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40 actions to celebrate ISHR’s 40th anniversary
We are celebrating longstanding and collective efforts in supporting human rights defenders. Join us and find out more!
As part of Nigeria’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review, ISHR and partners call on the Nigerian government to amend laws and policies preventing human rights defenders from conducting their work, and to ensure they are protected from intimidation.
As part of the 31st session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Republic of Nigeria will receive recommendations on measures it ought to take to strengthen human rights protections.
In its last UPR in 2013, Nigeria accepted recommendations on protecting the rights of human rights defenders and guaranteeing a safe and enabling environment for them to work.
‘Despite accepting these recommendations, human rights defenders continue to face threats and attacks – including physical violence, arbitrary detention and intimidation. Defenders of the rights of LGBTI people, as well as women defenders who challenge societal gender norms, are especially targeted. We call on Nigeria to implement the commitments made to protect these individuals from threats or attacks,’ said ISHR’s Legal Counsel Tess McEvoy.
ISHR, along with Partnership for Justice, Legal Defence and Assistance Project and the Women’s Rights and Health Project, drafted a briefing paper on the situation of human rights defenders in Nigeria. These submissions are intended to assist States in making recommendations to State governments. The briefing paper recommends the Nigerian Government combat impunity and refrain from criminalising the legitimate activities of defenders.
ISHR and partners also call on Nigeria to:
At the UPR pre-session on 11 October 2018 – where civil society is given a platform to present information on the human rights situation in the country and to inform recommendations made to Nigeria – two organisations echoed calls made in ISHR’s briefing paper:
Contact: Tess McEvoy, [email protected]
Photo: ISHR
We are celebrating longstanding and collective efforts in supporting human rights defenders. Join us and find out more!
During an Enhanced Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan on 19 June, in which he presented his most recent report to the UN Human Rights Council, ISHR made a statement noting that the pursuit of justice for women and girls in Afghanistan demands a multifaceted approach including various accountability mechanisms.
Human rights defenders and journalists face increasing threats and attacks due to acts of transnational repression, according to a new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. Host States must increase protection and support for victims of transnational repression, as well as investigate and pursue accountability where such acts occur.