United Nations

• CIVICUS at the 2023 UN High Level Political Forum  

  

  Without civil society, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would not be possible. Civil society actively contributes to each of the goals, while also fulfilling an important watchdog role in the monitoring of government commitments. That’s why every July civil society representatives from around the world attend the UN High Level Political Forum in New York, the governance body for the SDGs. This year’s meeting took place from 10-19 July, 2023 and represented the halfway point between the adoption of the global goals and their 2030 deadline. Very few of the goals are on track and some targets, including commitments to protect civic freedoms are regressing below their 2015 baseline.

  In particular, five of the SDGs were under review at the meeting:

  • Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
  • Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
  • Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • Goal 11: Sustainable citieis and communities
  • Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

  38 countries presented their Voluntary National Reviews at the 2023 meeting while civil society presented their own progress reports (see the halfway report by the TAP Network). CIVICUS’ interventions had an emphasis on Goals 16 and 17, which specifically relate to civil society’s important role in sustainable development. Key targets in focus for us to include:

  SDG Target 16.7. Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels SDG Target 16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms (see CIVICUS’ ratings on how UN members are protecting fundamental freedoms) SDG Target 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships

  Across each of these targets, attacks on civil society and civic freedoms are threatening adequate progress. During HLPF 2023 CIVICUS participated in roundtables organized by the Action for Sustainable Development coalition and the Transparency, Accountability and Participation network. We also co-organised a side event organized by the Permanent Missions of Costa Rica and Denmark on the Unmute Civil Society initiative. Further, we participated in a civil society roundtable at the South Korean Permanent Mission on SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. We also engaged with the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on civic and democratic participation in Agenda 2030.

  The next big moment for the Sustainable Development Goals is scheduled for 18-19 September, at the second UN SDG Summit to be held in New York.

  Read More

  • [Article] ‘It’s Time UN Turned Ideas to ‘UNMute’ Civil Society into Action’
  • [Article] Agenda 2030: Why civic participation is key to meeting UN sustainability targets
  • [Campaign] UN SDG Action Campaign (mobilisation activities for 15-25 September)
  • [Grant] Host an event in September to mark the anniversary of the SDGS
  • [Event] Global Peoples Assembly from 17-18 September in New York
• CIVICUS at the 2024 UN High Level Political Forum (SDGs)

  

  Without civil society, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would not be possible. Civil society actively contributes to each of the goals, while also fulfilling an important watchdog role in the monitoring of government commitments. That’s why every July civil society representatives from around the world attend the UN High Level Political Forum in New York, the governance body for the SDGs. This year’s meeting will take place from 8-18 July, 2024. Very few of the goals are on track and some targets, including commitments to protect civic freedoms are regressing below their 2015 baseline.

  To evaluate progress, representatives from forty-three countries will showcase their achievements on commitments outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). 

  Among the sustainable development goals (SDGs) being reviewed this year is SDG 16 which includes commitments on responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision making; and on access to information and fundamental freedoms. These hard-won commitments which recognise the importance of transparency, accountability and participation in achieving the SDGs were agreed only after persistent advocacy by civil society activists and public servants. 

  Undeniably, the challenges in achieving SDGs are intricately linked to closing civic space and attacks on human rights defenders (HRDs). According to the CIVICUS monitor report 2023, only 2% of the global population lives in fully open civic spaces. Among the 43 countries presenting VNRs this year, only five—Samoa, Austria, Micronesia, Estonia, and Palau—have been rated as "open" in their national civic ratings by the CIVICUS Monitor.

  To get involved in the events taking place at the UN High Level Political Forum, see the official calendar here. Below are the key events that CIVICUS will be supporting, either as a panellist or an organising partner. All times USA Eastern Time Zone:

  Monday 8 July

  Using the Rule of Law and Access to Justice to Deliver Sustainable, Transformative and Innovative Solutions to Accelerate Implementation of the 2030 Agenda (CIVICUS attending the event) Time: 13:15pm- 14:20 (ET) Venu: UNHQ Conference Room 7

  Tuesday 9 July

  Upholding human rights and values: Navigating the Threats LINK to Peace, Democracy, Climate Action, and Civil Society During Preparation of the Summit of the Future (CIVICUS attending the event) Time: 8:00 (ET) Venue: Virtual Register

  From margins to mainstream: Achieving SDG 16 through inclusive decision-making (CIVICUS attending the event) Time: 13:00-15:00 (ET) Venue: 8th Floor, Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA

  Wednesday 10 July

  Voices of SDG16+ Side Event (CIVICUS supporting the event) Time : 8:30-10:00 (ET) Venue: Online  Register

  Thursday 11 July

  Gender Equality in Law: Action Needed to Achieve SDG16 and the 2030 Agenda (CIVICUS attending the event) Time: 13:00 - 14:00 (ET) Venue: UN Women Headquarters, 220 E 42nd Street, New York and online Registration

  Friday 12 July

  #SDG16Now Side Event (CIVICUS attending the event) Time: 13:00 - 15:00 (ET) Venue: Church Center, 2nd floor Registration

  Breaking the Caste Bars: SDG Framework for Justice and Inclusion of Dalit (CIVICUS panelist) Time: 15:00 - 17:00 (ET) Venue: CIVICUS WeWork. Organisers: International Dalit Solidarity Network and Dignity Initiative

  Promoting a Nexus Approach to SDGs: Interlinking SDG 16 and 17 (CIVICUS panellist) Time: 15:30- 17:30 (ET) Venue: Permanent Mission of the Republic of South Korea Resgistration

  Saturday 13 July

  Civil Society Weekend Workshop at HLPF 2024 (CIVICUS moderating opening session) Time: 10:00 - 16:00 (ET) Venue: Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave, New York Registration

  CIVICUS and A4SD Networking Reception Time: 17:00 onwards (ET) Venue: Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave, New York Registration

  Monday 15 July

  Achieving the SDGs: Enhancing Access to Financing for LINK Sustainable Development for Civil Society in LDCs and LLDCs (CIVICUS attending the event) Time: 8:00 (ET) Venue: Online Virtual session available here

  NGO Major Group Side Event: Transforming the Relationship Between the United Nations & Civil Society: Building Healthy and Robust SDG partnerships (CIVICUS panellist) Time: 13:15-14:30 (ET) Venue: UN Building Conference Room F Agenda here

  Wednesday 17 July

  What is the Role of Multilaterals in Locally Led Development? (CIVICUS panellist) Time: 8:00 to 9:30 (ET) Venue: Permanent Mission of Belgium, New York

  Tackling Polarization and Disinformation in Pursuit of SDG16+ (CIVICUS panelist) Time: 10:00 –11:45 (ET) Venue: 777 United Nations Plaza, 8 th FL, New York, NY. Organisers: Pathfinders in collaborations with Bangladesh, Czech Republic and Canada Permanent Missions to the UN.

