Statement at the UN Human Rights Council's 60th Session
General Debate Item 4
Delivered by Sigrid Lipott
Mr President,
CIVICUS believes that the Council should play a more assertive role in preventing rather than reacting to human rights crises. The rapid deterioration of civic space conditions and sustained attacks against civil society are among the first early warning signs on which the Council should promptly act.
In Indonesia, the civic space has sharply deteriorated, amid a brutal crackdown on protests with impunity, arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment of peaceful protesters, and unlawful use of force by both the police and the military. We are also concerned about the revisions to the Military law and the proposed Criminal Procedure Code revisions which, if approved, will grant excessive powers to the police without adequate oversight mechanisms. Over 100 HRDs have faced arrests, intimidation and physical attacks since the beginning of the year. The media also has faced threats while activists in the Papuan region are particularly at risk of intimidation and attacks.
In Kenya, a chilling crackdown on civic freedoms has continued unabated. State-sanctioned abductions and repression of protesters have continued, while authorities are severely restricting and criminalising free speech, online and offline. Reportedly, at least 1500 people have been arbitrarily arrested since the protests began in June, under trumped-up charges. The use of terrorism charges by the state poses serious questions about the misuse of laws and the legal system to massively label peaceful protesters as terrorists, while HRDs and CSOs face harassment, deportation and disruption.
In Turkey, civic space faces existential threats amid escalating censorship, arrests, and intimidation. Following protests over Istanbul’s mayor’s jailing in March, nearly 2,000 people, including peaceful protesters, journalists, and lawyers, were arbitrarily detained and face rushed mass trials. As the legal crackdown on the main opposition party continues to spark mobilisation, authorities have met recent protests in Istanbul with bans, excessive force, social media throttling and arrests.
CIVICUS calls on the Council to ensure responsive action on these country situations in order to prevent further deterioration.
We thank you.
