After the suspension of Russia’s membership at the HRC, the GA will hold elections for the vacant seat. ISHR publishes today the scorecard for the Czech Republic which declared its candidature for the vacant seat to be filled by the Group of Eastern European States.
On Thursday 7 April, a two-thirds majority of States at the United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of suspending Russia's membership of the UN Human Rights Council.
The UN General Assembly has a responsibility to act to suspend Russia's rights of membership of the Human Rights Council, both to uphold the Council's institutional integrity and to avoid entrenching impunity for gross and systematic human rights violations.
In an open letter, almost 50 NGOs from all regions of the world call on the UN General Assembly to suspend Russia's rights of membership of the UN Human Rights Council for committing widespread, gross and systematic human rights violations, some amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The UN Human Rights Council should act urgently to mandate mechanisms to monitor, report on, and promote accountability for Russia's gross human rights violations.
The Chair of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee invited civil society to an informal discussion on the main outcomes of the recent session and the theme equality in the recovery from COVID-19.
Civil society groups call for an independent accountability mechanism in their demand for urgent UN action against impunity for crimes in Yemen.
The passage of a human rights defender resolution by the Third Committee of the GA by consensus, with 85 co-sponsors, is another important step in ongoing work to strengthen the promotion and protection of those who defend rights.
During its 76th session and in a move welcomed by civil-society, the Third Committee of the GA adopted by consensus a resolution recognising the rights of all people to participate in elections and public affairs, without discrimination, including on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
17 NGOs that closely follow and engage with the Third Committee have joined together to publish a joint statement on outcomes of this 76th session.
