CIVICUS and partner human rights organisations have raised concerns over Norway’s decision to triennialise the Human Rights Defenders resolution at the UN Third Committee, urging continued support for defenders worldwide.
We, the undersigned international human rights organisations, are writing to you regarding Norway’s decision to triennialize its resolution on human rights defenders at the Third Committee of the General Assembly (‘GA’). We appreciate the leading role that Norway has taken, and continues to take, in promoting the protection of human rights defenders globally, including by being the pen holder for this resolution. We understand that the decision to triennialise it has been taken due to capacity constraints, the rationalisation of the 3C working methods and a desire to better coordinate with the Human Rights Council resolution cycle.
While we understand the factors that led to the decision, we are concerned by the message that this decision will send, and the perceived deprioritisation of the human rights defenders’ agenda in 2025, given the dire situation many human rights defenders face globally.
In 2024 alone, at least 324 human rights defenders from 32 countries were killed for peacefully carrying out their work.1 Coordinated smear campaigns and restrictive laws designed to silence dissent have become widespread. Intimidation and reprisals patterns are exercised against human rights defenders, ranging from threats, surveillance and enforced disappearances, to travel bans and judicial harassment, among many others. Approximately 72.4 percent of the current global population lives under repressive conditions, with nearly 30 percent residing in countries where civic space is now completely closed.2 At the same time, recent and concerning shifts in political dynamics, including in countries that have historically supported civil society, are further restricting the space in which civil society operates.
We hope that the additional year will be used to consult and build support for a strong resolution next year. Specifically, we urge Norway to continue to strengthen the resolution to ensure that it addresses the current challenges faced by human rights defenders while affirming their indispensable role in upholding democratic principles and the rule of law. As with previous years, we also encourage Norway to develop the resolution in close consultation with human rights defenders and NGOs to ensure the text is strengthened by the insights and expertise of those at the frontlines of human rights defence. Our organisations stand ready to help facilitate such consultations.
We also encourage Norway to consider expanding the ownership of the resolution to a cross-regional core group to address the issue of capacity constraints while also demonstrating cross-regional support at a crucial moment for human rights defenders and multilateralism. We greatly appreciate Norway’s strong leadership on this resolution, and acknowledge the challenges often associated with core groups, but on balance consider that a cross-regional core group could enhance the relevance, legitimacy and impact of the resolution at the international, regional and national levels.
In the meantime, we greatly appreciate and urge Norway to continue its strong support for human rights defenders during this period to sustain visibility and momentum. In particular, we encourage Norway to consider leading a joint statement and/or a side event, together with a cross-regional group of States, to ensure attention remains focused on this critical issue, and to share other initiatives which could be undertaken at the GA to make up for the lack of a focused resolution this year. We stand ready to fully support Norway in this regard. Together, we must ensure that the international community stands resolutely with those who work for a world that is more just, equal, and sustainable for all.
We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss potential next steps to be taken together in preparation for the GA.
Amnesty International
CIVICUS
Front Line Defenders
International Service for Human Right
1 https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/resource-publication/global-analysis-202425
