Democratic backsliding is one of the defining governance challenges of our time. Across the globe, democratic institutions are facing growing pressure. Shrinking civic space, attacks on judicial independence, electoral manipulation, disinformation, and the rapid development of digital technologies increasingly challenge democratic governance and the protection of fundamental rights. These developments raise an important question: Can the existing UN human rights system effectively respond to democratic backsliding?
This question will be at the center of a panel organized by the Research Network Democracy and Human Rights at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI) in Geneva on 15 November 2026.
Panel “Democratic Backsliding: The Role of UN Human Rights Mechanisms and Treaty Bodies in Strengthening Democracy”
The panel examines whether international human rights law and the institutions established to implement it are equipped to address contemporary threats to democracy.
While the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects essential democratic freedoms —including political participation and the freedoms of expression, assembly and association— many UN mechanisms remain primarily designed to address individual rights violations. Democratic backsliding, however, often unfolds gradually through structural changes affecting institutions, checks and balances, judicial independence and political pluralism.
Bringing together perspectives from international law, diplomacy, technology governance and civil society, the discussion will explore how existing UN mechanisms can respond to these challenges and whether further institutional innovation is needed.
The panel will address three interconnected questions:
Democracy and International Human Rights Law: How do the ICCPR, UN treaty bodies and the Human Rights Council contribute to protecting democratic governance?
Artificial Intelligence and Democracy: How do AI, algorithmic decision-making and digital technologies affect democratic participation, accountability and electoral integrity, and what role can emerging UN and UNESCO initiatives play?
Institutional Innovation and Civil Society: Are existing UN mechanisms sufficient to address democratic backsliding, or is there a need for additional institutional responses, such as a dedicated UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy?
Speakers
The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Nora Salem, Senior Scientist at the University of Vienna.
Confirmed speakers include:
Prof. Michael Lysander Fremuth, University of Vienna and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights
H.E. Alexander Kmentt, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations Office in Geneva
Prof. George Katrougalos, UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order
Prof. Iris Eisenberger, University of Vienna
Judge Prof. Vasilka Sancin, European Court of Human Rights and University of Ljubljana
Rodrigo Lima, Democracy Without Borders
About AHRI Conference
The AHRI Annual Conference 2026 will take place in Geneva from 4–6 November 2026 under the theme: "Enduring Contributions and Challenges: The 60-Year and 20-Year Legacies of the International Covenants and the Human Rights Council."
The conference is co-organized by the Geneva Academy, the Geneva Graduate Institute, the University of Geneva, the Global Campus of Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, 5 November 2026
Time: 11:00–12:30
Location: Geneva (hybrid format)