CIVICUS at the 57th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council

In the upcoming 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council (9 September to 11 October) CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance with a mandate to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, will prioritise protecting civic space and core civic freedoms, supporting civil society where they face grave, new and emerging risks. CIVICUS will also continue to enable the participation and engagement of civic groups with the Council.  

According to the CIVICUS Monitor findings, civic space conditions that enable the participation of civil society in decision making continue to be increasingly challenging. Currently, almost a third of the world’s population now lives in countries with closed civic space. This is the highest percentage since 2018, when CIVICUS began systematically tracking civic space conditions around the world. This startling decline – from 26 per cent living in closed countries in 2018 to 30.6 per cent today – points to a major civic space crisis that requires immediate, global efforts to reverse.  

Against this background, more attention should be paid to violations of freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association as first early warning signs of escalating human rights crises. In light of the global regression of civic space conditions and unfolding crises, the Human Rights Council (HRC) should also address human rights violations and abuses promptly, effectively, and without double standards. Council action should continue to address the root causes of global challenges and protracted crises and address emerging trends, particularly as they relate to freedom of peaceful assembly which is increasingly under attack.  

Deepening crises worldwide create the potential for an increase in protests, including spontaneous protests. Over the last couple of months these have been met with brutality and escalating violence across diverse geographical contexts. We call on States to fully comply with international norms and standards related to freedom of peaceful assembly, a fundamental human right articulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly as they relate to policing, restrictions, emergency measures and accountability for violations. 

The 57th session offers a number of opportunities for the negotiation of higher standards and for the protection and promotion of human rights and core civic freedoms.  

HRC Member States

*More data on the state of civic freedoms for all UN Member States available at monitor.civicus.org

 Click on the links below to read more on our priorities at the upcoming Council session:

-Thematic Advocacy priorities 

-Country-Specific prioritIes

--CIVICUS' country specific-priorities

--Country situations that should be on the Council's agenda

-Additional priorities

CIVICUS' thematic advocacy priorities 

At this 57th session, the Council will discuss a range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights through dedicated debates with the mandate holders and the High Commissioner. CIVICUS will mainly make interventions related to the following thematic areas:

Arbitrary detention 

Arbitrary detention of protestors, journalists and HRDs continue to feature among the top 10 violations of civic freedoms documented by the CIVICUS Monitor. HRDs, journalists and activists continue to be arbitrarily detained across the globe. Those unlawfully or arbitrarily detained must be immediately and unconditionally released. CIVICUS’s Stand As My Witness Campaign highlights particular cases of arbitrary detention, underscoring the urgent need for a concrete action plan to prevent and put an end to arbitrary arrest and detention on the international level. CIVICUS continues to draw attention to specific cases in its thematic and country-specific statements. 

We encourage States to: 

  • Use the Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and other Interactive Dialogues to highlight specific cases of arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention of HRDs and call for the release of persons detained or imprisoned, especially those whose detention has been found to be arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, in violation of the obligations and commitments of States under international human rights law, for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association; 
  • Adopt a substantive Resolution highlighting the current widespread use of arbitrary detentions as prominent tactics used to disperse and punish peaceful protesters, new and emerging patterns of arbitrary detention during protests, and the use of arbitrary detentions as non-legal restrictions to freedom of peaceful assembly before mass protests;     
  • Call for attention on those situations of arbitrary detention that result from previous cooperation with the United Nations or other international mechanisms in the area of human rights; 
  • Call for investigations of any alleged cases of arbitrary detention, to ensure access to justice and accountability and to end impunity where such violations and abuses have occurred; 
  • Urge States in which arrest and detention of HRDs have been found to be arbitrary by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to release them without any conditions before the end of 2024, recalling that arbitrary detention is prohibited both under international humanitarian law and international human rights law; 
  • Foster discussions on the need for additional norm setting on arbitrary detention at the international level and involve civil society in consultations.   

Transnational repression 

Transnational repression is an alarming and growing phenomenon where state actors extend their repressive tactics beyond their national borders to target human rights defenders (HRDs), activists, and journalists. This repression undermines fundamental freedoms and creates a chilling effect on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Examples include the Bangladesh government’s harassment of overseas critics, the misuse of international law enforcement tools, and the restriction of NGO activities through bureaucratic and financial barriers. Patterns of transnational repression have been recently highlighted by Special Procedures in their recent thematic and country reports. 

