To:Gina Romero United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association India: Concerns around the recent crackdown on protests Dear UN Special Rapporteur, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global alliance of civil society organisations (CSOs) and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society worldwide.

The 63rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council ran from 7 September to 7 October 2026, resulting in 34 resolutions and 12 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) adoptions.

On 24 September, CIVICUS organised a side-event titled “Human Rights in Tajikistan: Premature Closure of the Complaint Mechanism against Tajikistan” following the Council’s decision to discontinue its consideration of the situation in Tajikistan under the Complaint Procedure in July 2026.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 10: Interactive Debate with UN Special Rapporteur on Cambodia Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev Mr.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 7: General debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories Delivered by Shahd Ghassan Mahmoud Khader, The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development-PWWSD Mr.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Adoption of the Universal Periodic Report (UPR) report of Sierra Leone Delivered by: Zélie Leïla Ménard Thank you, Mr President.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report of Singapore Delivered by: Olimjon Bakhtaliev Thank you, Mr.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report of Niger Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev Mr Vice President.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Adoption of the UPR report of Paraguay Delivered by Olga Cabellero Bernal, Alma Cívica Thank you, Mr President President.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 5: General Debate  Delivered by Sigrid Lipott  Mr.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 4: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation Delivered by Matthew Jones, Human Rights House Foundation Thank you, Vice-President.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Interactive dialogue with the Fact-Finding Mission Delivered by Marysabel Rodríguez, Espacio Público Thank you, Madam Chair.

Statement at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 4: General Debate Delivered by: Gispa Ferdinanda Warijo Mr.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 4: General debate on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention Delivered by Sayed Yusuf AlMuhafdha, SALAM DHR Mr President, Salam for Democracy and Human Rights (SALAM DHR) and CIVICUS are alarmed at the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain.

In a joint statement published today, a group of 21 civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, call for the renewal of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (FFM) and address key questions regarding this special UN mechanism, including what the FFM is and why must it be maintained at least until 2028; how the FFM is complementary to the work of the UN Human Rights Office and international justice mechanisms; and, crucially, how the mission can contribute to the future of Venezuela.

Statement at the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 3: General Debate  Delivered by Sigrid Lipott  Mr.

Statement at the UN Human Rights Council's 63rd session Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Burundi Delivered by Zélie Leïla Ménard Mr President, CIVICUS appreciates the work of the Special Rapporteur and his latest report.

  Statement at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 2: Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Afghanistan with the Special Rapporteur Delivered by Wazhma Tokhi Mr.

Ahead of HRC63, CIVICUS and other International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) urged UN Human Rights Council Member and Observer states to support the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation.

  Sixty-third (63rd) Session of the UN Human Rights Council (7 September to 9 October 2026) Overview of Priorities Structural Challenges at the Human Rights Council Thematic Priorities Country-Specific Priorities Overview of Priorities Amid intensifying civic space restrictions, civil society funding challenges and a severe UN liquidity crisis, the Human Rights Council (HRC) remains a vital space for defending human rights and amplifying the voices of those most affected.

As human rights violations continue to be committed in Burundi in a context of widespread impu­nity, and as the country is in the middle of an electoral cycle that will culminate in the 2027 pre­si­den­tial election and risks closing remaining avenues for peaceful expression of dissent, the UN Hu­man Rights Coun­cil should maintain its scrutiny of the country’s situation.

Ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s 63rd session (7 Sep­tem­ber-7 October 2026), we, the un­der­­si­gned civil society orga­ni­sa­tions, write to urge your delegation to support a mandate exten­sion for the Inde­pen­dent International Fact-Fin­ding Mission (FFM) for the Sudan, in full, for two years.

CIVICUS makes UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on civil society space in Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, and Venezuela.

The 62nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council ran from 15 June to 8 July, 2026, resulting in 28 Resolutions and 13 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) adoptions.

Oral Statement Adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report of Georgia Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev, CIVICUS Thank you, Mr President.

  Oral Statement Adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report of Rwanda Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev, CIVICUS Thank you, Mr Vice-President.

 Statement at the 62nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Delivered by Marysabel Rodriguez, Espacio Público Thank you, Mr.

