CIVICUS, together with partner civil society organisations, wrote to States to underscore the importance of maintaining hybrid participation during informal consultations on resolutions throughout 2026 (HRC61, HRC62 and HRC63).
The letter highlights that during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Human Rights Council set a strong example by enabling meaningful remote participation alongside in-person engagement. These practices significantly improved accessibility, diversity, and representation — particularly for civil society actors, human rights defenders, and victims from the Global South and marginalised communities — ensuring that Council discussions and outcomes were informed by those most affected.
However, since early 2024, these gains have been eroded through new barriers to participation, including fees for online platforms and interpretation during side events, reduced funding for travel, and increasing visa obstacles. The letter calls on States to safeguard and restore hybrid participation as essential to an inclusive, effective, and credible Human Rights Council.
