
Racial discrimination permeates all layers of the criminal justice system
UN report sheds light on procedural shortcomings in criminal proceedings against African and Afrodescendants.
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Everyone has the right to equality and to be free from all forms of discrimination, including based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics, race, disability, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, or other status.
ISHR is committed to addressing all forms of discrimination and promoting diversity and inclusion, both internally and through our programmatic support to women human rights defenders, LGBTIQ rights defenders, and anti-racism defenders, among others.
Unfortunately because of deep-rooted discrimination and stereotypes related to gender and sexuality, women human rights defenders face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence – both because of the work they do and because of who they are. Women human rights defenders are detained and tortured in retaliation for their work to challenge patriarchy and demand an end to discrimination and violence. ISHR played an instrumental role in lobbying States at the UN Human Rights Council to call for the immediate and unconditional release of detained Saudi women human rights defenders and accountability for their torture.
Social movements taking to the streets to demand racial justice are met with disproportionate force from police and armed security forces. Working together with affected people and communities, and as part of together with a broad civil society coalition, ISHR played an instrumental role in:
These developments are a testament to the resilience, bravery and commitment of victims, their families, their representatives and anti-racism defenders globally.
ISHR has played a significant role in supporting progress on the rights of LGBTI persons and communities at the UN, assisting LGBTI communities and defenders to participate in and have their voices heard.
We played a leading role in developing the Yogyakarta Principles on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10; as well as contributing to the creation and renewal of a the first UN Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Our work with LGBTI rights defenders strengthens international and regional protections against violence and discrimination.
Check out all the latest updates to this topic.
UN report sheds light on procedural shortcomings in criminal proceedings against African and Afrodescendants.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)'s report on reparatory justice recognises that reparations are necessary to dismantle systemic racism.
In the context of the presentation of a UN report on reparations, ISHR and Coalizão Negra por Direitos (CND) issued a joint statement urging States to fully implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), the UN’s blueprint to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance globally.
Civil society organisations, including ISHR, make a joint statement marking the one year anniversary of the announcement of a legal initiative to hold Afghanistan accountable under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
During the HRC60 Interactive Dialogue with the Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan on 9 September 2025, Manal Alawal, director of Peace and Human Dignity Organisation, delivered a joint statement by ISHR, Sudanese Women’s Rights Action (SURWA), the Regional Coalition for WHRDs in Southwest Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA) Coalition, and Peace and Human Dignity Organisation. Read and watch the statement below.
The 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council will consider issues including acts of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN, systemic racism, environment and climate justice, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent. It will also present an opportunity to address grave human rights situations in States including Afghanistan, Burundi, China, Israel/oPt, Nicaragua, Russia, Sudan and Venezuela, and many others. Here's an overview of some of the key issues on the agenda.
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