57th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council: Post-Session Assessment and Key Outcomes

The 57th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council began on 9 September and concluded on 11 October 2024 with 37 Resolutions and 14 adoptions of the Universal Period Review (UPR). UN officials, experts, investigators and civil society gathered for five weeks to discuss human rights violations and abuses, including attacks against civil society. The Human Rights Council plays a crucial role in addressing global violations and continues to serve as a platform for activists and victims of violations. Council decisions wield considerable power to improve citizens’ life, particularly in contexts where civil society is most affected and where human rights violations and abuses are most rampant.

At this session, CIVICUS contributed to the adoption of key Resolutions through a number of advocacy letters, statements and events, as well as direct engagement with Special Procedures and the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights. CIVICUS also continued to contribute to strengthening the Council prevention mandate including through articulating civic space issues as indicators of a human rights crisis.

Click on the links below to read more on our interventions at #HRC57:

    • A coordinated response from the international community to the serious human rights violations in Afghanistan is still missing
    • The Council should investigate and collect evidence of serious human rights violations in Bangladesh
    • Cooperation with the Special Rapporteur is needed in Burundi, as impunity for human rights violations persist
    • Civil society data should inform policy-making, particularly regarding the reduction of civic space (General Debate Item 3)
    • The UN should prioritise preventive measures, rather than reactive ones, to address human rights crises (General Debate Item 4)
    • The Council must establish prevention mechanisms for the ongoing human rights violations in Haiti
    • Despite ongoing technical assistance, civil society in Zimbabwe, Cambodia, and Honduras continues to face persistent harassment (General Debate Item 10)
    • Cambodia: Reform laws, free human rights defenders, and end civil society harassment

Human Rights Council elections:

CIVICUS notes the outcomes of the elections to the UN Human Rights Council at the UN General Assembly for the 2025-2027 term.[i] The fact Saudi Arabia was kept out of the Council highlights the value of competitive elections in each regional bloc. However, we regret that non-competitive elections in some regional blocs have enabled states with poor human rights records to serve as Members of the Human Rights Council. CIVICUS remains deeply concerned about the election of Members responsible for grave human rights violations and widespread repression of civil society space, in particular those with in particular those with severely constrained civic spaces, including those where a rapid deteriorating of civic space conditions have been witnessed: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, Qatar, and Thailand.

States that are responsible for widespread human rights violations and attacks to civil society are not qualified to be elected, as stipulated in Resolution 60/251 of the General Assembly. A group of human rights organizations including CIVICUS strongly opposed the election of Ethiopia to the UN Human Rights Council through an open letter. We continue to advocate for civil society scrutiny of candidates and reiterate our call on States to hold fully competitive elections.

Civil society participation and other structural issues:

Ahead of the 57th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, CIVICUS raised attention on the increasing number of unprecedented restrictions imposed on civil society by the United Nations Office in Geneva. These restrictions limit the way UN spaces are accessed by NGOs and threaten the ability of civil society to meaningfully participate at the HRC, undermining the voices of human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations worldwide. CIVICUS, together with partner organizations, urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to ensure the most effective contribution of civil society by firmly opposing these restrictions.

We have witnessed visa denials to civil society by the host countries as a recurring obstacle to accessing the UN, whilst acts of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders are increasing. Nonetheless, we welcome progress in Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the work of this Council as it is the first time that they could register on their own for specific dialogues. We also welcome the action taken by a number of States to call for investigation and accountability for reprisals against individually named human rights defenders as an important message of solidarity action, and the annual report on Reprisals for Cooperation with the UN shedding further on interlinkages between patterns of reprisals and patterns of arbitrary detention.

We remain concerned about the financial liquidity crisis. The failure of many States to pay UN membership dues in full and in time is causing serious delays in the implementation of key Resolutions and mandates of the Human Rights Council.

 

Country developments

Africa:

Sudan - We welcome the renewal of the Fact Fin­ding Mission (FFM) on Sudan with broad support, responding to the calls by national, pan-African, and international NGOs calling for the extension of the man­date of the FFM for Sudan. As mass atrocities continue to unfold and human rights and humanitarian conditions are seriously deteriorating, particularly in North Darfur, Sudan deserves urgent attention at the Human Rights Council, and the FFM’s work is critical to shedding further light on the most critical aspects of human rights and humanitarian issues. We reiterate our calls for the establishment of safe corridors for humanitarian aid organisations and the protection of civilians, and the creation of effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms to ensure the implementation of the embargo.

