During the 77th session of the General Assembly ’s Third Committee , the Chairs of the ten human rights treaty bodies discussed the crucial issues they are facing, including insufficient financial and human resources and a significant backlog
Earlier today the Third Committee of the General Assembly adopted a resolution on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, including strengthened language on human rights defenders and a reference to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association highlights the important role of social movements in creating just and inclusive societies and recommends several stakeholder-specific measures to develop an enabling space for social movements.
Widespread discrimination coupled with gaps in the international legal framework and risks in data collection increases violence against LGBT community and human rights defenders in conflict and post conflict situations, concludes the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in a dialogue with the UN Third Committee.
In their Interactive Dialogues with States during the Third Committee of the General Assembly, Special Rapporteurs on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change and on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment emphasised the critical role of defenders in addressing the environment and climate crises, urging States and non State actors to take measures to protect them.
The General Assembly met on 14 October to discuss a UN report that details attacks and threats by 42 countries against human rights defenders engaging with the UN.
‘Solidarity should never be punished, compassion is not a crime.' This is the major takeaway from the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to the General Assembly’s Third Committee, analysing the situation of human rights defenders working on the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers.
For the fourth year in a row, a cross-regional group of countries called on all States and the UN to take proactive steps to address cases of intimidation and reprisals against those who engage or seek to engage with the UN.
States at the UN General Assembly voted to elect 14 new members of the Human Rights Council for the term 2023 to 2025, with 17 candidates running.
The Third Committee, the UN General Assembly’s principal human rights committee, has just kicked off its deliberations. This year's session will run for eight weeks, from 29 September to 18 November 2022, and it will be chaired by Ambassador José Alfonso Blanco Conde of the Dominican Republic. Below is ISHR's outline of expected reports, resolutions and events relating to human rights defenders and strengthening of the UN human rights system.
