UN Photo /Joao Araujo Pinto
The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. It is composed of representatives of all member States and has a general mandate to discuss and make recommendations on any matters within the scope of the UN Charter.
Under Article 13 of the Charter, the General Assembly is specifically mandated to ‘initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of assisting in the realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion’.
The plenary regular session of the General Assembly runs from September to December, but can reconvene at any time during the year. Each year the General Assembly addresses over 150 agenda items, which are considered either in the plenary or in one of its six committees.
The Third Committee (Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian) addresses most agenda items relevant to human rights defenders, including women’s rights, children’s rights, indigenous peoples’ rights, and the elimination of racism.
Numerous special procedures also report to the Third Committee on a number of these issues and engage in an interactive dialogue with States. After completing its work, the Third Committee submits draft resolutions to the General Assembly for final adoption.
On 17 October 2024, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, presented her latest report in an interactive dialogue with United Nations member States during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in the Third Committee.
Two years after the publication of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' landmark assessment on the situation in the Uyghur region (Xinjiang), global scrutiny of China's human rights violations remains strong.
The Third Committee, the UN General Assembly’s principal human rights committee, has just kicked off its deliberations. This year's session will run for seven weeks, from 3 October to 22 November 2024, and it will be chaired by the Permanent Representative of Burundi to the United Nations, Zéphyrin Maniratanga. Below is ISHR's outline of expected resolutions, reports and events related to human rights defenders and the strengthening of the UN human rights system.
ISHR and eight partners call on all UN member States to not vote for Saudi Arabia in the upcoming Human Rights Council elections to take place on 9 October 2024 at the General Assembly in New York.
The UN Secretary-General’s annual report on reprisals showed that a dozen sitting members of the Human Rights Council and three States aspiring to join it have retaliated against individuals or groups who sought to engage with the United Nations.
On Wednesday 25 September, Georgia will address the 79th session of the UN General Assembly at a time when its own rights record and the situation for human rights defenders working within its borders merit deep scrutiny.
On April 15 2024, ISHR submitted its annual submission to the UN Secretary General on intimidation and reprisals against defenders engaging or seeking to engage with the UN and its human rights mechanisms.
On 17 April 2023, ISHR submitted its annual submission to the report to the UN Secretary General on reprisals and intimidation against defenders engaging or seeking to engage with the UN and its human rights mechanisms.
ISHR is pleased to launch its Practical Guide to the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly - an essential resource for non-governmental organisations looking to press the UN and Member States to address violations of human rights and the promotion of respect for human rights for all.
In order for the international human rights system to function to its fullest potential, human rights defenders must be able to share crucial information and perspectives, safely and unhindered. However, many defenders still face unacceptable risks and are unable to cooperate safely with the UN.
In two new joint public calls, NGOs are calling on States to provide suitable funding to the UN treaty bodies, and proposing a model for enhanced predictability and coordination of treaty body reviews.
As civil society meets unprecedented challenges and restrictions globally, its right to participate in UN processes becomes ever more important. In a new report the High Commissioner for Human Rights released calls on the UN to protect civil society, and expand participation rights at the UN.
