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ISHR delivered two statements during the 60th ordinary session of the African Commission. The statements congratulated the Government of Côte d’Ivoire for adopting the implementation decree for its national human rights defenders protection law. They also raised concerns about the situation of human rights in African countries such as Ethiopia, Burundi and Sudan. The statements also noted the end of Commissioner Alapini-Gansou’s term as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa.
The first statement on the situation of human rights in Africa was delivered on 10 May. In this statement, ISHR’s Rumbidzai Masango congratulated the Government of Côte d’Ivoire for adopting the implementation decree for its national human rights defenders protection law. She called on the Government to provide the necessary political support and resources to the National Human Rights Commission for the operationalisation of the protection mechanism.
The statement highlighted that ISHR along with partners hosted the first ever continental meeting on the development of national protection laws in the region. At this meeting hosted in Abidjan – civil society, government representatives, parliamentarians and national human rights institutions from across Africa strategised to enhance legal protection and recognition of human rights defenders on the continent.
The African Commission was encouraged to look into the disappearance of Zimbabwean defender Itai Dzamara who was abducted in March 2015. ‘The Government must comply with the country`s court orders to investigate his whereabouts,’ says the ISHR statement.
Noting the unstable human rights situation in Ethiopia, the Commissioners were invited to follow up on the African Commission’s resolution 356 on Ethiopia that was adopted at 59th ordinary session and give feedback on measures taken to look into the human rights situation in this regard. Read the full statement here.
The second statement was delivered under item 11 during the interactive dialogue with and activity report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders in Africa. This statement highlighted the situation of defenders in Mauritania and Zimbabwe. It also noted the end of Commissioner Alapini-Gansou’s term as the mandate holder. ISHR congratulated the Commissioner on her achievements and added:
‘We welcomed Resolution 273 designating you with the mandate to document, investigate and promote accountability for cases of reprisals. We look forward to working with your successor to fully operationalise this important mandate’.
Contact: Clément N. Voule, Director of African Advocacy, ISHR, on [email protected]
Local authorities in Geneva have announced their intention to place a permanent public monument paying tribute to persecuted human rights defenders, including the late Chinese human rights defender Cao Shunli. The move follows a civil society petition to have a bust made in honour of Cao placed in a prominent location in the city.
A newly-released confidential letter by a UN Special Rapporteur documents the disbarment of human rights lawyers in China and the tightening ideological control over lawyers and law firms. The UN expert denounces disappearances, closed-door trials, harassment of relatives, travel bans, and other abuses targeting human rights lawyers.
On Tuesday 16 April 2024, ISHR delivered to both Geneva’s Administrative Council and its legislative counterpart, the Municipal Council, physical copies of the more than 1000 signatures collected in support of a memorial honouring Chinese human rights defender Cao Shunli.
