Angola, Brazil, Burundi, Chile, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iraq, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, United Arab Emirates
HRC39 | States must respond to allegations of rights abuses
ISHR has called on the Human Rights Council President to urge 55 States to respond to communications by UN experts regarding alleged human rights violations.
In a statement delivered to the 39th Session of the Human Rights Council, ISHR reacted to the latest Joint Communications Report of the UN Special Procedures – independent human rights experts, appointed to monitor and report on human rights violations and to advise and assist in promoting and protecting rights. The report reveals that of the 55 states who have not responded to at least one initial letter from the UN experts concerning allegations of rights violations, 19 are Council members.
As Helen Nolan of ISHR explains, many of these states are repeat offenders, cited regularly in these reports for failing to respond.
‘In just this report, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, Kenya and Mexico have failed to react to at least two communications from UN experts addressing alleged human rights abuses,’ says Nolan. ‘That list is eerily similar to the one in March and in June.’
Remaining Council members who failed to reply include Angola, Burundi, Chile, China, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iraq, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea and United Arab Emirates.
‘States aren’t the only actors who need to step up their cooperation,’ added Nolan. ‘We regret that several communications involving human rights defenders working in the context of human rights and business remain unanswered by the companies involved.’
ISHR’s statement noted that under GA Resolution 60/251, Council members must ‘fully cooperate with the Council.’ Yet, the report cites cases of reprisals involving these members.
In Iraq, Faisal Al Tamimi received numerous death threats and suffered an attempt on his life for engaging with UN human rights mechanisms. In Rwanda, Robert Mugabe was detained and questioned for several hours, also to prevent him from cooperating with the Council and Special Procedures.
‘We call on Iraq and Rwanda to take swift action to guarantee the rights of these human rights defenders,’ said Nolan.
Hong Kong's new national security legislation has sparked international concerns over its potential to further erode civil liberties and fundamental freedoms, and civil society engagement with the UN. ISHR calls for the repeal of this law and cease to interpret cooperation with UN bodies as a national security threat.
During an interactive dialogue with States at the Human Rights Council, the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN) once again expressed its frustration at the lack of cooperation from the Nicaraguan authorities.
Nazifa Jalali, along with ISHR, called on UN Member States to establish a mandated investigative mechanism to contribute towards accountability for the Taliban's human rights violations, and for States to continue to support Afghanistan’s human rights movement.
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