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On 2 July 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted Madagascar’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Report, as part of its 59th session.

Sixteen activists completed the Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme in Geneva to strengthen their advocacy skills. During the programme, they called for reforms to the UN human rights system, and helped secure the renewal of the expert mandate on sexual orientation and gender identity.

On 1 July 2025, during the 59th session of the Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review of Angola was adopted. The statement delivered by ISHR, in partnership with Kutakesa, highlighted the recent adoption of legislation jeopardising the freedom of assembly and association and imposing risks on the work of human rights defenders in Angola.

US sanctions against UN Special Procedures and International Criminal Court judges and officials violate human rights, betray victims and undermine justice and the rule of law.

New UN brief paves the way for States and UN bodies to develop norms and recommendations to better respond to transnational repression and protect victims.

At HRC59, woman human rights defender Laura Restrepo delivered a compelling statement, drawing attention to critical issues that undermine prospects for lasting peace in Colombia, such as the need for improved coordination between authorities and the importance of clarifying the connections between corporate interests and human rights violations.

Human rights defenders in exile face growing acts of transnational repression on a global scale. ISHR interviewed Basma Mostafa, a Berlin-based Egyptian journalist and woman human rights defender, who recounted threats and attacks she faced in exile for documenting enforced disappearances in Egypt and the MENA region.

Due Process Law Foundation and ISHR urge El Salvador to establish an expert commission to review mass detentions under the state of emergency, warning of continued rights violations and shrinking civic space under new repressive laws.

'As Syrians, we have an opportunity for a democratic transition.'

To strengthen accessibility of its resources, ISHR is pleased to launch a series of new tools in English, Chinese, Tibetan and Uyghur to equip human rights defenders to better mitigate and address intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN, an essential resource for all stakeholders concerned about intimidation and reprisals.