   

• CIVICUS at the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

  The opening week of the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council will be dominated by the high level segment which will include approximately 99 high level speakers including top political leaders from UN member states as well as UN Secretary General, Mr Antonio Guterres, and the President of the General Assembly amongst others.
   
  To note is the oral update given by the High Commissioner for human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, on the 7th March which will address a number of pressing issues on the Councils agenda as well as bringing to light issues that are not being properly addressed by the Council and merit further attention.
   
  On the agenda this session of Interest to CIVICUS will be reports on the safety of journalists, the report on effectiveness and reform of the Human Rights Council, the report on Human Rights Defenders and People on the move by Michel Forst, SR for Human Rights Defenders. Also of note, the right to privacy and a number of country specific situations. CIVICUS will be following many discussions where civic space is touched upon and will continue to advocate for an enabling environment for civil society.

  Thursday, 1 March 14:00 - 15:00 (Room XXVII) | Human Rights & Citizenship in the Gulf Region | Organised by: SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion, Bahrain Center for Human Rights, CIVICUS, International Federation for Human Rights, and
  Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme
  
  Across the Gulf Region, the relationship of citizenship and human rights has become a central issue. This event will examine how the authorities have increasingly sought to strip human rights defenders of their citizenship as a reprisal for their perceived political views and legitimate human rights work. See full invitation.
  
  PANELISTS: 

  • Tor Hodenfield, CIVICUS
  • Tara O'Grady, SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights
  • Mohamed Sultan, Bahrain Center for Human Rights
  • Abdelbagi Jibril, Darfur Relief & Documentation Centre
  • Moderator: Asma Darwish, SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights

  Friday, 2 March 11:30 - 13:00 (Room XXIV) | Ethiopia: The role of the international community in ending impunity and ensuring accountability for violations of fundamental rights | Organised by: Defend Defenders,Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia, and CIVICUS
  
  The event will provide an opportunity to examine the state of civic space in Ethiopia and the setbacks in has suffered over the last decade. Civic space has become increasingly controlled and restricted as human rights defenders have faced threats, arrests, and detention while attempting to exercise their rights to assembly, association, and expression. This even will ook at these threats and trends. See full invitation.
  
  PANELISTS: 

  • Yared Hailiemariam, Director, Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia
  • Tsedale Lemma, Editor-In-Chief, Addis Standard Magazine
  • Bayisa Wak-Woya, Director, Global Refugee & Migration Council 
  • Moderator: Hassan Shire, Executive Director, DefendDefenders

  Friday, 2 March 15:00-16:30 (Room XI) | Counterterrorism, Emergency Powers, and the Protection of Civic Space | Organised by: Article 19, ECNL, CIVICUS, ICNL, World Movement for Democracy, and International Federation for Human Rights
  
  The use of exceptional national security and emergency powers to combat terrorism has become increasingly common. The event will look at how counterterrorism measures and emergency powers have increasingly resulted in the restrictions of fundamental freedoms, including the rights to assembly, association and expression. See full invitation.
  
  PANELISTS: 

  • Fionnuala Ni Aolain, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
  • Kerem Altiparmek, Ankara University, Faculty of Political Science
  • Yared Hailemariam, Director, Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia
  • Lisa Oldring, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Sonia Tanic, Representative to the UN, International Federation for Human Rights
  • Moderator: Nicholas Miller, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law
• CIVICUS at the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

  The opening week of the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council will commence with the high level segment which will include approximately 99 high level speakers including top political leaders from UN member states as well as UN Secretary General, Mr Antonio Guterres, and the President of the General Assembly amongst others.
   
  To note is the oral update given by the High Commissioner for human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, on the 7th March which will address a number of pressing issues on the Councils agenda as well as bringing to light issues that are not being properly addressed by the Council and merit further attention.
   
  Of interest to CIVICUS will be reports on the safety of journalists, the report on effectiveness and reform of the Human Rights Council, the report on Human Rights Defenders and People on the move by Michel Forst, SR for Human Rights Defenders. Also of note, the right to privacy and a number of country specific situations. CIVICUS will be following many discussions where civic space is touched upon and will continue to advocate for an enabling environment for civil society.

  Thursday, 1 March 14:00 - 15:00 (Room XXVII) | Human Rights & Citizenship in the Gulf Region | Organised by: SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion, Bahrain Center for Human Rights, CIVICUS, International Federation for Human Rights, and Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme
  
  Across the Gulf Region, the relationship of citizenship and human rights has become a central issue. This event will examine how the authorities have increasingly sought to strip human rights defenders of their citizenship as a reprisal for their perceived political views and legitimate human rights work. See full invitation.
  
  PANELISTS: 

  • Tor Hodenfield, CIVICUS
  • Tara O'Grady, SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights
  • Mohamed Sultan, Bahrain Center for Human Rights
  • Abdelbagi Jibril, Darfur Relief & Documentation Centre
  • Moderator: Asma Darwish, SALAM for Democracy and Human Rights

  Friday, 2 March 11:30 - 13:00 (Room XXIV) | Ethiopia: The role of the international community in ending impunity and ensuring accountability for violations of fundamental rights | Organised by: Defend Defenders,Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia, and CIVICUS
  
  The event will provide an opportunity to examine the state of civic space in Ethiopia and the setbacks in has suffered over the last decade. Civic space has become increasingly controlled and restricted as human rights defenders have faced threats, arrests, and detention while attempting to exercise their rights to assembly, association, and expression. This even will ook at these threats and trends. See full invitation.
  