Burundi - We welcome the renewal of the critical mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burundi. The mandates remain crucial for national civil society, which continues to be suppressed as the Resolution also highlights. We also welcome the recent release of a journalist and human rights defender, Floriane Irangabiye, after being convicted from a flawed trial in 2022, we continue to call for the release of journalist Sandra Muhoza who should not have been imprisoned in the first place just like other human rights defenders in Burundi. In this regard we welcome the call to the Government to ensure the full independence of the judiciary and to hold perpetrators of grave human rights violations accountable. Critically, the Resolution also highlight the lack of cooperation of the Government of Burundi with the Human Rights Council and with the Special Rapporteur, as well as lack of constructive cooperation with the OHCHR.

Asia-Pacific:

Afghanistan - We welcome the adoption of the Resolution on Afghanistan renewing and strengthening the mandate of the Special Rapporteur. The Resolution recognizes the need to ensure accountability in Afghanistan through "comprehensive, multidimensional, gender-responsive and victim-centred" processes applying a comprehensive approach to transitional justice. However, the Resolution fails to establish an independent accountability mechanism that can undertake comprehensive investigations and collect and preserve evidence and information of grave human rights violations and abuses, which many Afghan and international civil society organizations have repeatedly called for.

Sri Lanka - We welcome the resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka renewing for one year the mandate of the High Commissioner to monitor and report on the country situation. While this adoption represents the broad recognition by the Council of the crucial need for enhanced international action to promote accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, it fails to respond to civil society calls in regard to accountability and justice for the victims of the coonflict, more than 15 years after its end.

Central and Latin America:

Venezuela - We welcome the renewal of the mandates of the Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (FFM) for two years. The brutal repression of civil society by government forces

following the Presidential elections in July has made evident the crucial importance of continued independent documenting, monitoring and reporting by the FFM and its role in early warning of further human rights deterioration. The Resolution also mandated OHCHR to provide an oral update at the end of this year. The work of the FFM is particularly important this year, given Venezuela’s intensified efforts to silence dissent, including arbitrary detentions and political repression in the aftermath of the presidential election. This Resolution is an important step towards justice and accountability for the victims of the recent events and their families.

Europe and Eastern Europe:

Russian Federation ­- We welcome the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, while the civic space and human rights situation in Russia continues to deteriorate, with the alarming expansion of restrictive legislation targeting specific civil society groups including LGBTQ+ and Indigenous organizations. The mandate remains a crucial pathway for Russian as well as regional civil society.

Georgia ­- We also welcome the adoption of a resolution advancing human rights-related technical assistance for Georgia, while the situation remains critical for civil society, with mass terror, large-scale hate campaign and members of civil society being brutally attacked by unidentified groups following the recently passed Russian-style 'foreign agents' law.

Middle East:

Occupied Palestinian Territories - We regret that that the Council continues to fail to address the root causes of the conflict as identified by experts and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and to address the obligations of third States in the context of the ICJ’s provisional measures stressing the plausible risk of genocide in Gaza. We continue to call for urgent Council action while the OPT’s already constrained civic space has further deteriorated, with many human rights violations have been documented. We also continue to call for a permanent ceasefire, a peace process and unimpeded humanitarian access.

Yemen - We regret that the Resolution on Yemen remains entirely focussed technical assistance, failing to address the main human rights violations and abuses and justice and accountability issues. However, we welcome that the Resolution includes language recognising the vital role of NGO workers and humanitarian staff arbitrarily detained by Houthis.

 

 

Thematic developments

CIVICUS welcomes the adoption of the Resolution on Human rights and terrorism, acknowledging that the active participation of civil society in strengthening ongoing governmental efforts to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism and to assess the impact of terrorism on the enjoyment of all human rights. We also welcome concerns expressed in the Resolution around measures that undermine human rights and the rule of law such as the detention of persons suspected of acts of terrorism in the absence of a legal basis for detention and due process guarantees. Security and counter-terrorism laws are regularly misused by repressive state apparatuses to silence HRDs uncovering grave human rights violations and corruption or seeking justice. CIVICUS remains concerned about the widespread use of laws, regulations, guidance and policies that criminalise civil society under the guise of national security, public order, and counter-terrorism. We regret that the Resolution fails to adequately address these trends comprehensively as well as efforts undertaken to legitimize violations of the Geneva Conventions by state actors under the garb of countering violent extremism.