Ahead of the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (15 June–10 July 2026), CIVICUS and other civil society organisations called on the Council to urgently address the escalating situation in and around El Obeid, North Kordofan, amid credible warnings of atrocity crimes and an imminent offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies.

    Statement at the 62nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Panel on women and girls in sports Delivered by Zélie Leïla Ménard, CIVICUS Mr.

Statement at the 62nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev, CIVICUS Madam Vice-President, CIVICUS appreciates the work of the Special Rapporteur and his latest report.

  Sixty-second (62nd) Session of the UN Human Rights Council (15 June to 10 July 2026) Overview Structural Challenges at the Human Rights Council Thematic Priorities Country-Specific Priorities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Overview As civic space continues to shift globally, citizens and civil society continue to be the eyes and ears of the UN Human Rights Council, a vital platform for defending human rights and raising the voices of victims and marginalised groups worldwide.

Ahead of the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (15 June–10 July 2026), CIVICUS, together with other non-governmental organisations, wrote to the Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council, urging them to support the development and adoption of a strong resolution extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.

Civil society’s full and independent access is vital for the UN to fulfil its mandate.

CIVICUS makes UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on civil society space in Thailand, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, and collaborated on a joint submission on Tajikistan.

The 61st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council ran from February 23 to April 2, 2026, resulting in 38 Resolutions and 13 Universal Period Review adoptions.

Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Urgent Debate: "Protection of Children and Educational Institutions in International Armed Conflicts: The Aerial Attacks on Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls' School in Minab, Iran, as a Grave Breach of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law" Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev Mr President, CIVICUS is gravely concerned about the unfolding situation in Iran and the Gulf region.

The year 2000 marked the creation of the mandate of the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity.

Oral Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 8: General Debate  Delivered by Sigrid Lipott, CIVICUS Mr President, CIVICUS underscores the enduring relevance of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA).

Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council Adoption of the Universal Periodic Review report of Maldives Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev, CIVICUS Mr.

Statement at the 61st Session UN Human Rights Council  Adoption of the UPR report of Mongolia Delivered by Urantulkhuur Mandkhaitsetsen, Center for Human Rights and Development Mr.

Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council Adoption of the UPR report of Malawi Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev, CIVICUS Thank you, Mr Vice-President.

Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council   Item 5: General Debate   Delivered by Sigrid Lipott, CIVICUS  Mr.

Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 4: General Debate Delivered by Sigrid Lipott, CIVICUS  Mr President,  We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Tajikistan.

Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela  Delivered by Calixto Ignacio Ávila Rincón, PROVEA  Mr President,  CIVICUS and PROVEA welcome the update by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM).

Oral Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2: ID with the Special Rapporteur on torture Delivered by Fairooz Jawad, Salam for Democracy and Human Rights Mr President, CIVICUS and Salam for Democracy and Human Rights welcome the Special Rapporteur’s report, especially the Charter of Rights of Victims and Survivors of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Oral statement delivered at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 2: General Debate Delivered by International Service for Human Rights (Joint statement), Raphael Viana David Mr President, This is a joint statement.

Oral Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Item 2: Interactive Dialogue on report of Commission of Human Rights in South Sudan Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev   Madam Vice-President, We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in South Sudan, where rising political tensions, renewed fighting and escalating communal violence continue to fuel a worsening crisis.

Oral statement delivered at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council  Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner's Oral Update on Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev Madam Vice-President, CIVICUS remains concerned about the serious crimes committed by the junta following the coup including the arbitrary detention and conviction of thousands of activists after unfair trials, torture in detention and indiscriminate attacks and killings of civilians.

Sixty-first (61st) Session of the UN Human Rights Council (23 February – 2 April 2026) Overview Structural Challenges at the Human Rights Council Thematic Priorities Country-Specific Priorities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Overview As we mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Council this year, the UN human rights system faces sustained and coordinated attacks.

CIVICUS, together with 234 Myanmar, regional, and international civil society organisations, issued an open letter urging the UN Human Rights Council to reject the Myanmar military junta’s sham election results and take decisive action to advance accountability.