Transnational repression manifests in various forms, including but not limited to, killings, abductions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and digital harassment. States such as China, Turkey, Tajikistan, Egypt, Russia, followed by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus and Rwanda. More recently, Venezuela and Nicaragua have been identified as primary perpetrators, highlighting the global nature of this issue. In Venezuela, the closure of the UN Human Rights Office and the detention of prominent HRDs like Rocio San Miguel exemplify this trend. Similarly, Nicaragua has seen a rise in intimidation, harassment, and even exile of dissidents and HRDs. As civic spaces shrink and civic freedoms are increasingly under attack, it is crucial to address these threats comprehensively and advocate for effective protection and promotion of human rights across borders.

We call on States to:   

  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to condemn all cases of transnational repression and bring those to the attention of the Council and of relevant thematic and country-specific mandate holders, including the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful and association, and the Special Rapporteur on HRDs;
  • Use relevant Debates to highlight patterns, trends and new or emerging forms and perpetrators of transnational repression;
  • Call for international investigation and accountability for acts of transnational repression;
  • Report on cases of transnational repression particularly as they relate to cases of intimidation or reprisals against HRDs and arbitrary detention of activists;
  • Protect the human rights of exiled activists and foster discussions on the establishment of international norms to counter this global trend. 

Civic space monitoring  

CIVICUS is committed to providing a comprehensive assessment of civic space conditions across the local, national, regional, and international levels. The CIVICUS Monitor focuses on evaluating the respect for freedoms of association, peaceful assembly, and expression in law, policy, and practice within countries and over time. The methodology employed by the CIVICUS Monitor is rooted in a rigorous approach that combines analyses from multiple independent and reliable sources. These sources encompass indicators from organizations monitoring civic space freedoms, as well as reports from national, regional, and international civil society organizations. This multi-faceted approach ensures a holistic and nuanced understanding of civic space conditions. By relying on various reports from multiple sources, CIVICUS reduces the potential impact that any individual biased source may have on the final ratings. For each of the countries CIVICUS attempts to balance the inclusion of international, regional and national sources, while holding that local civil society groups have the most nuanced understanding of the local context and are the best sources of information. 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as requested by Resolution 53/13, prepared a report that identifies challenges and best practices in regularly assessing civic space trends and recommendations to enhance information-gathering on civic space, which also references the CIVICUS Monitor among other tools. The report highlights key challenges faced in civil society space monitoring work including challenges accessing information from official sources at the national and sub-national levels, specific barriers in requesting and obtaining information, challenges related to data collection, data verification, data analysis, reporting on and communication of data, as well as challenges related to developing and using innovative, digital tools and technology and to forming partnerships with different stakeholders on data and monitoring. The report also seeks to outline some good practices to overcome some of these challenges. Nevertheless, only a limited number of States have put in place mechanisms to document civil society-related trends or make use of data provided by national-level civil society initiatives that report based on incidents or more broadly.

We call on States to:

  • Use relevant Debates to urge States to establish or enhance information-gathering and monitoring mechanisms, such as databases, including by benefiting from data collected by civil society, in order to permit the collection, analysis and reporting of concrete quantitative and qualitative disaggregated data on threats against, attacks on or violence against civil society;
  • Use relevant Debates to encourage States as well as other stakeholders to document best practices that foster a safe and enabling environment for civil society and submit relevant information to information to the UN;
  • Use relevant Debates to highlight, as a follow-up to the High Commissioner’s report, the need for the development of a collective methodology including indicators and benchmarks that will permit the effective, consistent and systematic monitoring of civic space developments on the international level;
  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to urge relevant Independent Mechanisms to collect data on grave human rights violations, particularly those associated with the  right to freedom of association and assembly, and take stock of how civic space assessment and monitoring can enhance accountability options including by gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and obtaining information from local sources;
  • Take measures to ensure direct and participatory engagement with a diverse range of civil society organisations to understand, document, monitor, and advocate for national, regional, and global progress in civic spaces; 
  • Foster the development of early warning systems to prevent further deterioration in civic space conditions and encourage the establishment of CSO-led early warning data collection. 
  • Gather systematic data on violations perpetrated by other non-state actors, including the private sector and financial institutions.

