Photo: ISHR
On 24 October, ISHR delivered a statement on the situation of human rights in Africa, drawing the attention of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (‘the African Commission’) to the concerning trend of adopting laws and policies that restrict the rights of defenders in Africa, especially in Angola and Zimbabwe, as well as the need to ensure that existing measures and mechanisms to protect defenders are effective.
In its statement, ISHR highlighted its concern over the ongoing process in Angola for the adoption of an NGO law which considerably limits, in its provisions, the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and shrinks civic and democratic space.
Any draft legislation affecting the rights of civil society must be drafted in consultation with Angolan defenders and comply with regional standards and principles guaranteeing freedom of association, in particular with the African Commission's guidelines on freedom of association and assembly.Adélaïde Etong Kame, Senior Programme Manager (Africa) at ISHR
Additionally, the statement recognises the continued efforts by some African countries towards stronger legislative frameworks protecting defenders at the national level, especially the recent adoption by the Democratic Republic of Congo of a specific law promoting the rights of defenders though the text provides for the registration of defenders, which is contrary to the spirit of the UN Declaration on defenders. In Madagascar, despite the efforts made by civil society and numerous discussions with the government, the text submitted to parliament does not seem to take into account many of civil society’s concerns, in particular the particular violations faced by whistleblowers in the country.
As the country prepares for presidential elections, ISHR calls on the government to make the protection of human rights defenders, including whistleblowers, a priority and to adopt a law protecting them that respects international and regional principles relating to the protection of human rights defenders.Adélaïde Etong Kame, Senior Programme Manager (Africa) at ISHR
Finally, States updated the African Commission on progress made for the implementation of human rights in their country, such as Zimbabwe currently including the impacts of climate change throughout its policies and hoping to present its next periodic report at the next ordinary session of the African Commission, having already submitted its State report.
#ACHPR77 Today @ISHRglobal delivered a statement at the @achpr_cadhp reminding States to implement adopted #HRD laws and that they need to respect intl and regional #humanrights standards + include #defenders needs and calling on 🇦🇴 not to adopt the very restrictive NGO Bill pic.twitter.com/gg6qrZ9TII
— Adélaïde ETONG (@Adelaide_ISHR) October 24, 2023
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.
