523 NGOs requests the UN to set country reviews latest by 2021
523 NGOs requests the UN to set country reviews latest by 2021

523 NGOs wrote to the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urge them to schedule country reviews no later than 2021

The joint civil society letter attracted over 500 civil society signatories, demonstrating the importance of this issue for civil society groups.

The letter has been sent to each of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies and to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  

To the attention of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies and the Human Rights Treaties Branch of the OHCHR

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, write to you concerning the functioning of the UN Treaty Bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the work of the Treaty Bodies, with the postponement, cancellation and scaling-down o nearly all sessions scheduled for 2020. Since July 2020, most of the Treaty Bodies have me virtually and limited their activities, rescheduling all the reviews of states parties planned. Th effects of the pandemic have been exacerbated by the financial crisis that the OHCHR and the UN are undergoing. This is an unprecedented situation which requires exceptional efforts from all stakeholders to overcome it. Appreciating the significant efforts of Treaty Body members to continue many activities, we remain concerned that the challenges and constraints analyzed very well by the Treaty Bodies’ Working Group on COVID-19 still apply.

The 28th August letter of the High Commissioner to Member States recommended that all sessions until the end of the year will take place online, while some will be cancelled. Although we understand that the current situation has created enormous challenges, we are seriously concerned by the increasing backlog and protection gap due to the fact that the Treaty Bodies are not reviewing States. We are also concerned that there is lack of clarity as to what work they will be able to carry out in the coming months.

We urge the Treaty Bodies and their Secretariats to schedule State reviews no later than 2021, and OHCHR to prioritise resources and tools for this. We recommend anticipating risks and possible scenarios with clear mitigation and contingency plans that are public and proactively communicated to civil society. Should the pandemic further prevent the scheduling of physical sessions of the Treaty Bodies in 2021, we consider that a pragmatic approach should be taken which allows online State reviews on a temporary and exceptional basis.

Learning from the experiences of the past months, the Treaty Bodies should define the conditions for online State reviews and be supported by the OHCHR and the other UN departments accordingly to allow such reviews to take place online or in a hybrid mode. Moreover the webcast is essential in the specific context of online public sessions and must be reliable. 

The letter is available in English, French, Spanish and Russian.

https://www.facebook.com/UNTBNet/

HRC43 | Support consensus renewal of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
HRC43 | Support consensus renewal of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

By CAP Freedom of Conscience

At the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council, States will consider a resolution extending for three years the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders. Civil society organisations from across the world are calling on all States to support the consensus renewal of the mandate, and to resist any attempt to undermine the mandate and States’ obligations. This is a key opportunity for States and the Council to demonstrate their support and recognition for the indispensable role defenders play to ensure that all people enjoy freedom, dignity, justice and equality.

Human rights defenders are people who act with humanity, serve humanity and who contribute to and bring out the best in humanity. They are key to our daily lives – they work so our governments are more transparent and accountable, our environment cleaner and safer, our schools and workplaces fairer, and our futures more sustainable. As human rights defenders confront power, privilege and prejudice, they frequently face a wide range of risks and threats, including against their organisations and their families, friends and loved ones.

Despite their vital contribution, both some governments and non-State actors are still seeking to silence defenders as they expose injustices and demand accountability for all.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders is integral to their protection and recognition, globally. It gathers and responds to information on the situation of defenders around the world, engages constructively with governments and non-State actors and provides expert recommendations to promote the effective implementation of the Declaration on human rights defenders (‘the Declaration’).

In 2019, the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly supported the vital work of defenders. The Human Rights Council recognised the critical role of environmental human rights defenders in protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, attaining the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The General Assembly passed by consensus a resolution focusing on implementation of the Declaration and some key elements of protection policy; the resolution also attracted a record number of co-sponsors.

At the 43rd session of the Council, States will consider a resolution extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for three years. This is a key opportunity for States and the Council to demonstrate their support and recognition for the indispensable role defenders play to ensure that all people enjoy freedom, dignity, justice and equality.

Civil society organisations* from across the world are calling on all States to support the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur by:

  • Participating positively in the negotiations on the resolution,
  • Presenting early co-sponsorship of the text,
  • Resisting any attempts to dilute the mandate or State obligations, and
  • Supporting consensus renewal of the mandate.

source : https://www.ishr.ch/news/hrc43-support-consensus-renewal-un-special-rapporteur-human-rights-defenders

List updated on a rolling basis*

  1. International Service For Human Rights (ISHR)
  2. Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD)
  3. Sudanese Development Initiative
  4. Partnership for Justice- Nigeria
  5. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain
  6. European Center for Democracy and Human Rights
  7. Polish Institute for Human Rights and Business
  8. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
  9. Centro de Justicia y Paz – Cepaz
  10. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
  11. International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
  12. Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR)
  13. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
  14. Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience – EU
  15. Article 19
  16. The Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network
  17. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
  18. DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)
  19. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association – ILGA World
  20. Réseau Ouest Africain des Défenseurs des Droits Humains
  21. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
  22. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
  23. Global Witness
  24. Association for Advancement of Legal Right
  25. Emonyo Yefwe International – Kenya
  26. International Centre for Ethnic Studies- Sri Lanka
  27. IFEX
  28. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
  29. Peace Brigades International
  30. MENA Rights Group
  31. Brot für die Welt
  32. child rights connect
  33. Amnesty International
  34. Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CIDDH)
  35. Coalition Burkinabé des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CBDDH)
  36. Dominicans for Justice and Peace
  37. UPR-Info
  38. International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
  39. Coalition Malienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (COMADDH)
  40. Réseau Ouest Africain des Défenseurs des Droits Humains
  41. Seguridad en Democracia (SEDEM)
  42. The ICCA Consortium
  43. Natural Justice
  44. URG (Universal Rights Group)
  45. World Assembly of Youth (WAY)
  46. Forest Peoples Programme
  47. The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation