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This briefing highlights ISHR’s key priorities at the Third Committee of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA81). At UNGA81, States must defend the integrity and effectiveness of the international human rights system amid growing political and financial pressures. ISHR’s priorities for the Third Committee include strengthening protection for human rights defenders, countering reprisals and transnational repression, resisting rollbacks on gender equality, SRHR and SOGI, and safeguarding adequately resourced UN human rights mechanisms. The briefing also highlights country situations requiring principled action, including China and Nicaragua, and opportunities for civil society engagement throughout the session.

In March 2025, the GANHRI accreditation body gave India's National Human Rights Commission one year to comply with the Paris Principles. Meanwhile, police still investigate police, appointments lack transparency and pluralism, civil society is sidelined, and serious violations go unaddressed. As such, ISHR urges a downgrade at November's review.

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.

At the Human Rights Council, ISHR and CONTIOCAP warned that environmental destruction threatens Indigenous Peoples’ lives including natural and cultural heritage. States must respect their right to self-determination and end the criminalisation of Indigenous defenders.

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.

On 28 September, a delegation from Seychelles presented its fourth report under the Universal Periodic Review to the Human Rights Council. Of the 199 recommendations received, Seychelles 'took note' of 12 and accepted 186 of which four on the protection of human rights defenders and their working environment.

On 25 September, a delegation from the Government of Niger presented its report to the Human Rights Council as part of the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review. Of the 265 recommendations received, Niger took note of 11 and accepted 254, including 23 relating to the protection of human rights defenders and their working environment.

Relatives of Sahrawi human rights defender Naâma Asfari have alerted that he and eight other detained activists have renewed their hunger strike on 23 September 2026.

In its annual discussion on the UN Secretary-General’s report on reprisals against individuals seeking to cooperate with the organisation, States heard the specifics of cases that involved countries in all regions – including eight sitting members of the Council.

ISHR calls on States to renew the mandate of the Working Group on peasants, preserving a dedicated UN mechanism to support implementation of the rights of those working in rural areas.

UN human rights experts released a landmark statement urging States, businesses, INTERPOL and international organisations to prevent and combat the spread of transnational repression, warning of its increasing impacts on human rights, democracy and the rule of law and those who take action to defend them.