On April 15 2024, ISHR submitted its annual submission to the UN Secretary General on intimidation and reprisals against defenders engaging or seeking to engage with the UN and its human rights mechanisms.
In São Tome and Principe, civil society knows very little about the instruments adopted by international and regional human rights protection mechanisms to protect their rights, and how these can be used in the event of a violation. A recent civil society workshop provided a first step to change this.
‘Human rights organisations, activists and defenders only exist to ensure that all persons can live with dignity,' says Oscar Calles. 'Do not turn your backs on the hundreds of victims who are still awaiting justice to this day,’ he further urges States at the UN Human Rights Council, calling on to renew a key accountability mechanism for Venezuela.
At the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism called for a second International Decade for People of African Descent, exchanging with States and defenders on ways promote racial equity.
The United Nations Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER) for a second period of three years.
During the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, the outcome of the 4th cycle UPR of the Republic of Congo was adopted. A joint statement by Christian Mounzeo on behalf of ISHR and the Rencontre pour la Paix et les Droits de l’Homme (RPDH) called on the government to adopt a national law to protect and promote the rights of defenders.
On 4 July, Volker Türk presented his office’s report on the situation in Venezuela to the Human Rights Council, giving States a key opportunity to publicly hold the Maduro government accountable for their record ahead of a likely tense presidential election, later this month.
ISHR has published ‘scorecards’ for States seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council for 2025-2027 to help inform voting States’ decisions in the upcoming election.
The Human Rights Council held an informal discussion on the role that human rights must have to shape and guide coordinated efforts to tackle the climate crisis in multilateral spaces.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights concluded its 79th Ordinary Session held in a hybrid format from 14 May to 3 June 2024. The Commission reviewed the human rights situation in Africa, examined eight communications and one State periodic report, granted observer status to 10 NGOs and held nine panels, among others.
