We first took the initiative of a Council resolution on civil society space in 2013.

35th session UN Human Rights Council Statement on situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo  20 June 2017 CIVICUS shares the concern of the High Commissioner over the widespread human rights violations committed in the Kasai Central and Kasai Oriental provinces of the DRC since August 2016.

35th session UN Human Rights Council General Debate 20 June 2017   In Egypt CIVICUS expresses its serious concern over the issuance of Law 70 of 2017 which further restricts space for human rights monitoring, advocacy and reporting.

35th session UN Human Rights Council Oral Statement – Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi 15 June 2017 CIVICUS remains deeply concerned by the gross human rights violations committed with impunity by the government since the Commission’s previous Council briefing on 13 March 2017.

35th session UN Human Rights Council General Debate – Ethiopia’s noncompliance with UN Special Rapporteurs 16 June 2017 CIVICUS welcomes the Communication report of Special Procedures, which sheds light on the breadth of work undertaken by this unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council.

35th session UN Human Rights Council 14 June 2017 Statement during the interactive dialogue on the report of the Special Rapporteur on situation of human rights in Eritrea CIVICUS welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea and applauds her unwavering efforts to ampifly the voices of civil society and victims of human rights violations in Eritrea and in the diaspora.

35th session of the Human Rights Council Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity 12 June, 2017 CIVICUS and 23 civil society groups from 12 countries were deprived from delivering this statement during the SOGI ID but given the high number of signatories, we feel compelled to deliver it.

35th session of the Human Rights Council General debate on High Commissioner´s oral update 7 June 2017 Thank you Mr.

35th session of the Human Rights Council Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on the right to education 7 June 2017 Thank you Mr.

RE: Renewing the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea Your Excellencies, We, the undersigned civil society organisations, write to urge your delegation to co-sponsor a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea at the forthcoming 35th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

  Permanent Representatives of Members and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council Geneva, 25 May 2017   RE: Addressing the pervasive human rights crisis in Ethiopia   Your Excellency, The undersigned civil society organisations write to draw your attention to persistent and grave violations of human rights in Ethiopia and the pressing need to support the establishment of an independent, impartial and international investigation into atrocities committed by security forces to suppress peaceful protests and independent dissent.

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, and the Center for Research and Maghrebi Studies urge the Government of Algeria to accept recommendations received from the international community during its UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), particularly regarding ending restrictions on the work of human rights defenders and creating an enabling environment for civil society organisations (CSOs).

ARTICLE 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), and the World Movement for Democracy (the Civic Space Initiative) welcome Dr.

CIVICUS and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Uganda (FHRI) ,welcome the adoption of the UPR report on Uganda and express their appreciation to the government of Uganda for collaborating in the process.

Human Rights Council 34th Session CIVICUS and Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum welcome the Government of Zimbabwe’s continued cooperation with the Universal Periodic Review process, including its acceptance of a number of important recommendations to improve the human rights situation in the country.

Human Rights Council 34th Session We address the Human Rights Council on behalf of CIVICUS in consultation with 170 Venezuelan civil society organizations.

Human Rights Council: 34th Session Adoption of South Sudan’s UPR Outcome Oral Intervention by East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) & CIVICUS The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project and CIVICUS have very little to welcome in South Sudan’s UPR process.

34th session of the Human Rights Council  Since the creation of the Council CIVICUS has appealed to States present here today to collectively address violations of the civic freedoms which they have all committed to uphold and protect.

34th session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS is deeply alarmed by the report of the Commission on South Sudan about continued mass atrocities, violence, killings and crimes against humanity at a time when the country is plagued by the worst famine.

34th session of the Human Rights Council   CIVICUS expresses serious concerns that the human rights situation has not improved since the last time we presented a statement here in response to the report of the Independent Experts about human rights in Burundi on 27 September 2016.

34th session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS expresses its appreciation to the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea for the work she has done to highlight the worst human rights violations and the overall dire situation in Eritrea.

