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#Askthefuture: Have your say about the human rights of the future!

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) aims to explore this and work towards a new model for a fair and equitable society—a process of reflection to be carried out together. Because YOUR ideas count.

FIDH is therefore launching a worldwide citizen consultation in the framework of its centenary: the #Askthefuture campaign.

We invite you to contribute on the FIDH100.org centenary website, in French, in English or in Spanish.

Open to all, regardless of age, location, gender or nationality, this consultation will take place from 15 June to 31 December 2022.

In parallel to this online system, a series of face-to-face workshops for 16-25-year-olds are held with FIDH partners in Paris, Brussels, and Geneva. The aim is to raise awareness among future generations of the universalist ideal upheld by FIDH: the same rights for everyone, everywhere.

For example, on 18 June 2022, the Youth District of the City of Paris (located at 4, place du Louvre 75001 Paris) will host from 2 and 6 pm four sessions of playful workshops open to young people to address the following three questions:
 how are the police of tomorrow?
 how can we push our politicians to act on the issue of global warming?
 what rights do our digital avatars have in the metaverse?

The workshops will be led by mediators from the City of Paris and experts from our French member organisation, the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH).

 Sign up here (in French)
 For more information (in French), click here.

Several opportunities for exchange and feedback on this citizen consultation will be on the programme of FIDH’s centenary between now and December 2022. To find out about them, keep an eye on the Centenary Agenda.

To act is the best way to hope!
And sharing your opinion is a great way to get involved. See you on #Askthefuture!

Alexis Deswaef elected President of FIDH

Bogotá, 31 October 2025. It is in Bogotá, on the occasion of the FIDH Congress, held every three years in a different city, that Alexis Deswaef has been elected President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), a global network of nearly 200 human rights organisations from over 115 countries. Mr Deswaef, a Belgian lawyer specialising in international law, has devoted his life and career to the defence of human rights.

A tireless activist, former president of the Belgian Human Rights League and vice-president of FIDH for six years, he is known for his engagement in many parts of the world: in Europe, defending the rights of migrants, as well as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Middle East, Iraq, Palestine, Israel and Egypt. Alexis Deswaef is also a lawyer at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

A fighting FIDH

"First and foremost, I wish to thank the organisations that have placed their trust in me. I am well aware that many of them are suffering from the current international context, and from cuts to development aid budgets", said Alexis Deswaef. "While building on the legacy of my predecessor, Alice Mogwe, whose work I greatly salute, together we will make FIDH a fighting organisation, at the service of human rights everywhere in the world. Victims, human rights defenders and civil society organisations will be at the heart of our struggle."

"With Alexis at the head of FIDH, the organisation is in good hands", declared Alice Mogwe, now Honorary President of FIDH. "His energy, passion, and his talents for persuasion and reflection will not only allow us to weather the storms wich we are facing, but also to continue growing, always in the service of the most vulnerable, who must be protected. He knows he can count on my unwavering support."

A Renewed International Board

To accompany him in his three-year mandate, Alexis Deswaef will work with the newly elected International Board of FIDH. The members of this Board come from FIDH’s member organisations and are elected by them. The new composition is as follows.

Fifteen Vice-Presidents
José Aylwin, Chile
Diana Alzeer, Palestine
Sophie Giroud, France
Anna Henga, Tanzania
Daniel Holder, Northern Ireland
Jean-Claude Katende, Democratic Republic of Congo
Kayan Leung, South Africa
Taygeti Michalakea, Greece
Ucha Nanuashvili , Georgia
Joaquin Nieto Sainz, Spain
Teppei Ono, Japan
Diana Palencia, Mexico
Aziz Rhali, Morocco
Aina Shormanbayeva, Kazakhstan
Musiiwa Takesure, Zimbabwe

Four Secretaries-General
Soraya Gutiérrez Argüello, Colombia
Shahindha Ismail, Maldives
Aïssa Rahmoune, Algeria
Drissa Traoré, Côte d’Ivoire

Treasurer
Benoît Courtieu, France