Reprisals 

In a context of closing space for civil society organizations in many parts of the world, addressing the serious reality of reprisals and the situation facing individuals and civil society who engage or seek to engage with the UN is key. A vibrant civic space requires an open, secure and safe environment that is free from all acts of intimidation, harassment or reprisals. Reprisals may concern not only HRDs and civil society, but affect any individual cooperating with mandate holders, including during their country visits, who submitted information to special procedures or provided assistance. Acts of intimidation and reprisals for cooperating or seeking to cooperate with United Nations bodies, United Nations human rights mechanisms or other international and regional organisations can be framed as violations and as incidents targeting civil society actors more broadly.

We call on States to:  

  • Use relevant the Interactive Dialogue on the annual report of the Secretary-General on reprisals to unconditionally condemn all acts of intimidation and reprisals by both State and non-State actors against individuals, groups and organs of society, including against HRDs who seek to cooperate, are cooperating or have cooperated with subregional, regional and international bodies;
  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to highlight how laws, policies and regulations restricting the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, particularly those criminalising civil society under the guise of national security, public order, money laundering and counter-terrorism, can also serve to deter or hinder cooperation with the United Nations;
  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to underscore the need to record different forms of reprisals faced by CSOs in their engagement with UN agencies, bodies, and mechanisms through direct engagement with organisations;
  • Acknowledge the positive role of cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the area of human rights by HRDs, activists, and other stakeholders and stress the States’ primary responsibility to protect and promote an open and enabling civic space, where activists and HRDs are able to work without risk and fear of reprisals;
  • Highlight reprisals as severe signs of civic space deterioration, on which the Council should take action in order to avert further deterioration of civic space conditions

Country-specific priorities 

CIVICUS' country-specific priorities

CIVICUS will make interventions on the following countries at the upcoming session:

Afghanistan  (Civic space is rated as ‘CLOSED’ by the CIVICUS Monitor

Since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, civil society has faced severe restrictions. Activists have been arbitrarily arrested and detained, others have faced harassment, intimidation and violence and some have been killed. The Taliban have also raided media offices and detained journalists.  Earlier this year, the de facto authorities refused to attend a meeting of Special Envoys and Special Representatives on Afghanistan convened by UN Secretary General. Afghan civil society’s call to hold the de-facto authorities accountable for their crimes, particularly via the International Criminal Court investigation by establishing a UN Independent Investigative Mechanism remains unheeded, whilst in March the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan was extended for one year. 

Dozens of members of civil society, including women activists, continue to be held in detention, convicted and sentenced, amid reports of torture and ill-treatment and severe punishment of protesters. For instance, woman HRDs of the Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women and the Afghan Women’s Justice Movement were detained and one of them reportedly sentenced to two years in prison in February 2024 for her alleged involvement in protests. A university professor was sentenced to one year in prison by a Taliban military court as a form of punishment for his support for women’s rights, whilst education activists remain in detention. Only civil society organisations providing humanitarian assistance are allowed to operated in Afghanistan, amid continued obstruction from the authorities.

We call on States to: 

  • Support the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on situation of human rights in Afghanistan; 
  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to highlight accountability options and processes for human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan;
  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to urge the release of unlawfully detained HRDs including women activists imprisoned in Taliban detention centers and ensure that  women HRDs are not excluded from international talks on the future of Afghanistan; 
  • Halt the normalising of any relationship with the Taliban without a reduction in restrictions on civic space as called for by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan;
  • Urge the de facto-authorities to refrain from acts of hostility and intimidation against NGOs working in the humanitarian space. 

Burundi (Civic space is rated as 'REPRESSED’ by the CIVICUS Monitor)    

Serious human rights violations and abuses continue to be committed in Burundi in a context of widespread impunity, as the country prepares for general and presidential elections in the context of a tense national environment, volatile regional security situation, and dire situation for civil society. The human rights situation in Burundi has continued on a downward spiral despite President Ndayishimiye’s initial lifting of some restrictions on media and civil society. Suppression of civil society, based on a 2017 law on foreign non-governmental organizations inconsistent with the State’s human rights obligations continues to restrict the work of CSOs in Burundi. The activities of anti-corruption activists and HRDs have been limited by numerous restrictions which include impediments to their independence, harassment, intimidation, smear campaigns, surveillance and reprisals against civil society actors.