  PANELISTS: 

  • Yared Hailiemariam, Director, Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia
  • Tsedale Lemma, Editor-In-Chief, Addis Standard Magazine
  • Bayisa Wak-Woya, Director, Global Refugee & Migration Council 
  • Moderator: Hassan Shire, Executive Director, DefendDefenders

  Friday, 2 March 15:00-16:30 (Room XI) | Counterterrorism, Emergency Powers, and the Protection of Civic Space | Organised by: Article 19, ECNL, CIVICUS, ICNL, World Movement for Democracy, and International Federation for Human Rights
  
  The use of exceptional national security and emergency powers to combat terrorism has become increasingly common. The event will look at how counterterrorism measures and emergency powers have increasingly resulted in the restrictions of fundamental freedoms, including the rights to assembly, association and expression. See full invitation.
  
  PANELISTS: 

  • Fionnuala Ni Aolain, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
  • Kerem Altiparmek, Ankara University, Faculty of Political Science
  • Yared Hailemariam, Director, Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia
  • Lisa Oldring, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Sonia Tanic, Representative to the UN, International Federation for Human Rights
  • Moderator: Nicholas Miller, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law

  Thursday, 15 March 15:00-16:00 (Room XXII) | The Link Between the Deterioration of Human Rights in Egypt and the Massive Violations in the Gulf States | Gulf Center for Human Rights | International Federation for Human Rights | OMCT | International Service for Human Rights | CPJ | ALQST | CIVICUS | CPJ

  A look at the middle east governments' coordinated efforts to target human rights defenders and journalists across the region. See full invitation.

  PANELISTS:

  • Yahya Al-Assiri, Director of ALQST for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia
  • Justin Shilad, Committee to Protect Journalists
  • Nardine Al-Nemr, Academic & Activists from Egypt
  • Sara Brandt, Advocacy & Campaigns Officer, CIVICUS
• CIVICUS at the 38th Session of the Human Rights Council

  The 38th session of the UN Human Rights Council, from 18 June to 6 July 2018, will consider core civic space issues of freedom of association, assembly and expression. During this session, CIVICUS will be supporting advocacy missions on the grave human rights situations in Tanaznia, Ethiopia and Eritrea and Nicaragua, while also participating in reviews of citizen rights in Burundi, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the European Union. Additional areas to note:

  • The first week of the session will coincide with World Refugee Day (20 June)
  • Be the first session of the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Assembly, Clement Voule
  • Process to renew and strengthen the Civic Space Resolution

  If you are in Geneva, please join us at the following events that CIVICUS is organising with partners:

  • 19 June, 12:00-13:00 | Room XXIII | Ethiopia at a crossroads: What can we do to support civic space reform?
  • 22 June, 12:00-13:00 | Room XXVI | Addressing backsliding on civic space in the European Union
  • 25 June, 9:00-10:00 | Room XXVI | The Eritrean human rights cause at a critical juncture: Reflections on progress, pitfalls and prospects
  • 26 June, 14:00-15:00 | Room XXIV | Preventing the entrenchment of civic space restrictions in Tanzania

  These events will be livestreamed on our CIVICUS Facebook Page and daily updates provided on Twitter.

• CIVICUS at the 40th Human Rights Council

   

  The 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council will meet from 25 February to 22 March. While in session, CIVICUS will be presenting research and conducting advocacy activities related to UN Member States' records on protecting civil liberties. In particular, CIVICUS is organising a number of side events, issuing advocacy statements and supporting our members engage in official proceedings, where they can inform government and UN officials on the state of civicspace conditions in their countries. 

  Panel discussions CIVICUS will be co-organising:

  Friday, 1 March, 13:00-14:00 (Room XXVII) | The Role of Counter-Terrorism Laws in the Closing of Civic Space | Civic Space Initiative (Article 19, CIVICUS, ECNL, ICNL, World Movement for Democracy)

  This event will examine the misuse of counter-terrorism laws by States to target government critics and human rights defenders. The panel will look at how states are abusing security legislation to curtail civic freedoms. See full invitation. Speakers include:

  • Fionnuala Ni Aolain, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
  • Alexander Verkhovskiy, Director, SOVA Center
  • Melanie Strickland, community activist and member of the Stansted 15
  • Befekadu Hailu, Blogger and Human Rights Activist, EHRP/Addis Maleda 
  • Moderator: Nicholas Miller, Legal Advisor, ICNL

  Tuesday,  5 March, 13.00-14:00 (Room XXVII) | Escazú and Beyond: Strengthening the Global Normative Framework on Protecting Environmental Defenders | Article 19, Centre for Environmental Rights, CIVICUS, Defend Defenders, Frontline Defenders, Global Witness, Ground Work, Human Rights Watch,  International Land Coalition
   
  This side event will review State obligations for protecting the rights of environmental defenders and how the recently adopted Escazú Agreement can inform the work of the Human Rights Council. The panel will look at how the standards of the regional Escazú Agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean can support global efforts to end the widespread attacks against environmental and land rights activists. See full invitation (Espanol). Speakers include:

  • Leiria Vay, Comité de Desarrollo Campesino, CODECA Guatemala
  • Matome Kapa, Attorney, Centre for Environmental Rights, South Africa
  • Marcos Orellana, Director Human Rights and Environment Division, HRW
  • David Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment
  • Moderator: Natalia Gomez, Advocacy & Network Engagement Officer, CIVICUS

  ---

  Other events that CIVICUS is cosponsoring at the 40th Session of the Human Rights Council, include:

  • 5 March (10:00-11:00) | The case for international action on Bahrain | Room XV
  • 6 March (11:00-12:00) | Women Human Rights Defenders: Local Realities & Shared Global Challenges | Room XXI
  • 8 March (12:00-13:00) | East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project - Human Rights in South Sudan | Room XXVII

  CIVICUS will be live-streaming events through its Facebook page and posting updates on Twitter. 

• CIVICUS at the 56th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council: Advocacy Priorities

  In the upcoming 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council (18 June to 12 July) CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance with a mandate to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, will prioritise protecting civic space and core freedoms, supporting civil society where they face grave risk, and enabling the participation and engagement of civic groups with the Council.

