ISHR’s report Ending Reprisals: The role of national laws and policies in protecting those who cooperate with the United Nations puts forward arguments for a legislative response by individual States by which the right of unhindered access to and communication with international bodies is clearly protected in national law.
A 2012 panel discussion of the Human Rights Council recommended, amongst other things, that a study be carried out on good practices in addressing reprisals, including through national legislation. The examination in this report of the extent to which States have tried to address this issue in emerging national laws and policies on human rights defenders, and the conclusions and recommendations drawn from their consideration, (Section VI) are presented as a contribution to that aim.
During the General Debate Item 5, ISHR and Association Stop Violences delivered a joint statement highlighting the case of reprisals against woman human rights defender Vanessa Mendoza Cortes in Andorra, following her participation in CEDAW in 2019.
On 22 and 23 March 2023, the Human Rights Council held a general debate on human rights situations requiring the Council’s attention. States and NGOs spoke, and the High Commissioner spoke on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. They drew the Council’s attention to a number of country situations of concern. ISHR delivered a statement, highlighting the human rights situation in four countries: Burkina Faso, Colombia, El Salvador, and Saudi Arabia.
On 15 March 2023, together with ISHR, Hossam Bahgat of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) delivered a joint statement on the situation of human rights defenders in Egypt. The statement was supported by over a dozen organisations from across the world.
