HRC43 Side Event: Intimidation and its impact on engagement with the UN human rights system: Methodological challenges and opportunities
Thursday 12 March 2020
13:30 - 14:30
Livestreamed on Civicus Facebook page
In the context of its ongoing work to prevent and address reprisals and intimidation against defenders engaging with the UN system, ISHR is launching a new study, ‘Intimidation and its Impact on Engagement with the UN Human Rights System: Methodological challenges and opportunities’.
In recent Secretary-General reports and statements by the Assistant Secretary-General, there has been increased concern raised about the issue of self-censorship, i.e. the phenomenon of engagement with the UN being inhibited due to severe intimidation occurring in highly restrictive environments. This phenomenon is deeply concerning in and of itself but an additional concern is the difficulties inherent in monitoring it, documenting it, and thus seeking accountability for it.
The study responds to this challenge and proposes methodological approaches to strengthen the future capacity to measure and understand how intimidation tactics – both blunt and subtle – effectively inhibit human rights reporting and action, thus reinforcing impunity for States’ abuses.
The event will be livestreamed on CIVICUS Facebook page and recorded for ISHR’s Youtube channel. You can also follow the conversation on Twitter: @ISHRGlobal #EndReprisals
Panellists:
- Peggy Hicks, Director, Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures, and Right to Development Division, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
- Azadeh Pourzand, Human Rights Researcher, Impact Iran
- Susan Wilding, Head of Geneva Office, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
- Salma El Hosseiny, Programme Manager (Human Rights Council), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
Moderator:
- Phil Lynch, Director of the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
Photo: Ryan Brown