• CIVICUS at the 58th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council

  At the 58th session of UN Human Rights Council (24 February to 4 April 2025) CIVICUS will prioritise protecting civic space and civic freedoms. With our mandate to strengthen citizen action and as a global civil society alliance, we will support civil society where they face persistent, new and unprecedented risks and challenges. We will continue to enable meaningful, effective and inclusive participation and engagement of civic groups with the Council.

  

  ^{*More data on the state of civic freedoms for all UN Member States available at monitor.civicus.org}

• CIVICUS at the UN Commission on the Status of Women

   

  Together with our members, CIVICUS is participating in the Commission on the Status of Women (11-22 March, UN Headquarters, New York). This is the 63rd session of the global intergovernmental body, which is dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. There are a number of events and advocacy activities taking place during the two week UN meeting. See our programme and learn more about how governments, UN agencies and civil society work together at this annual meeting to advance gender equality,  via our CSW portal. 

• CIVICUS at the UN General Assembly (September 2023)

  The General Assembly is the main policymaking organ of the United Nations. It is composed of representatives of all member States and has a general mandate to discuss and make recommendations on any matters within the scope of the UN Charter. The 78th session of UNGA (5-26 September) will feature over 140 world leaders descending on New York City. A key meeting will be the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, as 2023 represents the halfway point in the implementation of the global goals. The SDGs are woefully behind schedule and it is critical that the UN and world leaders take this opportunity to forge partnerships with civil society to get the goals back on track. To read a detailed overview of our key messages and priorities for the General Assembly, see our recent article for Inter Press Service.

  In this regard, CIVICUS, alongside multiple civil society organisations and representatives, will participate in several side-events and meetings with the aim of building links between civil society and decision makers at the United Nations, while strengthening civil society’s voice on high-level platforms. 

  CIVICUS will also be attending bi-lateral meetings in New York with allies, members and donors to continue strengthening solidarity and collaboration.  

  Here is a full calendar of our engagements at #UNGA78: 

  Date, Timeand Place	Event	Host	CIVICUS Attendees
  13 September UNHQ ConfRoom 5	OHCHR roundtable on Civic Space	Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR)	Mandeep Tiwana as panelist
  13 -14 September Ford Foundation for Social Justice in New York	Global Partnership Board Meeting	Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data	Mandeep Tiwana
  15 September 2 -3pm  The SDG Pavilion at the North Lawn of the United Nations Headquarters	UN Democracy Fund’s event marking this year’s International Day of Democracy	UN Democracy Fund	Lysa John Mandeep Tiwana
  17 September  TBC	GPIN networking gathering	Global Public Investment	Lysa John
  17 - 18 September  777 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 United States	Global Peoples Assembly    Two events – one on civic space and human rights – along-with CPDE and others. The other on Global Democracy and the UN	Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)	Mandeep Tiwana Lysa John
  18 September 6pm  CIVICUS Office, WeWork Space, 4th Floor on 450 Lexington Ave.	CIVICUS Meet & Greet	CIVICUS	Mandeep Tiwana Claire Nylander Lysa John
  18 September 8.30 am – 11.00am  Apella, located at 450 E 29th St, New York, NY.	MIT Solve: Solve Challenge Finals	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	Lysa John
  18 September 12:30 – 1:45pm   Hilton Midtown 1335 6th Avenue New York	Private Roundtable | Global Public Investment: How to Unlock Finance for Health, Climate, and the SDGs	Clinton Foundation & Global Public Investment	Lysa John
  18 – 19 September 18th: 9am – 6pm  19th : 3pm – 7pm   UN Headquarters	UN SDG Summit SDG Summit 2023   SDG Summit Programme	United Nations	Mandeep Tiwana Lysa John
  20 September 8:00 am - 9:30 am  Ford Foundation, New York	CEO Financing Roundtable: ‘Unlock Financing - A Meeting of Minds’	Unlock the Future coalition	Mandeep Tiwana
  20 September 6.30 - 8.30pm  Agenda and venue received after registration	WBA High-Level Launch event for the White Paper on Corporate Accountability Gap in support of the SDGs - More Info	World Benchmarking Alliance	Lysa John
  21 September 9:30 - 10am  Networking   10 - 11:30 am Main event (online and in person)  Alliance Bernstein, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105	Philanthropy and Localisation Agenda: Pathways to Action for Local Equity	WINGS	Lysa John
  21 September  9:30 to 11:30 am  Agenda and venue received after registration	2023 WBA Alliance Action Forum : More Info   Register: Alliance Action Forum	World Benchmarking Alliance	Claire Nylander Mandeep Tiwana
  21 September 08:00–09:45am  International Peace Institute - 12th floor of 777 UN Plaza.	Trygve Lie Symposium on Fundamental Freedoms in New York	MFA Norway and the International Peace Institute (IPI)	Lysa John
  21-22 September The Westin New York Grand Central	Global Africa Business Initiative– Unstoppable Africa	Global Africa Business Initiative	Claire Nylander
  22 September 1pm – 2:30pm   Bahai International Community Office 866 UN Plaza	Club de Madrid Action Lab segment on Rethinking Social Development for People and the Planet	Club of Madrid	Mandeep Tiwana

   

• CIVICUS at UN Human Rights Council: Human rights challenges in the context of countering terrorism

  37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
  Oral Statement – Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
  1 March 2018

  CIVICUS, on behalf of the Civic Space Initiative, welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s report on the human rights challenge of states of emergency in the context of countering terrorism.

  This Council has reaffirmed that the most effective means of countering terrorism is through the respect for human rights, including by addressing conditions conducive to terrorism such as a lack of respect for the rule of law, political exclusion, suppression of dissent.

  Worryingly, from the Maldives, to France, to Turkey, to Ethiopia, governments across the world are invoking states of emergency, with the effect, and in some cases the intent, of criminalising dissent and persecuting human rights defenders, protesters and civil society organisations. Rather than pursue legitimate national security objectives, these laws are applied to insulate governments from legitimate criticism. Such measures are contrary to international human rights law and are counter-productive to peace and security.

  We urge states to heed the Human Rights Committee’s guidance that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly should not be derogated, and we consider the same to be true for other rights essential to civil society.

  All national counter-terrorism laws must be brought into compliance with international human rights law, with the full and effective participation of civil society. We call on States that are currently under States of Emergency to ensure their independent review by the judiciary, and to end them where they are no longer justified by the exigencies of the situation.

