geneva

• Joint NGO Letter: Call for the situation in Bahrain to be brought before the Human Rights Council

  To the Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council
   

  RE: Bahrain: Call for individual delegations to demonstrate commitment to ensuring that the situation in Bahrain is brought before the Human Rights Council within Item 4 statements

  Geneva, 10th June 2011

  Your Excellency,

  As civil society organizations from around the world, we urge your delegation to make a strong statement and condemn the grave and deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain at the UN Human Rights Council (Council/HRC) under Agenda Item 4 (“Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention”) that will take place at the HRC next week, the 15th of June.

• Joint Oral Statement on the Creation of an Enabling Environment for Civil Society

  ARTICLE 19 on behalf of the Civic Space Initiative* congratulates Frank La Rue on his final thematic report to the Human Rights Council. You have worked tirelessly over the last six years to defend freedom of expression where it is most at risk – including on free speech online, the threats of State surveillance, and providing the intellectual framework for Resolution 16/18. This report too will greatly enhance the work of civil society working on freedom of expression and elections.
  
  Where freedom of expression is suppressed - the legitimacy of election outcomes will be contested, and avoidable political violence becomes inevitable, as seen in Pakistan, Venezuela, and Iran.
  
  We underline that States must act to prevent and protect against threats, harassment and attacks on journalists, bloggers, activists and civil society, including during elections. We stress that criminal defamation and insult laws continue to be abused to silence dissent and insulate politicians from criticism – as seen in Ecuador and Peru - and must be repealed.

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• Joint Press Statement by the Civic Space Initiative (CSpI)

  States must implement crucial UN Human Rights Council resolution on civil society space, and cooperate fully with the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly and of association.

  The CSI is committed to engaging with governments and other stakeholders to ensure that the international human rights standards adopted at the HRC are implemented nationally, to enhance the enabling environment for civil society, and to defend that space where it is at risk. 

  Read the full statement here. 

• Joint Statement at Human Rights Council on the Burundi Crisis

  Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders 
  Delivered by Pierre Claver Mbonimpa on behalf of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders, Protection International, and CIVICUS

  On behalf of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, CIVICUS and Protection International I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak before this Council once again.

• Joint Statement on behalf of Norway, the United States of America and Germany

  23rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
  Geneva, 10 June 2013
  General Debate Item 8

  Joint Statement on behalf of
  Norway, the United States of America and Germany

  H.E. Mr. Hanns H. Schumacher
  Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany

  Mister President,

  On behalf of Norway, the United States of America and Germany, I speak today regarding the deeply concerning recent developments in Egypt relating to the universal human rights to freedom of association and freedom of opinion and expression. Taking into account the commitment of all states in the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action (VDPA) to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

  We deplore the decision of an Egyptian court in the politically motivated trial of dozens of international and domestic NGO representatives. The charges, trial, and verdict discourage the exercise of the freedom of association. The court’s decision to shut down several NGOs and seize their assets contradicts the government of Egypt's commitment to respect and protect the right to freedom of association and to support the role of civil society in Egypt. Civic groups, including NGOs, play a key role in advancing education and civil rights and freedoms, supporting human rights, and promoting development.

• Joint UN Human Rights Council statement on protecting and promoting civil society space

  CIVICUS on behalf of the Civic Space Initiative  welcomes the High Commissioner’s presentation of its landmark report on protecting and promoting civil society space.

  We are seriously concerned by the growing implementation gap between states’ international human rights obligations and commitments, including those set out in HRC Resolution 27/31, and national realities facing civil society. CIVICUS has documented serious human rights violations against civil society in 109 countries in 2015. ICNL has documented 153 restrictive legislative initiatives since 2012. This underscores the urgency of an international response to prevent the closing of civic space.

• Joint UNHRC Oral Statement on Civil Society Space

  CIVICUS on behalf of the Civic Space Initiative welcomes OHCHR’s Summary Report on the Civil Society Space Panel and we once again express our sincere thanks to the Panel’s organizers.
  
  We wish to reiterate the Report’s clear message that civil society is an essential pillar of any democratic society and an indispensable partner of the Human Rights Council whose space needs to be both promoted and protected in accordance with international human rights law.

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• Letter from Civil Society Organizations to State Representatives: “Defamation of Religions” at the 16th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

  Geneva, 2 March 2011

  Letter from Civil Society Organizations to State Representatives:

  “Defamation of Religions” at the 16th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

  Excellency,

  We are writing to you to strongly urge your government to actively engage in the negotiations in the resolution on “combating defamation of religions” at the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (“the Council”) that is currently taking place.  Specifically, we urge your government to vote against any resolution which refers to “defamation of religions” or similar terms such as “vilification of religions” and support any resolution which omits such terms and properly reflects international human rights law on the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of religion and non-discrimination.

