Photo: UNWebTV
On 2 July 2025, the Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted Madagascar’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Report, as part of its 59th session.
As part of Madagascar’s UPR report adoption meeting, ISHR submitted a video statement in partnership with Transparency International Madagascar. In this statement, ISHR called for strengthening the legislative protection of human rights defenders and whistleblowers in Madagascar through the adoption of a human rights defenders protection law.
The statement further called on Madagascar to protect civic space and put an end to restrictions on civil society. In particular, Madagascar should stop banning protests, in accordance with its international obligations regarding freedom of association and assembly.
Finally, Madagascar should guarantee the right to access to information and amend the Code de la communication and the Loi sur la cybercriminalité to ensure protection for freedom of expression and for journalists.
At its UPR, Madagascar received 235 recommendations from HRC Member States, accepting a total of 204 of them. During the UPR report adoption meeting, Madagascar highlighted in its statement its acceptance of recommendations relating, inter alia, to the protection of human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society actors, and to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
Watch the statement below:
From 15 to 22 October, 16 defenders from across Africa took part in ISHR's capacity-strengthening programme on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) for the body’s 85th session.
On 22 October 2025, the Women Human Rights Defenders Network of Uganda and ISHR delivered a joint oral statement during the 85th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
ISHR drew attention to the dire human rights situation in the Sahel, Guinea, Madagascar, and Palestine, in particular in relation to the situation of human rights defenders.