  We ask the Special Rapporteur how the Human Rights Council can better support the UN Security Council in addressing the shrinking of civic space, to provide accountability for abuses of counter-terrorism measures against persons exercising their rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression.

• CIVICUS en la AGNU77: Principales puntos de interés y conclusiones

  Mensaje de Lysa John, secretaria general de CIVICUS  

  Estimada membresía de CIVICUS y aliados,  

  Por primera vez en tres años, este mes de septiembre, la sesión de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas (AGNU) y sus reuniones asociadas se organizaron en persona. El personal de CIVICUS, en colaboración con un amplio abanico de actores de la sociedad civil, participó en varios eventos paralelos y reuniones sobre una serie de temas destinados a evaluar los avances en los compromisos relacionados con la ONU y a tender un puente entre los responsables de la toma de decisiones y los afectados por los resultados de la elaboración de políticas intergubernamentales.  

  Participamos en la reunión de la Junta de Datos de la Alianza Mundial para el Desarrollo Sostenible y en el lanzamiento de la Campaña de Valores de Datos, que se centró en la importancia de fortalecer los sistemas de datos para mejorar la toma de decisiones, especialmente en el Sur global. La cumbre #UnstoppableAfrica, organizada por la Global Africa Business Initiative, nos ofreció la oportunidad de hablar sobre el papel que juega el liderazgo del continente en la elaboración de los #ODS y la importancia de invertir en la sociedad civil. La Zona de Acción de los ODS de la ONU organizó un debate con diversos actores de la sociedad civil y proporcionó un espacio para debatir las formas de salvaguardar las amenazas y proteger a la sociedad civil.  

  La AGNU77 sirvió como plataforma perfecta para que los financiadores y los representantes de la sociedad civil entablaran un debate muy necesario sobre los recursos de la sociedad civil y los obstáculos a los que se enfrentan los activistas de base a la hora de conseguir una financiación sostenible. Participamos en dos conversaciones de alto nivel organizadas por el Instituto Internacional de la Paz y la Fundación de las Naciones Unidas, con el fin de mejorar los procesos de dotación de recursos para la sociedad civil y los activistas juveniles.  

  La importancia de la participación de la sociedad civil y del espacio cívico abierto fue uno de los mensajes clave en el Foro Mundial de los Pueblos 2022 y en un acto para conmemorar los 30 años de la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de las Minorías. Como consecuencia de las preocupaciones planteadas en la reunión del Pilar de la Sociedad Civil de la Comunidad de las Democracias sobre la falta de acceso de la sociedad civil a los locales de la ONU durante las sesiones de alto nivel de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, el secretario general de la Comunidad de las Democracias emitió una declaración formulada de forma positiva en la que pedía a la ONU que revocara la suspensión de los pases anuales y temporales de las ONG para entrar en la sede de la ONU.   

  El Foro de Acción de la Alianza Mundial (WBA) destacó cómo las movilizaciones y la solidaridad de la sociedad civil han contribuido a garantizar la rendición de cuentas de las empresas.  Por su parte, el evento de la sesión de alto nivel de la WBA, celebrado el 22 de septiembre, se centró en el papel de la rendición de cuentas de las empresas en un sistema de gobernanza mundial eficaz.  

  Mientras las condiciones del espacio cívico siguen deteriorándose en todo el mundo, las personas que defienden los derechos humanos siguen enfrentándose a graves consecuencias cuando denuncian abiertamente al poder. Durante la AGNU77 fue fundamental para CIVICUS participar en espacios y actividades que nos permitieran poner de relieve la necesidad de defender las libertades cívicas y pedir la liberación de todas las personas defensoras de los derechos humanos que se encuentran encarceladas. El Festival Ciudadano Global y la redacción de la Declaración de la Asamblea Mundial de los Pueblos de 2022, que se dio a conocer durante una interesante conferencia de prensa con diversos actores de la sociedad civil, brindaron buenas oportunidades para plantear estas cuestiones. También hicimos partícipes a los gobiernos y a los socios de la sociedad civil del Fondo de Ayuda a las OSC en Lucha contra la Pobreza (Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund) de los problemas a los que se enfrentan las OSC que operan en espacios políticos cerrados y de la lucha contra el autoritarismo, así como del apoyo a la sociedad civil que defiende los derechos medioambientales y de los pueblos indígenas.  

  Por último, me gustaría extender mi agradecimiento a todas las personas que asistieron al Meet & Greet de CIVICUS en nuestra oficina de Nueva York el 19 de septiembre. No hay nada más poderoso que activistas de la sociedad civil, financiadores y aliados trabajando juntos con el objetivo común de crear un mundo mejor para todas las personas.   

  En solidaridad,  

  Lysa John  

  Secretaria general, CIVICUS 

  @LysaJohnSA 

• CIVICUS Joint UN Universal Periodic Review submissions on civil society space

  Submissions on civil society space– Afghanistan, Chile, Eritrea, Macedonia, Vietnam & Yemen

  The #UN is conducting human rights reviews for #Afghanistan, #Chile, #Eritrea, #Macedonia, #Vietnam & #Yemen. A comparative look at the state of #civicspace in these countries. See recommendations: https://t.co/aBpYi1tNlR pic.twitter.com/C8dl7djPw5

  — CIVICUS (@CIVICUSalliance) August 1, 2018

  CIVICUS and its partners have submitted joint UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on six countries in advance of the 32nd UPR session in January 2019. The submissions examine the state of civil society in each country, including the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression and the environment for human rights defenders. We further provide an assessment of the States’ domestic implementation of civic space recommendations received during the 2nd UPR cycle over 4 years ago and provide a number of targeted follow-up recommendations.  

  Afghanistan: CIVICUS, Afghanistan Human Rights Organization (AHRO), Civil Society and Human Rights Network and People’s Action for Change Organization explore the continued insecurity in Afghanistan, which has resulted in the closure of space for civil society, including through targeted attacks on humanitarian workers, protesters and journalists. We further discuss violence against women and the desperate situation faced by women HRDs in Afghanistan who are subjected to a heightened level of persecution because of their gender and their human rights activism.

