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.
At the adoption of the report of its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), China ignored calls to implement UN findings and dismissed all serious criticism of its human rights record, refusing to budge on the documented plight of Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers, human rights activists, lawyers, and more. We urged China to genuinely engage with the UN to enact meaningful reforms.
Human rights defenders and journalists face increasing threats and attacks due to acts of transnational repression, according to a new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. Host States must increase protection and support for victims of transnational repression, as well as investigate and pursue accountability where such acts occur.
Over the past months, the UN human rights chief has stepped up his condemnation of abuses in Hong Kong and mainland China. Rights groups and activists remain concerned at decreasing UN attention to Tibet and to the UN’s Xinjiang report.
On 20 June, Graeme Reid presented his first report as Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, to the 56th session of the Human Rights Council. He expressed concern about laws and policies restricting freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association that target people based on sexual orientation and gender identity in all regions.
Nearly two years after its publication, rights groups urged the UN Rights chief to follow up on his office's Xinjiang Report.
A newly-released confidential letter by a UN Special Rapporteur documents the disbarment of human rights lawyers in China and the tightening ideological control over lawyers and law firms. The UN expert denounces disappearances, closed-door trials, harassment of relatives, travel bans, and other abuses targeting human rights lawyers.
13 April 2024 marked one year since the Chinese authorities arbitrarily detained prominent human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife, woman defender Xu Yan. As their health steadily deteriorates, 30 rights groups and the European Union have renewed their call for their prompt release.
As the United Nations face a historic liquidity crisis due to unpaid dues, civil society urges Member States to fulfill their financial obligations, safeguarding critical human rights operations.
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.
