Photo: UN WebTV
At the 55th session of the Human Rights Council, during the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report of Cape Verde, ISHR and the Cape Verde Network of Human Rights Defenders (RECADDH) delivered a statement calling on Cape Verde to promote the work of defenders and journalists and provide them with a safe environment.
During this 4th cycle of the UPR, Cape Verde accepted 115 recommendations. During its presentation, the delegation of Cape Verde reiterated its commitment to freedom as a fundamental value and practice and that political convictions, beliefs, religions, and sexual orientations of all people are respected. In that sense, the delegation shared its plan to adopt a law to combat discrimination against minorities which will encompass the LGBTI community and persons living with disabilities and noted the existing domestic legal framework promoting women’s rights and gender equality. Further, the delegation mentioned that the government has met its obligations on periodic reporting and is gradually making up the backlog particularly to the African Commission.
In a joint statement, ISHR and the Cape Verde Network of Human Rights Defenders (RECADDH) highlighted the discrimination faced by women defenders working on issues pertaining to gender-based violence due to patriarchal tendencies, stigma and inequalities faced by women. Furthermore, defenders working on LGBTIQ+ issues fear reprisals and journalists often self-censor for fear of repercussions.
Ahead of the session, in April 2023, ISHR and the Cape Verde Network of Human Rights Defenders (RECADDH) submitted a UPR briefing paper underlining risks and violations faced by human rights defenders in Cape Verde such as online harassment, self-censorship of journalists and the persisting gender inequalities.
Therefore, ISHR and the Cape Verde Network of Human Rights Defenders (RECADDH) called on Cape Verde to:
ISHR and Outright International welcome the UN General Assembly Third Committee Member States’ adoption of a resolution on extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions that again specifically includes sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited grounds of discrimination.
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.
On 21st May 2024, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission) examined the combined periodic reports of the Republic of Mozambique during its public ordinary session held from 14 May to 3rd June in hybrid mode. The report presents the progress made by Mozambique to effectively implement the African Charter between 2015 and 2021.