  This approach would reflect the growing consensus that has emerged at the UN General Assembly and the Council over the past two years that the concept of “defamation of religions” is counterproductive to global efforts to combat discrimination against religious minorities and serves to entrench repression and violence against non-believers and political dissidents.  As highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of religion or belief and contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their Joint Statement at the Durban Review Conference in 2009, laws prohibiting “defamation of religions” and/or blasphemy are regularly relied on to justify discrimination, repression and violence against the religious minorities that they purport to protect.  There is also a growing consensus that the concept of “defamation of religions” undermines and distorts existing international human rights guarantees on freedom of expression, freedom of religion and non-discrimination.  International human rights law does not and should not protect religions per se, but does and should protect individuals and groups from discrimination, violence and hostility on the basis of their religion, racial or ethnic origin.  Religious beliefs, ideas and systems should not be exempt from discussion, debate or even sharp criticism, whether from internal or external commentators.

  Furthermore, debates surrounding UN resolutions on “combating defamation of religions” have been amongst the most polarizing at the UN and have had the effect of stalling international cooperation on other human rights issues.  It is therefore necessary that States make concerted efforts at this Council session to renegotiate the terms of the resolution on “combating defamation of religions” and forge a consensus around a resolution which reflects international human rights law- including existing language as contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – and which presents a robust international response to tackling discrimination against individuals and groups on religious grounds.

  Your delegation has a key role to play in the forthcoming negotiations to renegotiate the deeply-contested resolution on “combating defamation of religions” and to realise a consensus resolution that both addresses religious discrimination and reflects international human rights standards.

  In keeping with the reports of the Secretary-General on “combating defamation of religions” submitted to the 65th session of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee and of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance submitted to the 15th session of the Council, we urge your delegation to:

  • Reject any reference to “defamation of religions”, whether in the title or text of any proposed resolution on this issue;
  • Promote language which properly reflects international human rights law, in particular relevant Articles of the ICCPR;
  • Reject any wording which seeks to protect religions, religious beliefs, symbols or “venerated personalities” from criticism;
  • Promote language that protects individual religious believers, secularists and religious minorities who face discrimination, hostility or violence because of their religion or beliefs or lack thereof;
  • Promote the full implementation of existing international human rights law on the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of religion and non-discrimination and the development of strategies by the Human Rights Council to promote intercultural and inter-religious dialogue.

  
  Sincerely,

  ARTICLE 19
  Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
  Human Rights Watch

• Maryam Alkhawaja speaks at the 24th HRC session on the situation in Bahrain

  Maryam Alkhawaja, CIVICUS member and acting president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights speaks on the human rights sitiuation in Bahrain

  My name is Maryam Alkhawaja, acting president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, speaking on behalf of our partners CIVICUS and CIHRS.

  The human rights situation in Bahrain unfortunately continues to deteriorate. In July law amendments were made that further infringe on people's basic rights to free assembly and free expression. The Ministry of Justice announced a new decision that any meetings between political societies and foreign embassies must be announced to the ministry and they have the right to sit in on these meetings.

  Since mid-February until now we have documented at least 1200 arbitrary arrests, including women and children, some being tried under the terrorism law. In August alone, we documented at least 400 house raids. The visit of the special rapporteur has been effectively cancelled and torture is rampant and systematic. Most of those arrested are subjected to enforced disappearance that last from several hours and sometimes up to a week, during which people are ill-treated at times amounting to torture.

  Read the full statement

• Nada Dhaif speaks about the human rights situation for women in Bahrain

  CIVICUS member Nada Dhaif speaks at the 24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation for women in Bahrain.

  I am Dr. Nada Dhaif, chairperson of BRAVO. I am speaking as a member of CIVICUS and wish first of all to thank the High Commissioner for her update, in particular for the concerns raised on the deteriorating situation in Bahrain.

  Secondly, having been harassed and tortured myself and been mentioned in the report of the Secretary General on reprisals, I strongly welcome his report and recommendations with the roadmap to follow by all governments, including the government of Bahrain. We also warmly welcome the joint statement delivered by Switzerland.

  Thirdly, I wish to raise the situation of women in Bahrain – so far not often mentioned at this Council - which is seriously deteriorating. Based on discrimination and violations it has now reached unprecedented levels. Since the protests in 2011, approximately 5000 women have been dismissed from their jobs, faced suspension and in some cases a reduction in their salaries which can be attributed to sectarian reasons.

  Read the full statement

• NGOs call for a UN Human Rights Council resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus

  To: Permanent Representatives of all member states of the UN Human Rights Council Geneva, 21 February 2011

  RE: NGO call for a UN Human Rights Council resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus

  Your Excellency,
  We are writing to urge you to support the adoption of a resolution on Belarus at the 16th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. We believe it is critically important for the Human Rights Council to condemn unequivocally the widespread human rights violations perpetrated in the aftermath of the December 19, 2010 presidential election and the ongoing government crackdown on the opposition and civil society, and to articulate a set of improvements it expects the Belarusian government to implement to address these concerns.

  As you may know, there are credible allegations that Belarusian riot police and other law enforcement personnel used excessive force to break up a massive demonstration against the election outcome, beating hundreds of people and causing serious injury to several, including presidential candidates Vladimir Neklyaev and Andrey Sannikov. Video and witness testimony gathered by Belarusian human rights groups amply demonstrates that law enforcement beat everyone within their reach with batons, kicked those who had fallen to the ground, and randomly beat people as they tried to escape.