34th session of the Human Rights Council 8 March, 2017 Thank you Mr.

Re: Support consensus renewal of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders 7 March 2017 Your Excellency, The undersigned 93 civil society organisations, coming from all regions, urge your delegation to support the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

34th session of the Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy 7 March 2017 Delivered by Tor Hodenfield Thanks you Mr.

34th session of the Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue on Climate Change and the Rights of the Child 2 March 2017 Delivered by Matthew Reading-Smith CIVICUS welcomes this opportunity to address the Vice President of the Council and the other distinguished panelists.

Two thirds of the activities of the United Nations system takes place in Geneva, making it a key centre of international co-operation and multilateral negotiation.

UN Human Rights Council - 26th Special Session Special Session on South Sudan CIVICUS welcomes this Special Session following the findings and recommendations recently put forward by the Expert Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.

The event will contribute to the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law on “Widening the Democratic Space: the role of youth in public decision-making” by strengthening recognition and deepening the understanding  among participants of how young human rights defenders play a key role in widening the role and participation of young people in  public decision-making  as a means to contribute to sustainable peace and development.

Background: The intergovernmental working group was mandated to elaborate an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights.

We remain deeply alarmed by the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo and the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation across Syria.

In advance of the start of the 3rd cycle of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in April 2017, CIVICUS has made joint and stand-alone submissions examining the environment for civil society in 11 countries.

33rd session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project thank the Independent Expert on Somalia for his report.

33rd session of the Human Rights Council We are concerned that even though the Swaziland government has committed to consider 72 recommendations, there has been no consultation with civil society on the recommendations.

33rd session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS welcomes the final report of the Independent Experts and commends them for their clear analysis of the shocking situation of human rights in Burundi.

33rd session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS welcomes the report of the Independent Expert and recognizes the Council’s continued vigilance in addressing the human rights situation in Sudan.

33rd session of the Human Rights Council Joint Oral Submission World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) and CIVICUS Next month marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements, which set out a framework for peace in Cambodia based on a multi-party democracy guaranteeing human rights; however, the past year has seen the pillars of Cambodian democracy come under attack.

33nd session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS has the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of CIVICUS Youth Action Team and three members organisations of the alliance: Amnesty International, Zimbabwe National Association of Youth Organisations and Young Diplomats of Canada.

33nd session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS welcomes Hungary’s commitment to engage with the Universal Periodic Review process and takes seriously the recommendations made by states and other stakeholders during the 2nd cycle review.

33rd session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s report on the rights of indigenous peoples and its contribution towards the development of a stronger guiding framework on the relationship between business and human rights.

CIVICUS remains deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Syria and the continued suffering of its people.

33nd session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS welcomes this opportunity to address the High Commissioner and the Council on the evolving discussion to develop a more robust guiding framework to protect and promote the right to participate in political and public affairs.

We fully endorse the High Commissioner´s caution against populist demagogues in Europe and the United States, who fuel hatred and bigotry against minority groups, refugees and entire religious communities.

CIVICUS thanks the Special Rapporteur on access to safe drinking water and sanitation for his very innovative report, for looking through the gender lens on the myriad challenges women face in tackling the material and structural determinants of gender inequalities in access to water, sanitation and hygiene which could serve as an entry point to address gender inequality more broadly.

  A group of civil society organizations (CSOs) have written to the UN Human Rights Council (UN HRC) to draw the delegation's attention to grave violations of human rights in Ethiopia, including the recent crackdown on largely peaceful protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions.

  12 international, regional, and Cambodian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), urge the Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution addressing Cambodia's gravely deteriorating human rights situation.

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.

Thank you, Mr.

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

CIVICUS remains deeply alarmed by both the increase and severity of restrictive laws, policies and practices being used to undermine and enfeeble civil society across the globe.

This statement is delivered by CIVICUS together with our national partner organization, the Sierra Leone Campaign for Good Governance.