As the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council concludes, CIVICUS joins fellow civil society organisations in reflecting on key developments, raising urgent concerns, and calling for stronger accountability and protection of human rights around the world.
We join others who have expressed grave concern about the UN’s financial situation throughout the session. We deplore that we are in this position primarily due to the failure of some States to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time. We regret that this crisis is currently affecting the Council’s ability to deliver its mandate. Today, UN Member States are sending a clear message that human rights and their implementation are optional and not inalienable. We call on all States to pay their dues to the UN in full and without delay, both now and in future years, and strengthen the human rights pillar of the UN by substantially increasing its regular budget.
We welcome the Council’s decision to renew, once more, the Mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, following a call from more than 1,259 organisations from 157 countries and territories. While the mandate was supported by the overwhelming majority of Council members, we regret that a mandate focusing on core human rights issues such as freedom from violence and discrimination was once again put for a vote.
We welcome the adoption of the resolution on civil society space. The resolution acknowledges important civil society initiatives such as Declaration +25 and addresses key and emerging trends such as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), the phenomenon of transnational repression, and foreign funding legislation, as well as other restrictive legislation including counter-terrorism legislation. We regret, however, that language on transnational repression has been weakened throughout the negotiations and does not take a step forward in terms of defining the phenomenon and its patterns.
Additionally, while strengthening language on access to resources, including foreign resources, the text fails to address the severe funding crisis facing human rights organisations, as well as the need for sustainable and flexible funding practices to safeguard civil society space at the local, national, regional, and international levels, and donor States’ responsibility in this regard. We also welcome the acknowledgement of the legitimate role played by civil society actors, including in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding, and explicit reference to excluded groups and grassroots, as well as women human rights defenders. Overall, we regret that the resolution fails to reflect decreased opportunities for civil society participation as a result of the HRC efficiency exercises, the current liquidity crisis, and broader funding cuts affecting the work of civil society organisations.
While it does not reference key campaigns such as the UNMute Recommendations, endorsed by over 50 UN Member States, the text stresses the continued need to implement remote modalities of participation. For the first time, the resolution references the UN Guidance Note on the Protection and Promotion of Civic Space. Nevertheless, specific action points were not included in the text. This represents a major shortcoming in the absence of reporting on the Note five years after its adoption.
