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 14 May 2024, ISHR delivered a statement on the situation of human rights in Africa, with a particular focus on the impact on civic space of the implementation of recommendation 8 of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in African States as well as the need to ensure that existing measures and mechanisms to protect defenders are effective.
"Corruption is often written off as inevitable, harmless, or a victimless crime, but it is none of those things", reported the Special Rapporteur on the situation of HRDs. She called for the recognition of the important work of HRDs on anti-corruption.
On 14 April, ISHR delivered a statement on the situation of human rights in Africa, with a particular focus on the criminalisation and arrest of defenders in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, the Republic of Congo or Burundi.
ISHR and its partner Rencontre pour la Paix et les Droits de l’Homme (RPDH) are pleased that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) adopted recommendations urging Congo Brazzaville to adopt a legislation to protect women human rights defenders.
Results of the Human Rights Council elections emphasise the importance of holding competitive elections and the need for States to strongly consider candidates’ human rights records when voting.
Reacting to a report by UN experts exposing ongoing threats and attacks against human rights defenders across the globe, ISHR calls on States to work together and cooperate with the UN to protect civil society.
The recently appointed high-level UN official mandated to combat acts of intimidation or reprisals should ensure that he is visible and accessible to victims and rights holders and active in pursuing accountability for perpetrators, ISHR told the Human Rights Council today.
Denis Mukwege, the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate from the DRC, is a distinguished surgeon and human rights advocate dedicated to restoring the dignity of women survivors of sexual violence in conflicts, bravely confronting threats due to his vocal opposition to impunity and economic injustices.
Jean-Pierre Okenda champions human rights in the DRC's extractive sector, advocating for legal reforms and community empowerment.