  Chile: CIVICUS and Pro Acceso Foundation (Fundación Pro Acceso) highlight serious concerns regarding the persistent misuse of the Anti-Terrorism Law to silence members of the Mapuche indigenous community advocating for land rights. We are also concerned by the lack of government commitment to amend legislation regulating the right to peaceful assembly and by the violent suppression of social protests, especially those led by the student movement and indigenous communities. 

  Eritrea: CIVICUS, EMDHR and Eritrea Focus highlight the complete closure of the space for civil society in Eritrea to assemble, associate and express themselves. We note that there are no independent civil society organisations and private media in the country. We further discuss how the government selectively engages with international human rights mechanisms including UN Special Procedures. 

  Macedonia: CIVICUS, the Balkan Civil Society Development Network and the Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation outline serious concerns over the institutional harassment of NGOs in receipt of foreign funding since 2016. Despite a recent improvement in respect for civic freedoms, the submission discusses several restrictions on investigative journalists and media outlets. We also remain alarmed over smear campaigns against human rights defenders and critics of the government orchestrated by nationalist groups. 

  Vietnam: CIVICUS, Civil Society Forum, Human Rights Foundation (HRF), VOICE and VOICE Vietnam examine systematic attempts in Vietnam to silence HRDs and bloggers, including through vague national security laws, physical attacks, restrictions on their freedom of movement and torture and ill-treatment in detention. The submission also explores strict controls on the media in law and in practice, online censorship and the brutal suppression of peaceful protests by the authorities.

  Yemen: CIVICUS, Gulf Centre for Human Rights and Front Line Defenders discuss the ongoing extreme violence against and HRDs and journalists including regular abductions, kidnappings and detention in undisclosed location. We further examine restrictions on freedom of association including raids on CSOs causing many to reduce their activities drastically and even closed entirely. 

  See full library of previous UPR country submissions from CIVICUS and partners. For the latest news on civic space in all UN Member States, see country pages on the CIVICUS Monitor

• CIVICUS UN Universal Periodic Review submissions on civil society space

  CIVICUS and its partners have submitted joint and stand-alone UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on 9 countries in advance of the 28th UPR session (November 2017). The submissions examine the state of civil society in each country, including the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression and the environment for human rights defenders. We further provide an assessment of the States’ domestic implementation of civic space recommendations received during the 2nd UPR cycle over 4 years ago and provide a number of targeted follow-up recommendations.  

  Countries examined: Benin, Gabon, Guatemala, Pakistan, Peru, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Zambia.

• CIVICUS Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Submissions on Civil Society Space

  CIVICUS and its partners have submitted joint and stand-alone UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on 5 countries in advance of the 29th UPR session in January 2018. The submissions examine the state of civil society in each country, including the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression and the environment for human rights defenders. We further provide an assessment of the States’ domestic implementation of civic space recommendations received during the 2nd UPR cycle over 4 years ago and provide a number of targeted follow-up recommendations.  

  Countries Examined: Burundi, France, Israel, Serbia, and the UAE 

  Burundi: CIVICUS, APRODH, LigueITEKA, DefendDefenders and FIDH examine the failure of the Government of Burundi to implement the vast majority of recommendations it accepted and noted during Burundi’s previous UPR cycle. In the submission, we highlight the restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the targeting of human rights defenders and Burundi’s refusal to cooperate with international human rights institutions and mechanisms. We further examine the high levels of impunity enjoyed by government officials, members of the security forces and the armed wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, the Imbonerakure. 

  France: While France has faced serious terrorist threats since its last UPR review, measures taken to protect the public from attacks have had negative consequences for the exercise of the fundamental freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression. In its submission to Frances third UPR review, CIVICUS outlines a series of concerns related to France’s decision to repeatedly extend its state of emergency, which has expanded powers of arrest, detention and surveillance of security forces without adequate judicial oversight and without due regard for the proportionality of measures taken to restrict fundamental freedoms. 

  Israel: CIVICUS, PNGO and ANND raise concern over ongoing violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory since Israel’s previous UPR examination. Worryingly, the authorities continue to subvert the right to freedom of expression through the criminalization of dissent online. Human rights defenders and peaceful protesters also routinely face arbitrary arrest and are held in administrative detention to suppress their legitimate work.

  Serbia: CIVICUS, the Human Rights House Belgrade (Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Civic Initiatives, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights) and Human Rights House Foundation document the continued intimidation, attacks and harassment of human rights defenders and journalists who report on sensitive issues, such as transitional justice, corruption or government accountability. Additionally, we assess how vilification of and smear campaigns against human right defenders, CSOs, and independent media outlets is undermining the work of civil society.

  United Arab Emirates: In its joint UPR submission, CIVICUS, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights and the International Service for Human Rights examine the continued suppression of fundamental democratic freedoms in the United Arab Emirates. This report explores the ongoing systematic campaign to persecute human rights defenders through arbitrary arrests, torture, deportation and the continued use of draconian legislation to restrict freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
  

• CIVICUS, ANPED and Consumers International continue to serve as Rio+20 NGO Partners

  CIVICUS together with ANPED and Consumers International have been asked by the United Nations to continue to serve as Rio+20 NGO Partners through the end of May 2013 when the 20th and final session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) is scheduled to take place.

  The NGO Organizing Partners will communicate to the NGO Major Group through the following communications channels:

  • Regular updates on Post-Rio+20 developments through the ANPED-list of CSD/Rio+20
  • Facebook group on Rio+20
  • NGO MG Members for 2012 UNGA google group

  UN DESA had a mandate to facilitate the Major Group engagement with CSD, but with the Rio+20 outcomes under the UN General Assembly (UN GA), DESA does not have that mandate and is not currently in a position to comprehensively facilitate and finance Major Groups involvement. Consequently, In the fast-moving context of post-Rio, the Major Groups Organizing Partners have engaged in a series of consultations organized by UN DESA to organize themselves to share information inclusively and transparently with their respective constituencies, to facilitate the development of advocacy positions, to track political developments within the UN processes established by Rio+20, and to mobilize & coordinate lobbying strategies to the extent possible at UN HQ and national levels.

