un geneva

• UNHCR 26 Side Event - Bahrain: Empty Promises, Crowded Prisions

  

• Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and CIVICUS

  Today the 12th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) comes to an end and with it the first cycle. 193 States have brought their country reports and have stood on the podium for their human rights record to be reviewed and discussed. The UPR process has also provided a new enabling environment for CS to be heard and recognized as an important stakeholder. It is quite an achievement and needs some assessment.

  But before doing so, allow me some comments on this last session. CIVICUS was involved as never before. We helped, supported and registered CS delegations from Venezuela, Moldova and Uganda. For the Ugandan delegation we supported also financially the representative from the Ugandan NGO Forum. We organized a side event to highlight in particular issues related to Freedom of Assembly, Expression and Association and were able to bring the fractured parts of the Ugandans together to form one strong CS voice. (See presentations and photos attached thanks to Gabrielle, my Intern) We also organized informal meetings with Governments from Norway, the EU, Poland and Switzerland and Representatives from the OHCHR.

• Universal Periodic Review General Debate

  23rd session of the
  Human Rights CouncilItem 6

  Universal Periodic Review
  General Debate
  

  Delivered by Olivia Tchamba

  I thank you Mr President,

  Founded on a consensus-based decision-making process, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) provides a legitimate platform to request the responses to human rights issues by the state under review. Though the UPR first cycle resulted in some tangible benefits, the whole mechanism was tainted by numerous flaws. One pressing flaw being the unprecedented decision of Israel to suspend cooperation with the mechanism. IsraelS non-cooperation sets a breach for the universality of this crucial human rights protection mechanism. In this light, CIVICUS vividly encourages Israel to participate in its 2nd Cycle UPR review as schedule for the 29 of October 2013.

  As the UPR has the potential to become an important part of anchoring universal human rights norms in practice, it is essential to identify recommendations which could help to further strengthen this mechanism. In view of this, the role of stakeholders from civil society should not be weakened in the process. More accurate NGO involvement will have a very significant impact during the pre-review national process and post-review outcome document adoption stages. Additionally, more emphasis should be placed on action-orientated and measurable recommendations to avoid undermining the utility and impact of these recommendations. The follow-up procedure should also be strengthened through accelerating the institutionalisation of a mid-term reporting requirement.
  
  The UPR is one key element of the international human rights protection system. It triggers self-evaluations by states and reminds them of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The human rights community should thus work towards its becoming more deeply and permanently rooted.

  
  I thank you

• Universal Periodic Review Submissions on Bangladesh and Russia

  CIVICUS’ submission to the UPR working group outlines concerns related to the environment in which civil society organisation and human rights defenders operate in Bangladesh, and discusses threats they face in the exercise of freedoms of expression, association and assembly. CIVICUS is concerned by the persistent harassment, intimidation and attack against human rights defenders, trade union activists and independent journalists in Bangladesh. Impunity by security forces and the repression of civil society ramain pressing issues for redressal by the government.

  CIVICUS also made a joint submission with Citizens’ Watch and GOLOS Association in which they outline urgent concerns related to the stifling of freedom of association, assembly and expression through the adoption of several draconian laws by the Russian Parliament which seriously restricts the activities of civil society groups and makes them vulnerable to persecution by the State authorities.

• Unwarranted limitations on civic space in Cambodia, Egypt and Syria - Statement at Human Rights Council

  CIVICUS remains deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Syria and the continued suffering of its people. Yet last week’s cessation of hostilities and the attendant reduction in violence and airstrikes has again engendered hope that humanitarian access will be granted to besieged areas. This cessation of hostilities agreement - the second since February -  is also a rare opportunity to move towards a negotiated political solution to Syria’s devastating conflict. We call on all sides to ensure with utmost political will that this opportunity is not wasted. There is also a pressing need for the voices of Syria citizens and civil society to be heard and fully included in any transitional justice and peace process.

• World Press Freedom Day United Nations Geneva

  World Press Freedom Day
  United Nations Geneva
  3 May 2011

  "Twenty years on from the Windhoek Declaration:
  Freedom of the press in a changed world"

  Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. (Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

  Under this title the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Information Service and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization had invited to a joint seminar to discuss the current state of art of this inalienable right. They also wanted to look where we are now 20 years after the Windhoek Declaration - UNESCO 1991, when African journalists had laid down free press principles, which were adopted by the UN General Assembly and two years later declared into the World Press Freedom Day.

• Youth and human rights - Joint Statement at the Human Rights Council

  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. We thank the Council for organising this important discussion and the panellists for their insightful interventions. 

  Mr President, in 2016 CIVICUS reported that the enjoyment of at least one of the three core civic freedoms ― freedom of association, assembly and expression ― was threatened in one hundred and nine countries. Youth-led civil society groups and human rights defenders, routinely at the forefront of rights-based movements, remain particularly susceptible to these unlawful restrictions and draconian persecutions.