopted. To include eastern DRC survivors' views in this key debate, Impunity Watch and partners conducted a research with more than 700 Congolese people. We bring their voices and our main findings to a conversation with you about those timely questions in our troubled world.

Speakers: Faridah Luanda (GPE Youth Leader), Diavy Kubuya (North Kivu Coalition of Victem Groups), Carla Kabmba (Leader Congolese Diaspora Netherlands), Jules Mbokani Mathe (Just Futere), Gentil Kasongo (Impunity Watch), Kim Baudewijns (moderator) and others.

Language: English

In this session we explore the importance and potential of equal and sustainable green hydrogen projects. The transition to green hydrogen should not lead to exploitation of countries in the South, such as South Africa and Namibia, where the extraction of raw materials for the production of green hydrogen is often accompanied by human rights violations and negative environmental impact. Women and marginalized groups are the hardest hit in this regard. This is especially problematic in regions already struggling with (energy) poverty.
We discuss current negative impacts of hydrogen projects, but also focus on how local communities can benefit from green hydrogen development. Breaking colonial patterns of exploitation is essential here. The energy transition must be fair and inclusive, with attention to the energy needs of local women and communities, their active involvement, and a fair distribution of the benefits of green hydrogen.
This session provides a platform for discussion on how to build a sustainable future where no one is left behind.

Speakers: Sophie Kwizera (ActionAid), Willem de Vries (Hyphen Project Namibië), Nienke Homan (Impact Hydrogen Africa), Daniëlle Hirsch (GroenLinks-PvdA) Moderator: Ties Huis in 't Veld (PvdA)

Language: Dutch

The IOM Legal Identity Unit (LIU), part of the Division of Immigration and Border Governance, provides strategic direction and expertise to assist Member States and IOM missions in promoting legal identity for all, fostering inclusive identity management systems and ensuring equitable access to legal identity documents, as outlined in the IOM Institutional Strategy on Legal Identity. This includes supporting Member States in improving legal identity processes, such as strengthening civil registration, providing consular support, and improving identity management systems. The unit also provides technical assistance and capacity development on issues such as biometrics and digital identity systems, while promoting innovation in legal identity practices and programming. In this panel, LIU will raise awareness of the critical role of legal identity as a gateway to access other fundamental rights. As part of this, the LIU proposes to present its tools and capacity-building initiatives, including the IOM Institutional Legal Identity Strategy, the Legal Identity Toolkit, capacity building and training tools, and the findings from key research on the topic.

Speakers: IOM Legal Identity unit

Language: English