Czech Republic scorecard

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HRC Elections for Eastern European States vacant seat

After the suspension of Russia’s membership at the HRC, the GA will hold elections for the vacant seat. ISHR publishes today the scorecard for the Czech Republic which declared its candidature for the vacant seat to be filled by the Group of Eastern European States.

On Thursday 7 April 2022, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted on a resolution to suspend Russia’s membership of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). 93 States voted in favour of the resolution, reaching the two-thirds majority needed for such a move, while 24 States voted against it and 58 States abstained. Russia’s suspension has created a vacant seat to be filled by the Group of Eastern European States for the term expiring on 31 December 2023.  

The Czech Republic has subsequently declared its candidature for the vacant seat at the HRC, and publicly shared the pledge and commitments prior to the elections to be held during the seventy-sixth Session of the General Assembly. Czech Republic has previously been a member of the HRC for terms in; 2006- 2007, 2012-2014 and 2019-2020.

ISHR has published a scorecard for the Czech Republic. The scorecard offers a quick ‘at-a-glance’ objective comparison of the human rights record of the candidate through criteria such as focusing on its cooperation with human rights bodies such as the Council, its support for civil society, its engagement with UN Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures, among others.

The Czech Republic’s voluntary pledges and commitments expound on what it will achieve as a member – at both domestic and international level. Together, both should inform voting States’ decisions of whether to support it in the election.

Through Council membership, States commit themselves to ‘uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights,’ and to fully cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms. Voting States must treat human rights considerations as paramount in electing members to the Council, and prioritise human rights over political or economic interests. 

Sources and criteria for the scorecards

The sources and criteria for the scorecards are set out below:

ELEMENT SOURCE

Previous terms 

Previous terms OHCHR website, List of past members of the Human Rights Council

Submitted a public pledge on its candidacy

United Nations Documents Search

Submitted a public pledge on its candidacy in a timely manner 

United Nations Documents Search or ISHR Web site if the candidate State provides it, by 1 June 2022.

Has the State supported all country-specific resolutions at the HRC or GA

The State did not vote against any country-specific resolution that is consistent with the objective human rights criteria and the promotion and protection of human rights at the HRC during its current or last term; or at the General Assembly in the last year. 

Has the State played a leadership role on country situations at the Council

Fulfilled commitments set out in the joint statement at the 32nd Council session presented by Ireland, resulting in significant attention on at least two country situations, by leading (pen holder) or delivering a joint statement dedicated fully or substantially to a country situation, or leading a resolution (pen holder or member of core group) or a request for a special session (initiating the request as a sponsor). 

*This includes any country situation in respect of which the State has played a non-public leadership role resulting in collective action at the Council

Has the State accepted all country visit requests

OHCHR website, Country visits and special procedures 

*Country visits requests made more than 6 years ago without a reminder sent by the special procedures are not counted.

Has the State sent a substantive reply to all communications received from Special Procedures

OHCHR database, Communications sent and replies received

Has the State developed and published an action plan for implementation of the UPR recommendations

 Information provided and published by the State

Has the State submitted a UPR mid-term report

OHCHR mid-term report page

Has the State ratified the 9 Core international human rights treaties and the related optional protocols

Ratification status of the 9 core international human rights treaties and optional protocols: ICCPR, ICESCR, ICERD, CEDAW,CRC, CAT, CED, CPRD, ICMW. Optional Protocols: ICCPR-OP2, CRC-OP-AC, CRC OPSC, OP-CAT

Has the State accepted all individual complaint mechanisms

Individual complaints mechanisms of 9 core international human rights treaties: ICCPR-OP1, CAT (art 22), CERD (art 14), CEDAW-OP, CRPD-OP, CED (art 31), CMW (art 77), ICESR-OP, CRC-OPIC

Does the State have no outstanding treaty body reports

OHCHR website, Reporting Status [as of 31.12.2021]

Does the State have no case of unresolved reprisals high-lighted in Secretary-General reports (2011-2021)

OHCHR website– Acts of intimidation and reprisal for cooperation with the United Nations in the field of human rights   

Has the State spoken out about particular victims of reprisals by name at the HRC or GA

Publicly expressed concern about victims of reprisals by name during debates at the GA or the HRC including the annual interactive dialogue with the Assistant Secretary-General on reprisals or UPR

Has the State sponsored the last HRC and Third Committee resolutions on human rights defenders, civil society space and reprisals

HRC47 civil society space, HRC48 reprisals, HRC49 HRDs, GA76 HRDs 

Does the State have an NHRI in conformity with the Paris Principles (A-status)

GANHRI (as of December 2021)

Has the State paid its UN contributions in a timely manner

Paid its contributions for the year 2021 in the first three quarters of 2021 (i.e. by end of September 2021) , UN Committee on Contributions

Acknowledging the limitations of objective criteria in providing a complete picture, we encourage these ‘at-a-glance’ objective scorecards to be read in conjunction with the more in-depth reporting on country situations and human rights records such as the world reports produced by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. 

 

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