A wide view of the 16th General Assembly plenary meeting.
Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg took a stance at the United Nations General Assembly last week, mentioning six specific cases and situations of reprisals during the dialogue with the Assistant Secretary-General Ilze Brands Kehris, including cases ISHR had actively campaigned for.
Campaign update: On 17 October, at the General Assembly’s Third Committee, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg raised six individual cases of reprisals for the first time in this space. They spoke out on the cases of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja (Bahrain), Li Qiaochu (China), Pham Doan Trang (Viet Nam), Felix Maradiaga (Nicaragua), Kadar Abdi Ibrahim (Djibouti) and members of Human Rights Centre Viasna (Belarus).
We welcome this practice, which we have been advocating for and through which States can demonstrate solidarity with victims, raise political costs and contribute to accountability for perpetrators.
Two of the above-mentioned cases were included in our annual campaign to #EndReprisals, namely the cases of Trang and Abdulhadi. Others were part of our previous campaigns, including the cases of Kadar and Viasna.
These cases and additional others were also raised by delegations during the Interactive Dialogue on reprisals with the Assistant Secretary-General at the Human Rights Council in September. In Geneva, 11 States raised individual cases of intimidation and reprisal in 10 different countries and territories.
In addition, a cross-regional statement on reprisals led by Ireland and Uruguay was joined by 78 other States, as well as the European Union, bringing a total of 80 signatories* to this important statement. It was delivered at the General Assembly’s Third Committee during the General Discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights (Item 71) on 22 October.
Civil society actors, incl human rights defenders, are crucial to our efforts to uphold human rights and achieve peace & development, yet many face intimidation & reprisals for
cooperating with the UN.Today Ireland 🇮🇪 & Uruguay 🇺🇾 on behalf of 79 co-signatories + EU 🇪🇺 stood… pic.twitter.com/j21lEahI5E
— Ireland at UN (@IrishMissionUN) October 22, 2024
Those who cooperate with the United Nations provide vital inputs and perspectives upon which the work of this organisation depends. They should never have to face violence, threats or intimidation for doing do.Ireland, on behalf of 80 countries
Our work to #EndReprisals is not over until all human rights defenders can freely and safely engage with the United Nations. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates on intimidation and reprisals at the UN and be involved in future #EndReprisals campaigns.
*Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liberia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Turkiye, Tuvalu, UK, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay.
An event held on 18 October 2024 on the sidelines of the African Commission's 81st session shed light on restrictions on the work of human rights defenders in Côte d’Ivoire - specifically with respect to freedom of association and assembly, the shrinking of civic space, and the particular threats faced by those who defend the rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
During three days, participants in the NGOs Forum held in Banjul, The Gambia, discussed key human rights and democracy issues affecting the continent, as well as the work of defenders, and proposed better ways to address them. This culminated in the adoption of resolutions and recommendations.
On 27 September, the Council debated the annual report of the UN Secretary-General on reprisals against persons or individuals working or seeking to work with the United Nations – which this year flagged incidents involving 32 States.
