Are you a human rights defender from a Spanish-speaking country? Do you want to learn how to engage with UN Treaty Bodies? In either case, we’re happy to announce the launch of new content on the ISHR Academy!
Lea este artículo en español aquí
ISHR is pleased to announce that human rights defenders in Latin America and Spanish-speaking countries can now access a full Spanish version of the ISHR e-learning platform ISHR Academy. Furthermore, all human rights defenders interested in engaging with the UN human rights treaty monitoring bodies can now access a brand new learning module on this subject.
With all modules now available in English and in Spanish, more defenders can learn about:
How to engage with the UN Human Rights Council, Special Procedures , and Treaty Bodies
The key differences between the UN bodies that monitor human rights
Safety and security as a human rights defender
Why a new module on the UN Treaty Bodies?
“Engaging with the UN human rights monitoring Committees can be both tough and demanding, but also rewarding for human rights defenders. I encourage fellow activists to explore the many tools available with the Committees for your advocacy – and the new ISHR Academy module provides you an updated and exhaustive overview of that toolbox,” said Juan Auz, an environmental rights advocate from Ecuador and HRDAP17 alumni.
Watch this video to learn more about the Treaty Bodies:
The new learning module on the Treaty Bodies provides the latest information and insider knowledge for all human rights defenders.
For those who are new to the Committees, the module provides a step-by-step approach to understand how they work, and test their knowledge and understanding with practical quizzes.
For more regular users, the module includes a range of practical tips, good practice and examples of how human rights activists have been able to make a difference through their engagement with the Committees.
What next?
If you’re keen to understand what the common points are between the apologies of the Canadian Prime Minister for crimes against indigenous women; the establishment of a parliamentary commission on persons with disabilities in the UK; or the cancellation of a major gold mining license in French Guiana, visit the ISHR Academy now: https://academy.ishr.ch/learn/treaty-bodies
And listen to Costa Rican LGBTI rights defender Daniella Solano Morales on why she feels the ISHR Academy is a useful resource:
The Spanish version of the ISHR Academy is available at: https://academy.ishr.ch/?lang=es
Contact: Hannah Sobocinski, Training and Advocacy Support Manager, [email protected]
Illustration: ISHR
To end impunity and ensure accountability for acts of harassment, reprisals, and intimidation against defenders who engage with UN mechanisms, ISHR has continued to call for States to raise specific cases when given the opportunity. During HRC52, BENELUX answered ISHR’s call, raising 6 specific cases of reprisals against defenders from Belarus, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Egypt, and Venezuela.
Following the High Commissioner's reports on Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras, the new Colombian Ambassador urged other countries to embrace the international human rights mechanisms as part of a 'therapeutic treatment' designed to heal a country and not to sanction it.
Civil society spoke of the ongoing human rights crisis in Venezuela this week at the Council making evident that, despite Venezuela’s best efforts to denounce the Fact-Finding Mission, the Mission’s work and that of OHCHR are absolutely essential to victims of violations.
