COUNCIL ADDRESSES ATTACKS AGAINST PALESTINIANS DEFENDERS, INCLUDING DEPORTATION OF SALAH HAMMOURI

During the General Debate on item 7, ISHR, the Community Action Center - Al-Quds University, Al-Haq, and Women Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling addressed the escalation of Israeli laws and policies of forcible transfer targeting Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line.

DIALOGUE MAKES EVIDENT VENEZUELA MUST REMAIN HIGH ON AGENDA

Civil society spoke of the ongoing human rights crisis in Venezuela this week at the Council making evident that, despite Venezuela’s best efforts to denounce the Fact-Finding Mission, the Mission’s work and that of OHCHR are absolutely essential to victims of violations.

FAMILIES CALL FOR A MECHANISM ON FORCED DISAPPEARANCES IN SYRIA

During the Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria (agenda item 4), ISHR and the Truth and Justice Charter Group delivered a joint statement addressing the continued suffering of families of forcibly disappeared Syrians at the hand of all parties to the conflict.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MUST RECOGNISE NATIONALITY OF PEOPLE OF HAITIAN DESCENT WITHIN ITS TERRITORY

ISHR and Movimiento Socio Cultural de Trabajadores Haitianos (MOSCTHA) delivered a joint statement on the Dominican Republic's institutional discrimination and law enforcement practices against nationals of Haitian descent.

THE GARIFUNA CALL ON THE COUNCIL TO URGE HONDURAS TO GUARANTEE THEIR RIGHTS

During the General Debate 9 at the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council, held on 30 March, the Organización Negra Centroamericana (ONECA), ISHR, and Race & Equality presented a joint statement regarding the current situation of the Garifuna community of Honduras.

CIVIL SOCIETY CALLS ON ALGERIA TO END TO REPRISALS, RELEASE ARBITRARILY DETAINED INDIVIDUALS

During the adoption of the Algeria Universal Periodic Review outcomes, organisations addressed the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders and civil society organisations.
 

SOUTH AFRICA MUST ESTABLISH A NATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE KILLINGS OF DEFENDERS
 

During the adoption of the South Africa Universal Periodic Review outcomes, eight organisations urged South Africa to establish a national commission of inquiry into the killings of human rights defenders and activists.

THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO MUST GUARANTEE THE PUBLIC FREEDOMS OF DEFENDERS

While the human rights situation in the DRC has further deteriorated and the armed violence has intensified, the Council called for an accelerated adoption of the Law on the Protection and Responsibility of Human Rights Defenders.

ISHR URGES COUNCIL TO ACT ON BURKINA FASO, COLOMBIA, EL SALVADOR, SAUDI ARABIA

On 22 and 23 March, the Human Rights Council held a general debate on human rights situations that urgently require its attention. ISHR delivered a statement calling on the Council to create monitoring and reporting mechanisms for four countries.

BENELUX NAMES SPECIFIC CASES OF REPRISALS, AS CALLED FOR BY ISHR

To end impunity and ensure accountability for acts of harassment, reprisals, and intimidation against defenders who engage with UN mechanisms, ISHR has continued to call for States to raise specific cases when given the opportunity. During HRC52, BENELUX answered ISHR’s call, raising 6 specific cases of reprisals against defenders from Belarus, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Egypt, and Venezuela.
 

COLOMBIA TELLS STATES OHCHR IS A CURE NOT A SANCTION

Following the High Commissioner's reports on Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras, the new Colombian Ambassador urged other countries to embrace the international human rights mechanisms as part of a 'therapeutic treatment' designed to heal a country and not to sanction it.

NEXT STEPS TOWARD A BINDING TREATY ON BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Updates on the binding treaty process on business and human rights led by the open-ended intergovernmental working group (OEIGWG) have been presented to the Human Rights Council. ISHR calls for the text to better recognise and protect human rights defenders.
 

CAMPAIGN WIN! HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ADOPTS EXCEPTIONAL TWO-YEAR RENEWAL OF KEY ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM FOR NICARAGUA

The Human Rights Council adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua for two additional years, strengthening its focus on Indigenous and Afrodescendant Peoples, reprisals, and political prisoners, following the sustained advocacy of Nicaraguan and international civil society organisations part of the Colectivo 46/2 coalition.