
Egypt: Reform unjust vice laws, guarantee open civic space
During Egypt's UPR adoption at HRC59, Nora Noralla delivered a joint statement on behalf of ISHR, Cairo 52 and Middle East Democracy Center. Watch and read the full statement below.
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:
During Egypt's UPR adoption at HRC59, Nora Noralla delivered a joint statement on behalf of ISHR, Cairo 52 and Middle East Democracy Center. Watch and read the full statement below.
The 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council (16 June to 9 July 2025) will consider issues including civil society space, climate change, sexual orientation and gender identity, violence and discrimination against women and girls, poverty, peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of expression, among others. It will also present an opportunity to address grave human rights situations including in Afghanistan, Belarus, China, Eritrea, Israel and oPt, Sudan, Syria and Venezuela, among many others. Here’s an overview of some of the key issues on the agenda.
On 4 May 2025, on the sidelines of the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul, ISHR officially launched its new report on the situation of human rights defenders in the African island states: Cape Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles.