Exploring FANON: Decolonization, Mind, and Social Justice

An afternoon of cinema, resistance, and dialogue

For its third edition, Social Justice Day 2026 will be dedicated to the figure and legacy of Frantz Fanon, the revolutionary thinker and psychiatrist whose ideas on decolonization, systemic oppression, and social justice remain profoundly relevant today.

 Co-organized by UNRISD and SHAP SHAP in collaboration with the City of Geneva, Geneva Youth Service, and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) SDG Innovation Lab, and the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), the day will feature an exclusive screening of the film FANON in the newly renovated UN Cinema of the iconic Palais des Nations. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the director Jean-Claude Barny, lead actor Alexandre Bouyer, and educator and activist Féris Barkat, exploring the relevance of Fanon’s ideas to contemporary inequalities and discuss ways to strengthen young people’s engagement in social justice locally and globally.

 Earlier in the day, a Youth Lab, facilitated by Feris Barkat, will bring together 20–30 young people aged 16 to 25 to identify their key concerns, developing practical solutions and create a legitimate space for their voices to be heard and to engage in dialogue with institutional and cultural actors. Insights from this workshop will be shared during the screening and discussion, connecting the film to real-world perspectives.

 Join us for a collective exploration of Frantz Fanon’s life and thought, at the intersection of decolonization, psychiatry, and social justice—and what they mean for our world today.