Violations include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, sexual and gender-based violence, undue restrictions to the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association, and unwarranted restrictions on HRDs. Perpetrators of violations and abuses include state and para-state actors, namely government officials, members of law enforcement and security forces, including the police and National Intelligence Service (SNR), and members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party’s youth league, known as the Imbonerakure. The past few months have been marked by an increase in hate speech, increased pressure over civic space, and renewed threats against journalists and prominent media outlets, while members of the SNR and Imbonerakure continue to commit human rights violations in order to prevent the dissemination of information deemed ‘sensitive’ by the authorities. While Floriane Irangabiye was recently released following a presidential decree, another journalist, Sandra Muhoza, remains in arbitrary detention under fabricated charges.

We call on States to: 

  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to highlight the cases of arbitrarily detained journalists in Burundi;
  • Support the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi; 
  • Use the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Burundi to highlight ongoing civic space restrictions that can be framed as risk factors that may be conducive to atrocity crimes, based on the UN Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes;
  • Urge the Government of Burundi to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, including by granting him access to the country;  
  • Call on the Government of Burundi to constructively cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and its regional office for Central Africa.

Sudan (Civic space is rated as ‘REPRESSED’ by the CIVICUS Monitor

The human rights and humanitarian situation in Sudan remains dire. The human rights situation and civil society space continues to deteriorate, 17 months after the outbreak of the conflict. The civil war initiated an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with chilling effects in neighbouring countries. Amid lack of support for a “democratic civilian rule”, attacks on civilians remain a common strategy by the militias. 

Killings, forced displacements, enforced disappearances, and gender-based violences are common tactics employed by Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, whilst HRDs, including women HRDs, activists and journalists continue to be targeted. Since the outbreak of the conflict, about 120 journalists fled their homes and sought refuge in other places in Sudan or in neighbouring countries, and about 20 media houses have been indefinitely closed.

We call on States to: 

  • Support the extension of the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission for one year to allow it to continue collecting information and verifying allegations of grave human rights violations including those associated with the widespread conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV); 
  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to call for an end to violence against civilians and  targeted measures for the protection of women and girls, including from CRSV, and present options for the protection of civilians from atrocity crimes; 
  • Support the expansion of the arms embargo across the country and call for an end to the flow of arms, which is exposing women and girls to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, and call for accountability for perpetrators of violence; 
  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to urge consistent and regular monitoring of any commitments by the warring parties not to target civilians; 
  • Request additional reporting by the High Commissioner with the assistance of its Designated Expert. 
     

Venezuela (Civic space is rated as ‘CLOSED’ by the CIVICUS Monitor

In the aftermath of the disputed presidential elections of 28 July, the government has intensified repressive measures to suppress massive peaceful protests demanding transparency in the electoral results. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes across the country and over 1,260 people have been arbitrarily detained with no chance of receiving adequate legal representation for alleged crimes, including 100 teenagers and 16 disabled people.  Human rights organisations have identified the use of lethal weapons by alleged security forces and armed civilians linked to those forces in the context of protests.   Overall, more than 1,000 victims of human rights violations including arbitrary detentions as well as forced disappearances and killings have been reported. The government has also blocked access to the social media platform X and threatened to suspend WhatsApp. The recent events are marking the definitive closing of the civic space in Venezuela, amid persecution, reprisals, and impunity for grave human rights violations. More than 2,000 prisoners are held in arbitrary detention in Tocorón and Tocuyito as a result of the post-electoral demonstrations. 

The draft law against Fascism, Neo-Fascism and Similar Expressions presented in April 2024 before the National Assembly, seeking to deal with those who “resort to violence as a form of political action”. A newly approved law, the Law for the Control, Regularization, Performance and Financing of Non-Profit Social Organizations, gives the government new powers to arbitrarily restrict and close NGOs represents a blatant attempt to stifle civil society and silence dissent under the guise of regulation, especially following the highly disputed presidential elections. The law could be used further to restrict, criminalise and shut down CSOs working in Venezuela, further exacerbating the human rights situation. Furthermore, as part of the crackdown on civil society, government officials reissued “Operation Knock-Knock”, a method of persecution and arbitrary searches by state security agencies of dissidents of the Venezuelan government. This is in violation of human rights norms and standards, as highlighted by the Independent Fact-Finding Mission of the Human Rights Council in 2020. 

We call on States to: 

  • Support the renewal of the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela; 
  • Bring to the attention of the Council cases of arbitrary detention and incommunicado detention of HRD, activists and peaceful protesters; 
  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to condemn methods of persecution and arbitrary searches; 
  • Use relevant Interactive Dialogues to condemn the draft law on Fascism and the newly approved NGO law, which further hinder core civic freedoms.
     