We welcome the adoption of a new Resolution on Human rights on the Internet, which recognizes that universal and meaningful connectivity is essential for the enjoyment of human rights. We welcome the specific reference to “commercial spyware” for the first time at the Human Rights Council. Critically, the Resolution recommends diverse and human right-based technological solutions to advance connectivity, including through governments creating an enabling and inclusive regulatory environment. The Resolution also unequivocally condemns internet shutdowns, online censorship, surveillance, and other measures that serve to hinder online civil society space, while it remains crucial that the same rights that people have offline be also protected online.

Finally, we welcome the adoption of the Resolution on Equal participation in political and public affairs which for the first time includes language on children and recognizes their right to participation as well as the transformative role civic education has in supporting their participation. The Resolution also recognizes the effect hate speech has on children's full, meaningful, inclusive and safe participation in political and public affairs.

 

Letters

CIVICUS supported in the context of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council the renewal of critical mandates for international and national civil society through contribution to three letters calling for continued rigorous monitoring and reporting on human rights violations and increased accountability and international scrutiny in the face of widespread repression.

Burundi civil society in the country faces a dire situation, with severe restrictions on the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, and association. The work of human rights defenders and activists have been limited by numerous restrictions and attacks including harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and reprisals. Amid serious human rights violations and widespread impunity as the country approaches legislative and presidential elections, the letter called for the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burundi.

Russia its human rights situation has continued to deteriorate rapidly and profoundly. Russian authorities increasingly use vague counter-extremism legislation arbitrarily to target peaceful protesters, including those opposing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Freedom of expression remains severely limited with hundreds of people being prosecuted, including under so-called “war censorship” laws. Furthermore, the Russian government has escalated its campaign of repression by expanding the scope of their “foreign agent” legislation. This expansion has led to the addition of more individuals and organisations to the "foreign agent" registry, further restricting their rights. Given this growing closure of civic space, where HRDs and journalists continue to be targeted, the letter highlights that the role of the Special Rapporteur remains critical to ensuring that the voices of those who continue to struggle for their rights in hostile conditions are heard.

Venezuela in the aftermath of the presidential election, Venezuelans are facing a violent crackdown on political leaders, journalists, and HRDs. The letter supported the renewal of the mandate for the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, as it plays a crucial role in pushing for accountability and international scrutiny amid post-electoral repression. The letter also highlights that renewing the mandate would allow experts to continue gathering evidence of serious human rights violations and to recommend necessary international action, whereas discontinuing its work during this turbulent context would incentivize the Venezuelan government to continue its violent crackdown on dissent, critically undermining Venezuelan civic space.

 

 Statements

A coordinated response from the international community to the serious human rights violations in Afghanistan is still missing

At the Council we raised our concerns about the systematic assault on civic space in Afghanistan. Human rights defenders, in particular women activists, are continuously being criminalised, tortured, and ill-treated by the Taliban regime. Despite these violations, the international community has failed to respond coherently. We also underscored that the UN must establish an independent investigative mechanism to document crimes in Afghanistan and gather evidence for future accountability. Failing to do so will further undermine the efforts of HRDs seeking truth, justice, and reparation. Read the full statement here.

The Council should investigate and collect evidence of serious human rights violations in Bangladesh

CIVICUS highlighted the need for the Council to establish an independent mechanism to investigate human rights violations during last July’s mass protests in Bangladesh. This mechanism would enable continuous monitoring while working towards justice and accountability for those unjustly detained. During the protests, authorities used excessive force, leading to over 600 unlawful killings and the detention of thousands. Furthermore, under the previous regime, HRDs and journalists were systematically targeted, and critical media outlets were shut down, leading to a “closed” civic space rating for the country. While the new interim government is addressing some civic space issues, it is also crucial that all activists and protesters are released and charges against them dropped. While welcoming Bangladesh's cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights including by inviting the Office to undertake investigations into allegations of serious human rights violations in the context of youth-led protests, we regret that the Council failed to adopt a Resolution and to take action on the country. Read the full statement here.

Cooperation with the Special Rapporteur is needed in Burundi, as impunity for human rights violations persist

We underscored the need of Burundi to fully cooperate with the Special Rapporteur by granting him access to the country as serious human rights violations and abuses continue to be committed. Civil society remains under severe pressure, with widespread impunity allowing these abuses to persist. Human rights defenders face increasing restrictions, harassment, surveillance, and reprisals, severely limiting their work. Further concerns were raised at the Council regarding the excessive restrictions to the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, as well as the ongoing human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests. Read the full statement here.

