From listening in Italy to recommendations for Geneva.

An incubator for contributions to Geneva

The Italian meeting brings together minority communities, institutions and civil society to prepare documented contributions and recommendations for the official OHCHR panels. Participation in Geneva follows the arrangements set by the United Nations organisers.

ROME · 17 NOVEMBER 2026

Full programme

Last updated: 17 October 2026.

Times are local to Rome. Programme information follows the event poster. See the Italian edition for the complete list of speakers, chairmen and affiliations.

1. 10:00

   Participant registration

   Registration opens at the venue.

2. 10:15

   Institutional greetings

   Sen. Andrea De Priamo; Zeynep Usal-Kanzler, Council of Europe.

3. 10:45

   Opening address

   Renato Ongania, UN Minority Fellow — opening address.

4. 10:50

   Presentation and conferral of the Francesco Capotorti Award

   Discover the Award and its jury.

5. 11:00

   Municipalities and prefectures

   Chairman Vincenzo De Lucia. Andrea Dragonetti — Prefettura di Potenza - Synergie; Illary Francesca Licursi — Deputy Mayor of San Martino di Finita (CS); Maddalena Lolaico; Luigi Cuneo. Ernesto Graziani — Mayor of Paglieta (CH); Filippo Paolini — Mayor of Lanciano (CH); Enrico Antonio Di Giuseppe — Mayor of Fossacesia (CH). Maria Deborah Cieri — Delegate of the Municipality of Atessa (CH). Adriano Piano — Mayor of Magliano Vetere (SA); Monica Malagolini — Delegate of the Municipality of Argenta (FE).

6. 13:00–15:00

   Lunch break

   Proceedings resume at 15:00.

7. 15:00

   Minority perspectives

   Ninety-minute session chaired by Comm. Santino Spinelli. Institutional opening: Commendatore Michele Grillo. National or ethnic minorities: Kaihan Mashriqwal; Nilupa Warnakulasooriya; Luigi Carmine Scaglione — Regional councils on Italian emigration; Guaman Jara Allende Neumane — representative of the Ecuadorian community; Chiara Cavalieri — representative of the Egyptian community; Shuai Gao — representative of the Chinese community. Linguistic minorities: Comm. Leopoldo Rizzi; Roland Verra — President of the Union Generela di Ladins dla Dolomites; Ylli Pace — lawyer working to protect rights and promote Arbëreshë culture and language; Lino Pellissier; Cristina Bollini — Esperanto language ambassador; Salvatore Cubeddu (Sardinian language). Religious minorities: Elena Martini; Puya Roshanian; Imam Mohamed Abdeslem Guerfi; Ahmed Vall Ould Dah (Muslim Community of Rome); Carmine Davide Delle Donne (a Jewish Community); Satnam Singh — Sikh community; Davide Marrè — Wiccan High Priest and Director of the Accademia Misterica del Tempio della Luna; Mauro Bombieri (Parabhakti Dasa) — ISKCON minister of religion and President of Villa Vrindavana Temple.

8. 16:30

   Local observers

   Reports and perspectives from the Observatory’s local observers. One-hour session. Natalia Re — Kindness and minorities. Melinda Miceli — Journalism and minorities. Laura Mazza — Training and minorities.

9. 17:30

   Open contributions

   Thirty-minute session. Register with the on-site secretariat by 15:00 to request a speaking slot. Speakers include Ravendra Jegan Savary — President of the Parliamentary Intergroup’s XV Commission on Inclusion and Integration. Cristian Raponi — President of the Nobile Accademia Leonina. Daniele Rossi — Adjunct Faculty Member, Luiss Business School.

10. 18:00

    Conclusions and book presentation

    La Questione delle Minoranze in Italia - Contributo al Forum Nazionale sulle Minoranze.

11. 18:15

    Towards Geneva

    Information on participation in the UN Forum on Minority Issues, 26–27 November 2026, Palais des Nations, Geneva.

Members of government and representative institutions may ask the chair for the floor by a show of hands during proceedings, following the meeting practice described in the Italian programme.

Original programme in Italian

OFFICIAL OHCHR AGENDA · NINETEENTH SESSION

The three Geneva panels

These are the panel titles in the official provisional agenda A/HRC/FMI/2026/1, dated 14 September 2026.

Sources: OHCHR session page · provisional agenda and programme of work · concept note.

PREPARING FOR GENEVA

Prepare your contribution to the OHCHR Forum

Connect your experience to one of the three official panels. Bring documented evidence and concrete recommendations on minority rights, participation in regional mechanisms, or implementation and monitoring of protections, in line with the OHCHR agenda.

Speaking arrangements and time limits in Geneva are set by OHCHR. Taking part in the Italian Forum does not replace UN accreditation or registration on the list of speakers. See the official OHCHR participation guidance.