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Zambia must ensure that human rights defenders can speak out, organise and work freely. In a joint submission to the African Commission, ISHR, SACCORD and ZNHRD highlight restrictive legislations and call for progress on the ongoing process towards the adoption of the law for the promotion and protection of the rights of defenders.
On the sidelines of the NGO Forum and the 89th Ordinary Session of ACHPR, ISHR, DefendDefenders and Front Line Defenders held an event on the intersection of environmental and digital rights. Defenders from Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Nigeria and Western Sahara discussed their contexts and recommendations.
From 5 to 13 October, ISHR, DefendDefenders and Front Line Defenders organised the second edition of the training for civil society ahead of the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights. Participants also took part in the NGO Forum to raise their issues.
At the NGO Forum ahead of the 89th session of the African Commission, a high-level panel discussion tackled the growing issue of transnational repression in Africa.
Ahead of the 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the NGO Forum convened a panel on cross-border issues affecting human rights defenders in Central Africa and presented a new publication.
ISHR delivered a statement before the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee) during its hearing on the “Question of Western Sahara" on 8 October 2026. Watch and read the statement below.
At the 89th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, civil society organisations held a side event on confronting reprisals against environmental human rights defenders in Africa.
At the 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, ISHR shared concerns about the situation of human rights defenders in Cameroon, Zambia and Guinea, especially in regards to the restrictive legal framework they work in and drew their attention to the state of civic space in Africa.
In a mockery of an election at the General Assembly, States essentially appointed 15 new members of the Council. For the second year in a row, the vote was wholly uncompetitive.
Women human rights defenders working at the intersection of gender, climate and conflict gathered in Geneva for the Women Human Rights Defenders Advocacy Week from 21 to 25 September 2026 for a week of solidarity, learning and exchange.
At the Human Rights Council's session, 47 States jointly denounced the dismantling of democracy in Nicaragua, while UN experts presented new evidence of systematic repression, enforced disappearance and deaths in State custody.
The Human Rights Council has renewed the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan for another year, maintaining dedicated scrutiny of the rights of women and girls. ISHR welcomes the renewal and calls on States to make sure the new Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan is up and running without delay.
