#5 SOME KIND OF TOMORROW: Broken UN, broke UN
Schedule
The UN is in a massive crisis: budget cuts, impunity of powerful states, inability to act – many states, amongst them some European ones, have cut their financial contributions to the Human Rights Council, with severe consequences for people around the world. Experts expect a fundamental system change – but to whose (dis)advantage? The #EmptyChairs Campaign is witnessing this collapse and pushes for a new council, inviting us all to act.
With Carrie Shelver, Pooja Badarinath, Antje Schupp
Biography
Carrie Shelver is a feminist and human rights defender with over two decades of experience in advocacy and activism. Her work has centred on addressing systemic injustices, particularly gender-based violence and championing the rights of marginalized people. From local campaigns in South Africa to global advocacy in Geneva, she has honed a strategic vision. She now manages the Geneva office of the Sexual Rights Initiative.
Pooja Badarinath is a human rights advocate with extensive experience in international and feminist advocacy. With a strong legal background, she has dedicated her career to amplifying voices from the Global South and advancing intersectional approaches to women’s and sexual rights. As Senior Advocacy Advisor with the Sexual Rights Initiative, she develops strategies at the UN Human Rights Council and builds partnerships with civil society, diplomats, and UN agencies.
Antje Schupp is a director, performer, writer, and lecturer. Her artistic practice spans performances, dance projects, site-specific works, operas, and plays. She explores political, ecological, and social issues, combining diverse styles into multi-layered narratives. She studied directing at the Theatre Academy Munich and has created productions at Kaserne Basel, Schauspielhaus Zürich, Neumarkt Theater, and Burgtheater Vienna. She works internationally and received the Swiss Performing Arts Award 2021.