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The European Commission’s proposal must be strengthened to end corporate harm to human rights, the environment and climate.

3 May is World Press Freedom Day, a reminder that the universal right to freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information is both precious and precarious.

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.

At the 49th HRC session, ISHR, jointly with the European Network against Racism and over 60 organisations called the Council’s attention to the human rights situation of Africans and other racialised groups following reports of discrimination and violence at EU borders.

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.

UPDATE [4 March]! In a landmark decision, the UN Human Rights Council has voted overwhelmingly to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and promote accountability for human rights violations and abuses associated with Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Defending rights during conflict is essential and the right to do so must be robustly promoted and protected. ISHR joins 37 national, regional and international NGOs to call on Human Rights Council members to support a strong resolution on human rights defenders operating in conflict and post-conflict situations that reflects the gravity of the situation faced and provides them with necessary protection and support.

A historical first step or the beginning of a tick-the-box exercise? The EU Commission proposes a Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence which would establish new human rights requirements for companies. The proposal is a milestone for the protection of people and the environment, but fails to recognise and include the voice of human rights defenders.

In a landmark ruling, the European Court of Justice has found that Hungarian legislation restricting the work of migrant and refugee rights defenders is unlwful and must be rescinded.