• Open letter to member States of the UN Human Rights Council

  Civil society urges States to oppose proposed amendments that would weaken the Human Rights Council resolution on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests (HRC/25/L.20) 
  
  Read the letter here.

• Open Letter: Addressing the situation of human rights in Belarus at the UN Human Rights Council

  To Permanent Representatives of all
  member states of the UN Human Rights Council

  RE: Addressing the situation of human rights in Belarus at the UN Human Rights Council

  Geneva, May 30, 2011

  Your Excellency,

  The undersigned NGOs are writing to urge your Government to support the adoption of a resolution on the human rights situation in Belarus at the 17th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). We believe that in light of the alarming situation a Human Rights Council resolution unequivocally condemning the widespread human rights violations perpetrated in the aftermath of the December 19, 2010 presidential election and setting forth a monitoring and reporting mechanism for Belarus is needed. The current level of repression in Belarus is unprecedented and the government's efforts to stop international monitoring and shut down debate on its human rights record need to be countered.

  On 21 February 2011, 130 international and national NGOs and activists called on the HRC to condemn the violations and to maintain pressure on the Government of Belarus. On 11 April 2011, a group of international and regional NGOs called the European Union to take the leadership for the adoption of an HRC resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus and to establish a mechanism to document and report on these violations at the Council. We call on your Government to support the initiative on Belarus to be taken at the on‐going session of the HRC.

  An already poor human rights situation in Belarus deteriorated significantly in the wake of the December 19, 2010 presidential election. That night, tens of thousands of demonstrators protested the election outcome. Riot police violently broke up the largely peaceful gathering, beating dozens of people, including the elderly and those who were trying to leave the square, and arresting hundreds. At least 700 protesters were sentenced, in unfair summary proceedings, to 10‐15 days of detention.

• Opening remarks at the 29th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

  On the first day of the 29th Session of the Human Rights Council, CIVICUS provided opening remarks on human rights violations in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Burundi, and Egypt.

• Opening remarks by CIVICUS at 28th session of UNHRC

  On March 3rd in Geneva, Switzerland at the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council, CIVICUS in cooperation with UNDP and the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, hosted the 'Annual High-Level Panel on Human Rights Mainstreaming'.To open the event, Renate Bloem from CIVICUS delivered the following remarks:

• Opening Statement of the new High Commissioner for Human Rights

  27nd Session of the Human Rights Council

  Item 2
  Opening Statement of the new High Commissioner for Human Rights
  General Debate 9 September 2014
  Delivered by Renate Bloem

  Thank you Mr. President,

  High Commissioner Zaid, CIVICUS warmly welcomes you to the Council and congratulates you for assuming the daunting task to become the chief of Human Rights, the 6th UN High Commissioner. You do this at a time when the world is on fire in too many corners.

  We thank you for your first very rich update and concur with your frank analysis.
  

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• Oral Report of the High Commissioner on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus

  18th session of the Human Rights Council Item 4

  Interactive Dialogue

  20 September 2011

  Delivered by Anna Dobrovolskaya

   

  Thank you Mme President,

  I speak on behalf of the Youth Human Rights Movement, a member/partner of CIVICUS.

  Mme High Commissioner,

  We welcome your oral update on the human rights situation in Belarus.
  We would like to address the issue of freedom of peaceful assembly in Belarus, as this is a fundamental right, guaranteed by the constitution of the country and by international agreements where Belarus is a part. The situation of freedom of peaceful assemblies in Belarus remains below international standards and the situation show no signs of improvement, even compared to the violent crackdown of the demonstration after the election on 19 December 2010.

• Over 200 NGOs call on the UN HRC to support resolution on civic society space

  Re: Call for your support and solidarity in rejecting amendments to HRC32 draft resolution protecting civil society space (A/HRC/32/L.29)  

  Open Letter to Member States of the UN Human Rights Council  29 June 2016  

  Your Excellency,  

  We, the undersigned 244 civil society organizations, spanning across all regions of the world, call on your delegation to stand in solidarity with civil society by supporting the draft resolution on the protection of civil society space, to be considered for adoption at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council (on 30 June or 1 July).[1] We urge you to cosponsor the draft resolution, reject all amendments, and vote in favour of the resolution if a vote is called.

• Over 40 civil society organisations urge States to oppose proposed amendments that would weaken draft Human Rights Council resolution on civil society space

  Over 40 civil society organisations have sent a joint letter to members of the UN Human Rights Council to support a landmark resolution on civil society space. The resolution, which will be voted on this week, mandates the OHCHR to create practical recommendations on how to effectively protect civil society space at the international, regional and national level.

  Read the full letter

• Pakistan Announces New Policy for Foreign Aid Groups Amid Crackdown

  Pakistan’s new policy to regulate the registration and operations of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) has been strongly condemned by civil society.

  Issued on 1 October 2015, the new rules place substantial burdens on INGOs while subjecting them to debilitating bureaucratic controls including through excessive interference in their activities and limits on placement and retention of staff.