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40 actions to celebrate ISHR’s 40th anniversary
We are celebrating longstanding and collective efforts in supporting human rights defenders. Join us and find out more!
© Photo: ISHR
In its submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, ISHR emphasises the critical and vital role of civil society in UN and regional human rights mechanisms, as well as existing challenges and obstacles to participation.
While former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted that ‘civil society is an indispensable partner of the United Nations’, the current Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has reiterated this commitment, noting civil society’s critical role in the success of the Sustainable Development Goals.[1]
In terms of UN human rights mechanisms for civil society, the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures are two of the most accessible ones.
NGOs can engage with the Human Rights Council through attendance, oral statements, holding side events and participating in informal negotiations of resolutions, despite some practical restrictions. Further, many Special Procedure mandate holders engage with civil society at all stages, including by calling for inputs to thematic and country reports, sharing information on human rights violations and playing an integral role in follow-up to and implementation of recommendations.
Notwithstanding these positive procedures for engagement, more needs to be done to enhance and safeguard participation of civil society with UN mechanisms.
Among others recommendations made in the submission, ISHR calls on:
The submission is available here.
Contact: Tess McEvoy, [email protected]
Photo: ISHR
We are celebrating longstanding and collective efforts in supporting human rights defenders. Join us and find out more!
During an Enhanced Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan on 19 June, in which he presented his most recent report to the UN Human Rights Council, ISHR made a statement noting that the pursuit of justice for women and girls in Afghanistan demands a multifaceted approach including various accountability mechanisms.
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