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:
At the Human Rights Council’s 63rd session (HRC63), Hong Kong human rights defenders Carmen Lau and Anna Kwok brought their testimony of transnational repression before the Council, as States renewed scrutiny of China’s human rights record.
The public session of the 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from 12 to 21 October. The public session will be preceded by a training session organised jointly by ISHR, Front Line Defenders and Defend Defenders on 6, 7 and 11 October, and the NGO Forum, organised by ACDHRS from 8 to 10 October.
On 28 September, a delegation from the Government of Sierra Leone presented its fourth report under the Universal Periodic Review to the Human Rights Council. Of the 310 recommendations received, Sierra Leone 'took note' of 39 and accepted 271, of which 19 on the protection of human rights defenders and their working environment.
