At a Human Rights Council debate with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan, ISHR delivered a joint statement with Sudanese Women’s Rights Action and the Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in South West Asia and North Africa.
ISHR has published ‘scorecards’ for States seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council for 2027-2029 to help inform voting States’ decisions in the upcoming election.
Held during the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council, this event highlights the importance of meaningful engagement and participation of activists and communities fighting multiple and intersecting forms of oppression and operating in contexts where democratic institutions are weakening or under threat.
At the last session of its current membership, the NGO Committee’s rate of approval for organisations awaiting consultative status dropped to a record low of 5% amidst continued politicisation of NGO engagement at the UN.
As the Human Rights Council marks its 20th anniversary and the General Assembly reviews its institutional status, HRC62 will be an important test of the Council’s credibility, accessibility and ability to respond to human rights crises. This briefing highlights key opportunities for States and civil society to strengthen civil society participation, address reprisals, uphold the integrity of the Universal Periodic Review, advance climate justice, and ensure principled scrutiny of serious country situations, including those that States should raise during relevant debates. It also provides a practical overview of entry points for civil society engagement during the session.
This year, 15 countries are candidates for election to the UN's main human rights body. All countries must improve their records. Join our campaign for the Human Rights Council elections!
ISHR introduces a new on-line course on advocacy for environmental human rights defenders, a practical, self-paced resource for activists, community leaders, and allies to defend the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment using UN and regional mechanisms.
In advance of the Human Rights Council elections that will take place this autumn for the membership term 2027-2029, Amnesty International and the International Service for Human Rights will hold an online pledging event for candidate States on 3 September 2026.
For over four decades, ISHR has stood with those who champion justice and equality. Their work and the international system that safeguards it have never been more important nor more imperiled than today. Join us to fight back with human rights defenders. Contribute to protecting the international system that protects us all.
In response to the annual call for inputs from the UN Secretary-General, ISHR has submitted 66 cases of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders engaging with the UN from 24 countries.
