Geneva

Restrictions on civil liberties curtail efforts to build back better

Geneva
Statement at the 47th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Delivered by Lisa Majumdar Thank you, Madame President, and thank you High Commissioner for your report.
Featured

China: Impunity persists for attacks against human rights

Geneva
🇨🇳#China: Impunity persists for attacks against human rights.
Featured

Eritrea: Government fails to address grave human rights violations

Geneva
🇪🇷#Eritrea is one of the most repressive countries in the world.
Featured

Advocacy priorities at 47th Session of UN Human Rights Council

Geneva
The 47th Session is set to run from 21 June to 15 July, and will cover a number of critical thematic and country issues.

Special session to address the grave human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem

Geneva
UN Human Rights Council – Special session to address the grave human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem  May 2021 Delivered by Judit Rosell Thank you, Madame President.

Intersessional panel on the responsibility to protect

Geneva
Delivered by Lisa Majumdar Thank you, Madame President, and thank you to the panelists for the discussion.

Eritrea: renew vital mandate of UN Special Rapporteur

Geneva
To: Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council (Geneva, Switzerland)  Excellencies,  In 2020, the UN Human Rights Council maintained its scrutiny of Eritrea’s human rights situation.

Hong Kong: The international community must take a principled stand against repression

Geneva
Joint statement with FORUM Asia and Asia Democracy Network The international community must take a strong, principled stand against the escalating repression and reprisals against human rights activists and civil society in Hong Kong.
Featured

Singapore yet to address civic freedom gaps ahead of UN review

Geneva
Human rights groups CIVICUS and FORUM-ASIA call on UN member states to urge the government of Singapore to protect civic freedoms as its human rights record is examined by the UN Human Rights Council on 12 May 2021 as part of the 38th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

CIVICUS' United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Submissions on Civil Society Space

Geneva
CIVICUS and its partners have submitted joint and stand-alone UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on 4 countries in advance of the 39th UPR session in October 2021.
Featured

Outcomes and reflections from the UN Human Rights Council

Geneva
The 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council sat from 22 February - 24 March, 2021 and there were a number of critical human rights resolutions up for debate and for the 47 Council members to address.

Nicaragua: Resolution adopted at Human Rights Council

Geneva
Resolution on Nicaragua adopted at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Featured

UN Human Rights Council adopts resolution on Myanmar

Geneva
Resolution on Myanmar adopted at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council This resolution, adopted by consensus, represents an important step towards achieving accountability and justice in Myanmar
Featured

Civil Society Organisations call for the immediate operationalisation of the HRC’s new mandate on Belarus

Geneva
Resolution on Belarus adopted at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Sri Lanka: Resolution adopted at UN Human Rights Council

Geneva
Resolution on Sri Lanka adopted at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council The UN Human Rights Council maintains scrutiny but impunity concerns remain CIVICUS welcomes renewed scrutiny on Sri Lanka by the Human Rights Council, and calls for the Council to take further measures towards an accountability mechanism should the situation continue to deteriorate.
Featured

Philippines: UN accountability mechanism needed to end cycle of violence and impunity

Geneva
Statement at the 46 Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 10: General Debate on technical cooperation and capacity building Oral statement delivered by Cecile Gaa, Forum Asia Madam President, Nearly six months since its adoption, Human Rights Council resolution 45/33 offering technical assistance to the Philippines has proven to be utterly insufficient to address the systematic human rights violations and persistent impunity documented in the High Commissioner’s report.
Featured

DRC: The press and the right to protest remain unprotected

Geneva
Statement at the 46 Session of the UN Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner on the Democratic Republic of Congo Thank you, Madame President, and thank you High Commissioner for your update.
Featured

UN Member States must protect the independence of the special procedures

Geneva
Amnesty International delivers this statement on behalf of 15 NGOs.

Honduras: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights

Geneva
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights -- Outcome Adoption for Honduras Thank you, Mr President.

A joint call to the UN to Address human rights situation in the Russian Federation

Geneva
This statement is made on behalf of 8 organisations, who together call on the Human Rights Council to address the human rights situation in the Russian Federation.

The Maldives: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights

Geneva
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights -- Outcome Adoption for Maldives

Malawi's adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights

Geneva
Statement at 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights -- Outcome Adoption for Malawi   We welcome Malawi’s engagement in the UPR process.
Featured

Extend the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan

Geneva
🇸🇸#SouthSudan: The conditions for activists and journalists are dire and continue to worsen.
Featured

5 countries on CIVICUS Monitor watchlist presented to UN Human Rights Council

Geneva
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council This Council has identified restrictions on fundamental freedoms as a warning sign of an impending human rights crisis.
Featured

Burundi: Progress since 2020 elections, but rights abuses persist

Geneva
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Delivered by Cyriaque Nibitegeka CIVICUS and independent Burundian civil society organisations welcome the important work of the Commission of Inquiry and thank the Commission for its update.
Featured

Myanmar: International action needed to restore democracy and protect rights

Geneva
🇲🇲#Myanmar: International action needed to restore democracy and protect rights.
Featured

Venezuela: Extrajudicial killings continue, evidence presented to the UN

Geneva
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council  We thank the Fact-Finding Mission for this timely update, which ensures that the human rights situation in Venezuela continues to be promptly documented.
Featured

To achieve the SDGs, civil society must be supported and protected

Geneva
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Thank you, Madame President.
Featured

Human Rights Council: Restrictions on civil society will curtail any chance of building back better

Geneva
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Thank you, Madame President; High Commissioner.
Featured

Nicaragua: UN must take action as over 100 activists remain in prison

Geneva
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council delivered by Amaru Ruiz, Fundación del Río The crisis in Nicaragua persists and systematic repression of demonstrations has effectively suppressed mobilisations.

Sri Lanka: Warning signs of a deteriorating human rights situation

Geneva
Statement at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council We welcome the report of the High Commissioner, which concludes that domestic initiatives for accountability have repeatedly failed to produce results.
Featured

Advocacy priorities at 46th Session of UN Human Rights Council

Geneva
The 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council will sit from 22 February - 23 March, 2021 and there are a number of critical human rights resolutions up for debate and for the 47 Council members to address.
Featured

Russia: Human Rights Council must respond to crackdown on civil society

Geneva
Joint statement ahead of the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council, condemning Russia (a new member of the body) for recent attacks against protestors (over 12,000 detained since late January).

Myanmar: A return to military dictatorship must be prevented

Geneva
Special session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar CIVICUS thanks the UK and EU for your leadership in calling for this Special Session.

Joint call for Human Rights Council Special Session on Myanmar

Geneva
Joint statement by human rights organisations calling UN Human Rights Council to convene a Special Session on Myanmar.

Video Statement Guide: Human Rights Council

Geneva
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges for NGOs to deliver in-person statements to the Human Rights Council at the Palais de Nations in Geneva.
Featured

Nepal: UN review critical moment to address obstructed civic freedoms

Geneva
Statement on Nepal ahead of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights CIVICUS calls on UN member states to urge the Government of Nepal to double its efforts to protect civic freedoms as its human rights record is examined by the UN Human Rights Council on 21 January 2021 as part of the 37th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Featured

Myanmar: UN review critical moment to address repressed civic freedoms

Geneva
Statement on Myanmar ahead of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights CIVICUS, Free Expression Myanmar and Asia Democracy Network call on UN member states to urge the Government of Myanmar to protect civic freedoms as its human rights record is examined by the UN Human Rights Council on 25 January 2021 as part of the 37th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Featured

Rwanda: UN rights review should shed light on civic space restrictions

Geneva
Statement on Rwanda ahead of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights A United Nations review of Rwanda’s human rights record is an opportunity to shed light on civic space restrictions in the country, DefendDefenders and CIVICUS said ahead of Rwanda’s third Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which will take place on Monday 25 January 2021 in Geneva.
Featured

Upcoming UN review critical moment for Honduras to address civic freedom gaps

Geneva
CIVICUS, the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Democracy (REDLAD) and the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (ASONOG) call on UN member states to urge the Government of Honduras to protect civic freedoms as its human rights record is examined by the UN on 5 November 2020 as part of the 36th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Featured

Upcoming UN review critical moment for Malawi to address civic freedom gaps

Geneva
CIVICUS, the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) call on UN member states to urge the Government of Malawi to double its efforts to protect civic freedoms as its human rights record is examined by the UN Human Rights Council on 3 November 2020 as part of the 36th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Featured

Country recommendations on civic space for Universal Periodic Review

Geneva
CIVICUS makes joint UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on civil society space in Mozambique, Niger, Paraguay and Singapore The United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States once every 4.
Featured

Outcomes from the UN Human Rights Council: Progress & Shortcomings

Geneva
Joint statement from the end of the United Nations' 45th Session of the UN Human Rights Council 14 organisations share reflections on the key outcomes of the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council, as well as the missed opportunities to address key issues and situations including on deadly migration routes at EU and US borders, and the human rights situations in Algeria, Bolivia, China, Egypt, and India.
Featured

Philippines: An international investigation is needed as government continues to deny grave violations

Geneva
Joint statement at the 45th Session of the UN Human Rights Council -- delivered by the World Organisation Against Torture   On behalf of 14 organisations, including colleagues in the Philippines, we are deeply disappointed that the draft Item 10 resolution on the Philippines fails to reflect the gravity of the situation, including as documented in the OHCHR report.

DRC: Attacks on activists and journalists persist

Geneva
Statement at the 45th Session of the UN Human Rights Council -- Enhanced Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of the Congo   Thank you, Madame President, and thank you High Commissioner for your report.
Featured

The UN must address the government of the Philippines pattern of reprisals

Geneva
Joint statement at the 45th Session of the UN Human Rights Council -- CIVICUS and Karapatan, delivered by Roneo Clamor CIVICUS and its member organisation Karapatan welcome the Secretary General’s report and recommendations on reprisals.

Cambodia's attempts to silence dissent are racheting up

Geneva
Joint statement at the 45th Session of the UN Human Rights Council -- CIVICUS and the Cambodian Center for Human Rights The Royal Government of Cambodia’s attempts to silence dissent in the country - by criminalising political opposition, shutting down media outlets, jailing journalists, and targeting human rights defenders and civil society groups who speak out – is ratcheting up.

India: The National Human Rights Commission not upholding its mandate or protecting the constitution

Geneva
Statement at the 45th Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Over the last two years, we have seen in India an alarming deterioration of civic freedoms.

Civil society facing reprisals for engagement in UN human rights mechanisms

Geneva
Statement at the 45th Session of the UN Human Rights Council     Acts of reprisal pose a threat to the functioning of UN human rights mechanisms as a whole.

Armenia adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights

Geneva
Statement at the 45th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights -- Outcome Adoption for Armenia Thank you, Madame President.

Sign up for our newsletters

Our Newsletters

civicus logo white

CIVICUS is a global alliance that champions the power of civil society to create positive change.

brand x FacebookLogo YoutubeLogo InstagramLogo LinkedinLogo TikTokLogo BlueSkyLogo

Johannesburg Hub

25  Owl Street, 6th Floor

Johannesburg
South Africa
2092

Tel: +27 (0)11 833 5959


Fax: +27 (0)11 833 7997

UN Hub: New York

CIVICUS, c/o We Work

450 Lexington Ave

New York
NY
10017

United States

UN Hub: Geneva

11 Avenue de la Paix

Geneva

Switzerland
CH-1202

Tel: +41 (0)79 910 3428