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

  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. The submissions examine the state of civil society in each country, including the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression and the environment for human rights defenders. We further provide an assessment of the States’ domestic implementation of civic space recommendations received during the 2nd UPR cycle over 4 years ago and provide a number of targeted follow-up recommendations.

• CIVICUS’ submission to the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism

  The High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism launched a wide range of public consultations on ideas for more effective multilateralism with experts, leaders, practitioners, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. CIVICUS’ submission examines the main challenges facing multilateralism and provides a United Nations (UN) reform agenda to ensure greater access to civil society. Read the submission here.

   

• Civil society assess outcomes of UNGA76 Third Committee session

  17 NGOs that closely follow and engage with the Third Committee have joined together to publish a joint statement on outcomes of this 76th session.

• Civil society calls on UN Human Rights Council to resolve human rights crisis in Cambodia

  Civil society calls on the UN Human Rights Council to address Cambodia’s human rights crisis

  The undersigned civil society organizations, representing groups working within and outside Cambodia to advance human rights, rule of law, and democracy, are writing to alert your government to an unfolding human rights crisis in Cambodia.

  As detailed below, there has been a marked deterioration in the civil and political rights environment over the last two years, culminating in recent weeks in the closure of several independent media outlets and the arrest of Kem Sokha, the leader of Cambodia’s main political opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). (Another key opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, is in exile because of a spurious legal case against him, and would be arrested if he were to return.) 

  As you may know, national elections in Cambodia have been scheduled for July 29, 2018. During the upcoming 36^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, a new resolution on Cambodia will be under consideration.

  We call on you to support a resolution that directly addresses the human rights crisis in Cambodia, urges the Cambodian government to curb its rights violations, and take steps to create a more enabling environment for free and fair elections.

  A new resolution at the Human Rights Council, when tabled, is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia for two years. Given the gravity of the situation, we are recommending that the resolution request a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that will, in consultation with the Special Rapporteur, assess the civil and political rights situation in Cambodia in the pre-election period, and identify concrete actions that the Cambodian government and international community need to take to ensure that the conditions in which the election takes place accord with international human rights standards.We have included specific draft language in an appendix below.

  Since the last Council resolution, adopted on October 2, 2015, the environment for civil and political rights in Cambodia has worsened significantly. Developments include:

  • The severe beating of two opposition parliamentarians on October 26, 2015, which human rights groups and later court hearings demonstrated was carried out by forces in Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit. The attack took place after Cambodian diaspora in France held anti-government protests during a visit to Paris by Prime Minister Hun Sen, after which Hun Sen warned of retaliatory violence.  Only three of several identified perpetrators ever stood trial for the attack, all of whom received partially suspended sentences and were later promoted to more senior positions upon release from prison.
  • The resurrection of an arrest warrant for opposition leader Sam Rainsy, connected to an old, politically motivated criminal case against him. The arrest warrant led to Rainsy’s decision in 2015 to remain outside of Cambodia, and was followed by additional convictions on spurious legal charges. If he returns to Cambodia, Sam Rainsy will face immediate arrest and imprisonment for these trumped-up charges. In addition, the government in 2017 passed two amendments to the 1997 Law on Political Parties that  were clearly motivated by partisan interests against the opposition (see sections below), and that have compelled Rainsy to step down as CNRP leader.
  • The government’s arrest on September 3 of CNRP’s other leader, Kem Sokha, on charges of treason. Kem Sokha, who had taken sole leadership of the party after Sam Rainsy’s exile and resignation, had already faced de facto house arrest and an in absentia criminal conviction in 2016 that was accompanied by a prison sentence of five months, for “refusing to appear as a witness” following his non-compliance with a subpoena in a politically motivated criminal investigation. Kem Sokha faced threat of arrest for much of 2016 and for many months was unable to leave his office at CNRP’s headquarters, which on several occasions was surrounded byarmed forces, including military helicopters and convoys of bodyguard unit troops.
  • The earlier politically motivated prosecutions of several other elected opposition leaders, including MP Um Sam An, Senator Hong Sok Hour, Senator Thak Lany, Commune Councilor Seang Chet, as well as other opposition party organizers and activists. These cases appear to be part of an unprecedented surge in the detention of opposition supporters and civil society activists, with at least 35 documented cases since July 2015. At least 19 remain in detention as of this writing, 14 of whom were convicted of insurrection offenses following their peaceful participation in an opposition-led demonstration in 2014 that turned violent following state-instigated crackdowns.
  • Cambodian authorities’ use in August and September of Cambodia’s General Department of Taxation to intimidate—and shut down—civil society groups and independent media outlets, including the independent Cambodia Dailynewspaper, which was forced to cease its operations on September 4, 2017.
  • The authorities’ campaign against independent radio, including August orders to close and revoke the license of Mohanokor Radio and its affiliates, which broadcast Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), and the closing of the independent radio station Voice of Democracy (VOD). Several other radio stations broadcasting programming from VOA or RFA have come under pressure from the government, and stopped broadcasting this month. Almost all domestically-broadcast media in Cambodia is now under government control, with an already entirely government controlled television media and now near elimination of independent radio.  
  • The detention, prosecution, and harassment of four senior staff members of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) in 2016 and 2017: Ny Sokha, Nay Vanda, Yi Soksan and Lim Mony, as well as a former ADHOC staff member who is now the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Election Committee (NEC), Ny Chakrya. This group of human rights defenders, commonly referred to as the “ADHOC Five,” were held in pre-trial detention  for 427 days until released on bail, in the wake of sustained international pressure, on June 29. While their release on bail was a welcome step (especially considering some of detainees’ seriously deteriorating health conditions in prison), authorities are proceeding with their prosecution and the five still face 5 to  10 years in prison, and their freedom of movement and ability to carry out human rights work remains hindered.
  • The continuing imprisonment of Boeung Kak Lake activist and women’s rights defender Tep Vanny, who has spent over one year in prison. Tep Vanny was arrested on August 15, 2016 during a “Black Monday” protest, a non-violent campaign that called for the release of the ADHOC Five. She and a fellow community member, Bov Sophea, were convicted and sentenced to six days’ imprisonment; while Bov Sophea was released upon having served her sentence in pre-trial detention, authorities transferred Tep Vanny back to prison and reactivated a case against her stemming from 2013, when she engaged in a protest calling for the release of another human rights activist, and continue to prosecute several other spurious legal cases against her.
  • The assassination of prominent political commentator Dr. Kem Ley on July 10, 2016, a killing that came five days after a senior Cambodian general publicly called on Cambodian armed forces to “eliminate and dispose of” anyone “fomenting social turmoil” in Cambodia. Kem Ley had been a frequent critic of Hun Sen and in the weeks before his killing had given several media interviews about a groundbreaking report by Global Witness outlining the vast wealth of Hun Sen’s family, fueling concerns that the killing was ordered by higher authorities. A deeply flawed investigation saw merely the identification of one suspect, Oeuth Ang, also known as “Chuob Samlab” (“Meet to Kill”). In March 2017, Oeuth Ang was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment in proceedings that ignored improbabilities and inconsistencies in his confession and shortcomings in the investigation. A month before the Oeuth Ang trial, Hun Sen brought a civil charge of defamation against a political commentator, Kim Sok, who had suggested publicly that the Cambodia People’s Party was behind the killing, and authorities also filed a criminal charge of incitement against him. In August, Kim Sok was sentenced to a year and a half in prison and ordered to pay Hun Sen US$200,000 in the civil case. Opposition Senator Thak Lany has also been convicted in absentia for similar offenses after commenting on this case.
  • Government para-police attacks on protesters and human rights observers during an October 10, 2016 peaceful celebration of World Habitat Day. Two human rights defender victims of this attack, Chan Puthisak and Am Sam Ath, were subject to spurious criminal investigations.
  • The government’s passage in 2017 of two rounds of repressive amendments to Cambodia’s Law on Political Parties, which allow authorities to dissolve political parties and ban party leaders from political activity without holding hearings and without an appeal process. The amendments contain numerous restrictions that are tailored to create stumbling blocks for opposition parties, most notably provisions that compel political parties to distance themselves from members who have been convicted of a criminal charge. This impacts opposition leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, effectively allowing the government to dissolve the main opposition party at any time they choose. Many observers suspect that the government will allow the opposition to contest the 2018 elections but has crafted these provisions to weaken the opposition or to use them to dissolve the parties outright in the event that they pose a more significant threat to the ruling party’s hold on power.
  • Prime Minister Hun Sen’s July orders to the Ministry of Interior to investigate two members of a group of civil society organizations coordinating efforts of election monitoring on an ad hoc basis under the head of the so-called “Situation Room.” The government alleges that the ad hoc group violated the vague and undefined concept of “political neutrality” enshrined in Cambodia’s widely criticized Law on Associations and Non-Government Organizations (LANGO), which allows for the dissolution or denial of registration of NGOs, as well as for failing to register under LANGO.
  • Questionable legal investigations into trade unions conducted under Cambodia’s Trade Union Law, which has prevented some unions from legally registering and excluded them from collective bargaining and formally advocating for rights and improved working conditions.
  • Increasingly threatening political rhetoric, including repeated threats of violence and other forms of intimidation by government officials directed at dissidents and civil society, including in the lead-up to this year’s flawed commune elections and afterwards. Both Prime Minister Hun Sen and several senior military leaders have repeated claims that any election victory by the political opposition would lead to “civil war,” while making clear threats to use violence against any individuals who “protest” or seek a “color revolution,” a term which authorities disingenuously employ to portray peaceful dissent as an attempted violent overthrow of the state. Before his baseless accusations in September of Kem Sokha’s “treason” and “conspiracy,” Hun Sen made a number of statements that appear to equate peaceful political opposition and exercise of freedoms of speech and assembly as unlawful acts of violent rebellion. In May 2017, Hun Sen, during campaigning for the country’s 2017 commune elections, stated he would be “willing to eliminate 100 to 200 people” to protect “national security,” for the opposition to “prepare their coffins”, or against anyone who, and later repeated this claim and made a transparent reference to Sam Rainsy suggesting that Rainsy knew he would be targeted for violence. On August 2, Minister of Social Affairs Vong Sauth said that protesters who dispute the outcome of the scheduled 2018 elections will be “hit with the bottom end of bamboo poles”—a reference to a technique used during the Khmer Rouge regime—and threatened civil servants in his ministry with termination if they do not support the ruling CPP. 
  • An August 23 Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement ordering the closure of the US non-governmental organization the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and expulsion of its non-Cambodian staff “within seven days.” The statement cites LANGO and the 1997 Tax Law, both of which the government has cited in other threats against civil society groups mentioned above.

  The Cambodian government’s actions outlined above should be considered together, as a comprehensive campaign of intimidation, violence, and misuse of legal mechanisms in the lead-up to next year’s national election, meant to weaken or neutralize political opposition and hamper civil society efforts to monitor the election and freedom of speech, association, and assembly. More broadly, the government’s actions are an open-ended assault on the United Nations-backed democratic process in Cambodia that began with the 1991 Paris Peace Accords.

  We strongly urge your government to acknowledge the severity of the situation and the risks these conditions pose to the integrity of Cambodia’s 2018 elections. It is crucial that the international community support a UN Human Rights Council resolution that explicitly condemns the Cambodian government’s attacks on democratic and human rights norms and takes steps to address them.

  As noted above, the appendix contains draft language recommending that the resolution request the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on the escalating crackdown, and outline actions the government and international community should take to ensure that the conditions in which the elections take place accord with international human right standards.As outlined in the proposed text in the appendix, we also recommend that the High Commissioner should provide an oral update to the Council at its 37^th session in March 2018, and present his report at the 38^th session in June 2018.

  We further recommend that your government, during the September session at the Council, speak out clearly and jointly with other governments against the latest abuses, and put the Cambodian government on notice that the Cambodian government’s failure to fully address these concerns will make it impossible to determine that the 2018 elections were free and fair. 

  We also recommend that the Human Rights Council, at those future sessions, hold an Enhanced Interactive Dialogue including stakeholders such as staff from Cambodia’s OHCHR office, the Special Rapporteur on Cambodia, other relevant UN Special Procedures and members of local and international civil society.

  We look forward to discussing this matter with you or your staff in more detail.

  Thank you for your attention.

  Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
  CIVICUS
  Human Rights Watch
  International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
  International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
  World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)