In advance of the 25th Session of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), CIVICUS and its partners have made five submissions on the rights to freedom of assembly, association, expression and the environment for human rights defenders in Hungary, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Thailand. The submissions further provide a number of recommendations to the State under Review (SuR) to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society.
CIVICUS highlights concerns regarding the government’s two-year harassment campaign against civil society organisations that are working to promote transparency, good governance and human rights. CIVICUS further highlights the weakening of media freedom and plurality in Hungary over the past 5 years, due to a series of new laws, targetted taxes on media houses and tighter rules for the release of government information to the public. Finally, the submission highlights concerns regarding violations of the right to peaceful assembly, including concerns related to events in recent months when the fundamental rights of refugees have been violated.
UPR Submission on the Republic of the Sudan:
CIVICUS analyzes the continued use of overbroad and restrictive laws which place undue limitations on the legitimate work of civil society organizations (CSOs) as well as the discriminatory application of these laws to close independent CSOs. CIVICUS further examines the unwarranted and arbitrary restrictions on freedom of expression through the invocation of vague national security laws as well as the continued use of excessive, punitive and deadly force to subdue protests across the country.
UPR Submission on the Kingdom of Swaziland:
CIVICUS and Lawyers for Human Rights Swaziland (LHRS) address concerns relating to threats faced by human rights defenders, journalists and restrictions on the media in Swaziland since 2011. They highlight concerns over the imposition of restrictions on freedom of expression and the media, assembly and association using draconian colonial era laws and others promulgated by the authorities.
UPR Submission on the United Republic of Tanzania:
CIVICUS, the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) and the Tanzania Association of NGOs (TANGO) highlight concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression and the media against the backdrop of draconian media laws. The submission underscores cases of harassment, judicial persecution and intimidation of human rights defenders and threats to freedom of assembly and association.
UPR Submission on the Kingdom of Thailand:
CIVICUS discusses the grave restrictions and violations of the freedom of expression, associations and assembly following the 22 May 2014 military coup. CIVICUS also highlights the excessive use of legal restrictions in the Criminal Code – such as lèse majesté and criminal defamation - and the 2007 Computer Crimes Act to silence voices critical of the military junta under the auspices of General Prayuth Chan-ocha.