Country situations that should be on the Council’s agenda

While these country situations are not in the Council's agenda, it is critical that the Council consider resolutions to address them. These include:

Bangladesh (Civic space is rated as ‘CLOSED’ by the CIVICUS Monitor

Over the year, as a result of a massive government crackdown on opposition politicians and independent critics in the run-up to national elections, the authorities targeted HRDs, protesters, journalists and other critics using intimidation, violence, arrest and torture. Critical media outlets were also shut down.

In response to the reinstatement by the courts in June 2024 of a 30 percent quota in government jobs reserved for the children of those who fought to win Bangladeshi independence, mass protests erupted in universities across Bangladesh in early July 2024. In recent weeks, there has been a brutal crackdown on the protests, with attacks against them by the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party. Police used excessive and unlawful force and firearms to suppress protests, with more than a hundred deaths and many more injured. At least 150 people, including students, have been killed since the outbreak of protests, although the number could be much higher.

The authorities have arrested around 2,500 protesters, with currently more than 1,200 people arbitrarily detained in Dhaka including members and the top leadership of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and students, with reports of torture and ill-treatment in detention. The ability to access information and share reports of human rights abuses has been hampered by a near-total internet shutdown. An interim government was formed on 8 August 2024, following the resignation of the Prime Minister.

We call on States to: 

  • Use relevant Debates to call for accountability for the dozens of deaths and for impartial, prompt and exhaustive investigations into human rights violations and abuses;
  • Use relevant Debates to highlight legal and non-legal restrictions to freedom of peaceful assembly in Bangladesh; 
  • Adopt a substantive Resolution to establish an independent mechanism with a comprehensive mandate to investigate, collect, store and analyse evidence and cooperate with credible and independent national and international bodies towards accountability in relation to the violent incidents of July and August 2024 and its root causes;
  • Support the adoption of a Resolution mandating a comprehensive monitoring and reporting process on the situation in Bangladesh by the newly-established independent mechanism and/or the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, throughout the interim government’s transition period, with regular updates to the Council;
  • Call on the release all people detained for taking part in protests and urge the interim government to drop all charges against them and to ensure the political transition is conducted in an inclusive, participatory, transparent and accountable way;
  • Urge the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure that the people in Bangladesh have unfettered access to the internet, social media platforms and other communication channels.

Georgia (Civic space is rated as 'NARROWED' by the CIVICUS Monitor

As parliamentary elections scheduled approach in Georgia, civic space has been rapidly deteriorating. In May, Georgia passed a Russian-style 'foreign agents' law that targets the country's civil society. Under the law, NGOs and media outlets that receive more than 20% of their funds from donors outside the country must register as “agents of foreign influence". 

Since Parliament passed the law, thousands of people have taken part in peaceful protests. Protests have been met with excessive use of force and violence, including illegal use of force by police, ill-treatment, and arbitrary arrests. Since the introduction of the draft law, the ruling party started mass terror and a large-scale hate campaign against civil society, with members of civil society being brutally attacked by unidentified groups.

The new law also raises concerns about the impact it could have on the independent media in the country. Last year, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders released a report on systematic efforts by authorities to underline HRDs following a country visit. 

We call on States to: 

  • Use relevant Debates to highlight attacks to the right to freedom of expression, peaceful and assembly in Georgia and urge Georgian authorities to uphold their international human rights obligations and commitments;
  • Use relevant Debates to urge the government of Georgia to bring protests rights in line with international norms and standards including General Comment 37 on the right of peaceful assembly (Article 21) of the Human Rights Committee, as well as with the Model Protocol for Law Enforcement Officials to Promote and Protect Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests and Resolution 56/10 on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protest on peaceful protests; 
  • Urging the Georgian government to revoke the draft law, which poses a serious threat to civil society, human rights, and the rule of law in Georgia, to end the campaign of intimidation against those objecting to the law and protect freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and to fully cease and transparently investigate all acts of use of force against protesters.

Kenya (Civic space is rated as OBSTRUCTED‘ by the CIVICUS Monitor

In Kenya, the youth-led protests against a tax bill increasing the cost of basic goods have been met with a brutal response. The nationwide protests, which started on 19 June, escalated in Nairobi and other parts of the country. The police used teargas, water cannons, live ammunition, and rubber bullets against peaceful protesters, resulting in injuries, arrests and arbitrary detentions. The deaths include a medic helping the wounded and thus far, over 100 have been reported injured including journalists. 

