Statement at the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
General Debate Item 4
Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev, CIVICUS
Mr President,
CIVICUS is convinced that the Council should play a more assertive role in preventing rather than reacting to human rights crises, and the rapid deterioration of civic space is among the early warning signs on which the Council should promptly act.
In Pakistan, the country’s civic space has alarmingly deteriorated, amid brutal crackdown on protests and criminalisation of human rights defenders (HRDs). Dr. Mahrang Baloch and human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir have faced multiple criminal charges for organising peaceful gatherings and supporting legal redress for victims of violence and persecution. Crackdowns on opposition and ethnic minority protests are also rampant, whilst the Anti-Terrorism Act continues to be misused to ban the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement. In recent months, hundreds were arrested and charged ahead of protests under overbroad laws and protests by the ethnic Sindh, Pashtun and Baloch minority groups were met with suppression by the authorities.
In Serbia, civic space is facing increased restrictions amid ongoing anti-corruption protests. Over 70 attacks on protesters have been recorded since November 2024, some causing serious injuries, while activists, organisers and supporters of the protest movement are facing surveillance, intimidation and reprisals. We are concerned about the recent arrests of several young activists, currently in pre-trial detention, who are facing prosecution for sedition related offences. Civil society organisations (CSOs) are also being targeted with smear campaigns, police raids and investigations on trumped-up charges. We join the call for the Serbian authorities to investigate the events during the protests on 15th March.
CIVICUS calls on the governments of Pakistan and Serbia to immediately drop fabricated charges against HRDs and peaceful protesters, and on the Council to address these worsening situations and ensure responsive action to prevent further deterioration and spillover effects in the respective regions.
We thank you.
