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Human Rights Monitor

HRC48 | CIVIL SOCIETY PRESENTS KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

14 organisations share reflections on the key outcomes of the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council, as well as the missed opportunities to address key issues and situations.

REPRISALS | NUMBER OF CASES REMAINS HIGH, INCLUDING IN CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBER STATES

During the interactive dialogue with the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights on the SG’s Reprisals Report, some States raised specific cases of reprisals, whilst others drew attention to the use of COVID-19 as a guise under which reprisals were committed and also raised the additional risks to human rights defenders online as a result of the pandemic.

REPRISALS | 45 STATES CITED IN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S REPORT

On 17 September 2021, the UN Secretary-General released his annual report on reprisals and intimidation against individuals and groups seeking to cooperate with the UN on human rights. Once again, the report identifies a high number of threats and attacks aimed at retaliating against defenders and discouraging cooperation with the UN.

UNITED KINGDOM | DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC RACISM AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE IN POLICING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Marcia Rigg, Sean Rigg’s sister, delivered a joint statement on behalf of ISHR, INQUEST and United Families and Friends Campaign, highlighting how bereaved families in the UK and beyond have had to fight for accountability and struggle to have their voices heard and their experiences counted, and calling on the UN to put the voices of victims and their families at the heart of the transformative racial justice agenda to dismantle systemic racism.

SUDAN | WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NEED SUPPORT

ISHR joined Sudan Women Rights Action, Nora Center for Combating Sexual Violence and MENA WHRD Coalition in calling on the Human Rights Council to support Sudanese women human rights defenders in their struggle for democratic transition, gender equality, peace, and protection from violence.

DRC | PERPETRATORS OF VIOLATIONS AGAINST DEFENDERS MUST BE HELD TO ACCOUNT

The DRC has noticeably improved the protection of human rights in the Kasaï region but progress remains slow and action is still needed towards transitional justice and the protection of defenders in this region.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS | WE DEMAND FREE, SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE ABORTION FOR EVERYONE, NOW!

To commemorate the International Safe Abortion Day, ISHR joined 372 organisations as well as women human rights defenders working to prevent maternal deaths, including through ensuring safe abortions, to demand free, safe and accessible abortion for everyone.

SIERRA LEONE | IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON DEFENDERS AND CIVIC SPACE!

Despite Sierra Leone's acceptance of recommendations aiming to improve civil society’s space, cases of reprisals against human rights defenders are still reported.

NIGER | TAKE CONCRETE STEPS TO MAKE THE PROTECTION OF DEFENDERS A REALITY!

During the adoption of the outcome of its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, Niger manifested its willingness to cooperate with human rights mechanisms by accepting almost all the recommendations. However, more efforts for an efficient implementation remain necessary.

MOZAMBIQUE | TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF DEFENDERS AND LGBTIQ PERSONS

Mozambique has accepted 236 of the 266 recommendations received. While this highlights a slight progress since their last Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the human rights situation in the country still needs large structural improvements.

NAMIBIA | STEP UP RESPONSES TO DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE SUFFERED BY LGBTQ PERSONS

LGBTQ communities in Namibia and those defending their rights remain targeted, suffering various forms of discrimination, stigmatisation and violence. It is time for the Namibian government to take action and decriminalise same-sex sexual relations, revise laws discriminating against, and take measures to address violence in, LGBT communities.

SOGIESC | DEVELOPMENTS AT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

During the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, civil society expressed concern and condemnation about an anti LGBTI bill in Ghana, while the second joint government statement on the rights of intersex persons was delivered on behalf of 52 States.

DEFENDER STORY | ROSANA FROM VENEZUELA

“What is needed from the international community in general, and from within the UN, is a concrete, coherent and unified voice in favour of the protection of human rights defenders, the safeguard of the fundamental liberties, the civic space and human dignity,” says Rosana Lezama Sanchez, a law student in Venezuela working with three national human rights organisations.

BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS | HOW COMPANIES SHOULD USE THEIR POWER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The 8th meeting of the Business Network on Civic Freedoms and Human Rights Defenders brought together civil society, private sector and experts to discuss how companies can use their leverage for a positive change in the civic space.

THIRD COMMITTEE | UNMUTE CIVIL SOCIETY, SAY 61 STATES

At the Third Committee of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, 61 States condemned the exclusion of civil society and suggested concrete measures to address the situation in a welcome joint statement led by Costa Rica and Denmark.