Civil society data should inform policy-making, particularly regarding the reduction of civic space (General Debate Item 3)

We highlighted the need for States to use data provided by civil society as the systematic monitoring of civic space is key to ensuring rapid responses to human rights violations. Additionally, we urged States to integrate this data into policy-making and take concrete steps to protect civil society actors involved in monitoring and reporting activities from reprisals. At the Council, we also emphasized our commitment to assess civil society across all levels. With the example of the CIVICUS Monitor and its methodology, we underscored our rigorous, holistic, and nuanced approach to civic space monitoring. Read the full statement here.

The UN should prioritise preventive measures, rather than reactive ones, to address human rights crises (General Debate Item 4)

CIVICUS highlighted the need for the Council to play a more assertive role in preventing rather than reacting to human rights crises. To implement these preventive measures effectively, early warnings about the rapid deterioration of civic space are crucial for timely action. To illustrate this point, three country cases, Argentina, Azerbaijan, and Thailand, from the most recent “CIVICUS Monitor September 2024 Watchlist”, were presented. We called on the Council to address the worsening situation in all three countries with proactive measures, as their civic space is alarmingly deteriorating. Read the full statement here.

The Council must establish prevention mechanisms for the ongoing human rights violations in Haiti

CIVICUS raised its concerns over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti, which has led to widespread human rights violations and increasing challenges for civil society, including grassroots CSOs from rural areas and land defenders. We also urged the Council to establish prevention mechanisms to avoid further human rights violations, ensure the protection of victims' legal rights and guarantees, and continue monitoring the situation to identify actions for civilian protection and solidarity efforts. Despite ongoing efforts to address the situation, Haitian authorities must step up their support for NHRIs and local CSOs, establish a country office for the High Commissioner, and initiate inclusive dialogues among all Haitian actors to find a sustainable lasting solution to this alarming multidimensional crisis. Read the full statement here. We regret that the Council has not adopted any Resolution on Haiti or taken any action to identify concrete avenues for the protection of civilians against human rights violations and abuses. 

Despite ongoing technical assistance, civil society in Zimbabwe, Cambodia, and Honduras continues to face persistent harassment (General Debate Item 10)

At the Council, we urged States to take consistent steps to protect civic space, as their inaction hinders the full enjoyment of human rights. In Zimbabwe, over 160 individuals have been arrested since June, with 65 still in detention on charges related to unlawful gatherings. In Cambodia, restrictive laws continue to be used to criminalize activists, suppress civil society, and restrict protests. In Honduras, the killing of human rights defenders remains a serious concern, as the ongoing state of emergency has been used to harass defenders in rural communities. The continued crackdown on opposition members, civil society organizations, and activists in these countries highlights the need for greater technical assistance and capacity building in the field of human rights. Read the full statement here.

Cambodia: Reform laws, free human rights defenders, and end civil society harassment

During the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, CIVICUS welcomed the Rapporteur's report on the situation of human rights in Cambodia. Despite the benchmarks presented to the Council in October 2022, which called for reforms of restrictive laws and the release of human rights defenders, no tangible progress was made. Instead, the assault on civic and political space continued, even under Prime Minister Hun Manet, who assumed power in August 2023. Read our statement here

 

Events

In the context of the UN Human Rights Council session CIVICUS hosted a side event organized jointly with the Réseau International des Droits Humains Europe (RIDHE) on the topic of Transnational repression in the Americas region” as a new form of criminalization of human rights defenders. The event gathered human rights defenders from Nicaragua and Venezuela and served mainly as a forum for sharing experiences and facilitating discussion on resistance and protection strategies. Panelists presented data collected from both Nicaragua and Venezuela on the criminalisation and repression of defenders in those countries. Participants also presented concrete cases building on their firsthand experience and provided valuable insights to identify resistance and protection strategies. The CIVICUS’s UN Geneva Hub presented on the increased use of transnational repression by authoritarian regimes and

CIVICUS’s Americas Researcher shared updates on the state of civic space in both countries and highlighted key tactics of transnational repression. It is crucial that international human rights mechanisms not only condemn transnational repression but also provide tangible support to persecuted defenders, including legal protection.


[i] Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.

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