Over a dozen supporters of the protests were abducted and tortured by law enforcement officers and media outlets covering the protests reportedly received threats from authorities to shut down. The grave acts violate human rights and fundamental freedoms of assembly, association, and expression, and seriously undermine civic space.

We call on States to:  

  • Use relevant Debates to bring to the attention of the Council unwarranted violence and disproportionate response against protesters by law enforcement;
  • Use relevant Debates to call for accountability for grave violations including killing, harassment, abductions, arrests, and detentions of peaceful protesters and to independent investigations into human rights abuses by security forces and hold to account those responsible;  
  • Call on the government of Kenya to uphold citizens’ constitutional right to peacefully protest and to urgently and immediately release those abducted and all detained peaceful protesters unconditionally; 
  • Call on the government of Kenya to restrain from using excessive force against all peaceful protesters including youth. 

Additional priorities

Institutional challenges 

Meaningful civil society participation at the Council remains crucial in the context of efforts undertaken towards the negotiation of higher human rights standards. 

We continue to be concerned about continuing restrictions to online modalities of participation in Human Rights Council meetings, which heavily affect the ability of civil society organizations to meaningfully and effectively contribute to the work of the Council. Following discontinuation of good practices, the curtailment of civil society space within the processes of the HRC has included a large reduction of speaking slots and side events provided to civil society.   

Since the last Council session, the vast majority of informal consultations on Resolutions are held exclusively in person, thus undermining the capacities of civil society to contribute to norms and standards related to the protection of fundamental rights. The requirement for civil society organisations (CSOs) to pay for the use of digital platforms for civil society-led hybrid events, and for States to pay for the use of digital platforms for hybrid informal negotiations on draft resolutions, further limits the shrinking space for civil society engagement. The gains of online and hybrid modalities for participation are meaningful, especially considering factors such as costs of travel, visa restrictions, environmental impact, and accessibility for persons with disabilities, amid increased incidents and risks of reprisals and transnational repression. 

Civil society continued to face a number of obstacles to engaging in discussions and to accessing the Palais des Nations. In particular, we are concerned about the severe lack of clarity, transparency, and predictability of temporary, exceptional security restrictions and the ways these restrictions have been communicated and applied to civil society since they were put in place at the end of 2023. These decisions have, among other things, restricted the ability of CSOs representatives with annual grounds passes to enter the premises of all United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) buildings.  

The financial liquidity crisis continues to have a major impact on civil society as Resolutions and mandates of the Human Rights Council cannot be fully implemented and, consequently, the ability of civil society to engage with mandate holders is also limited. The liquidity crisis the UN system is facing due to the record number of States that have failed to pay their membership dues in full in the last five years is having a severe impact on the UN Secretariat, affecting the work and operations of human rights mechanisms as well as independent mechanisms. We call on States to pay their contributions to the UN in full and on time to resolve the liquidity crisis and allow human rights bodies and mechanisms and key independent investigations to fulfil their mandates, many of which are crucial for civil society. 

We welcome the roll-out of a new digital system designed to streamline and consolidate the various applications utilised throughout various mechanisms and their sessions. The system is designed to make it easier for CSOs to apply for events and register statements across session and to track co-sponsorship of statements. 

A UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy 

This year, 74 countries and territories are having national elections. Among those, at least20 were categorised as “electoral autocracies” by the Varieties of Democracy project. Autocratic elections, alongside new and emerging trends related to the exercise of the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association, are a real and unprecedented threat to democracy. 

Acknowledging the crucial role of civil society in strengthening and protecting democracy in the context of global regression of civic space conditions. CIVICUS continues to advocate for the establishment of a new Special Procedure, a UN Special Rapporteur on the right to democracy to examine structural challenges and opportunities related to the realization of democracy including overall civic space conditions. Over 100 civil society groups and think tanks from across the world have already signed a joint statement calling on all governments that are committed to the protection and promotion of democracy to support the establishment of this new mandate. 

We urge States to: 

  • Endorse the statement calling for the establishing of a UN Special Rapporteur on the right to democracy;
  • Support the conceptualisation of the terms of reference for the mandate, drawing on the joint statement and existing literature; 
  • Support the establishment of the mandate in the context of the Human Rights Council by championing the initiative at the regional level.

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