Statement at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council
Item 5: General Debate
Delivered by Sigrid Lipott, CIVICUS
Mr. President,
CIVICUS and its members are deeply concerned about the gravity and breadth of attacks, sanctions and reprisals against UN Special Rapporteurs appointed by the Council. In today’s environment where crisis in multilateral human rights cooperation prevails, these acts pose severe implications for Independent Special Procedures.
Special Rapporteurs must be supported, not undermined in their efforts to reaffirm the significance of human rights and expose grave violations and abuses, including crimes against humanity. Acts of intimidation, reprisal and retaliation against Special Procedures are a severe hindrance to accurate and independent human rights and civic space monitoring, accountability, and international justice.
Such actions go far beyond undermining international solidarity. They weaken the voices of local, regional and international civil society that has relentlessly cooperated with and reported to crucial country-specific and thematic mandates. These acts also de-legitimise the work of all mandates and hundreds of human rights defenders and victims advocating jointly for truth, justice, reparation and accountability.
We are also concerned about the severe and disproportionate impact of the UN liquidity crisis on the work and activities of Special Procedures. There is an urgent need for transparent, meaningful, and consistent civil society consultation on any proposal of review, suppression, or merger of mandates resulting from efficiency and rationalization measures.
Mr. President, we call on states to mitigate the impact of reprisals, intimidation and illegitimate sanctions by protecting and promoting the full independence of Special Procedures. Furthermore, we urge States to provide the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) with adequate resources to prevent and address acts of intimidation or reprisal and sanctions against independent mandate holders and those cooperating with them in the most effective manner. Finally, adequate resources must be allocated to Special Procedures to preserve and enhance the integrity, effectiveness, and independence of the UN human rights system.
We thank you.
