CIVICUS at the 62nd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council

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

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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.

At the 62^nd session of UN Human Rights Council (15 June to 10 July 2026), CIVICUS will prioritise the protection of civil society space, fundamental freedoms, and international solidarity. With the culling of UN human rights spending and non-rights respecting states gaining a firmer grip on the UN Human Rights Council and NGO Committee, civil society organisation (CSO) participation in UN and international processes has been scaled back. This is driven by declining expectations among civil society regarding the effectiveness of  advocacy within human rights mechanisms. Compounded by ongoing funding cuts affecting human rights CSOs worldwide, which further aggravate the participation crisis, these trends ring alarm bells and call for genuine global solidarity.

The Council’s mandate remains crucial in averting further escalation of ongoing crises, increasing restrictions on  civil society, and the closure of civic space at the national, regional, and global levels. According to CIVICUS Monitor research, of the 47 current Members of the Council only 17 states are rated as having open or narrowed civic space, where people can exercise their basic civic freedoms without well-founded fear of reprisals and persecution. Meanwhile, 17 states have severely repressed or closed civic space where acts of dissent by civil society can carry deadly consequences. Thirteen Member States are rated as obstructed, with severe restrictions on core civic freedoms and weak protection systems for human rights defenders.

In a polarised context, with more Member States rated in the 'closed' category than in the 'open' category, and amid an increasingly hostile environment for civil society, including protest suppression and the adoption of restrictive legislation to silence dissent, international solidarity is increasingly under attack. 

A key concern  is the longstanding failure of many Council Members to respond in an impartial, principled and consistent manner to situations of grave human rights violations, whether country-specific or thematic. At the same time, this reflects the poor internal human rights records of the Council's membership as well as the absence of globally endorsed benchmarks to guide the Council’s action  in such situations.

At this session, the Council should adopt the first-ever UN Declaration on the Right to International Solidarity as:

• a powerful response to rising repression against those engaging in solidarity and fragmented responses to global crises; and
• a first step towards the adoption of widely recognised and principled benchmarks to guide the Council membership to act on certain situations without double standards.

On country situations, the Council should renew its country mandates on Eritrea and Belarus as key avenues for justice and accountability, and continue monitoring the human rights situations in post-conflict and transition countries such as the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and Venezuela, among others. The UN body should also address the human rights situation of countries not on its agenda that require urgent action, e.g. sustained attacks on civic space in Ecuador, Georgia and the Philippines where restrictions on fundamental freedoms in law and practice threaten the survival of civil society in the country. The Council should also conclude its ongoing consideration of Tajikistan under its Complaint Procedure.          

Structural Challenges at the Human Rights Council

• Civil society access, participation & consultation: Civic actors and groups continue to face increased barriers and impediments in their access to UN human rights bodies. Since 2024, most Council activities are held exclusively in person, undermining the capacity of civil society to contribute to the negotiation of international norms and standards related to the protection of fundamental rights.

  Increased costs for civil society organisations to participate in some of these activities have also de facto limited access to engagement opportunities. In addition to these restrictions, the unprecedented funding and aid cuts that have jeopardised the work of civil society organisations over the past year have worsened pre-existing challenges. Participation in UN and international processes alongside advocacy and outreach work has been scaled back while civil society participation in UN human rights processes in Geneva is overall declining due to funding constraints and reduced presence at a time when most human rights organisations operate in survival mode.

  Over the past year, efforts have been undertaken to strengthen synergies across pillars of the UN and to promote a more cohesive approach to uphold core human rights principles globally. The establishment of an OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights)-led UN-wide human rights group will only be effective if sufficient resources are allocated to the human rights pillar and mechanisms and if civil is enabled to hold the UN accountable by participating as a legitimate actor in transparent consultations on intent, structure, operations, and reporting mechanisms of the human rights group.

• Review of UN Human Rights Council status: Disregard for human rights norms and the deep crisis in multilateral human rights cooperation at present call for stronger and sustained Council action to prevent and address violations. One key opportunity is the review of the Council’s status taking place in June, 15 years after the last review. In light of the current environment, Member States should work towards elevating the Council to the status of a principal UN organ, with human rights on an equal footing with peace and security and development. There can be no peace and security or sustainable development without the full and consistent protection of human rights.
  While Resolution 65/281 does not mandate a comprehensive review of the Council’s functioning, 15 years after the last review of the Council, the review should not be limited to the question of whether the Council should remain a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly, as there are pressing and long-standing issues that should be addressed in the context of the review, including membership criteria. It is incumbent upon members to uphold the highest standards in the protection and promotion of human rights, a non-negotiable requirement. However, we continue to see serial human rights violators securing a seat at the Council due to the practice of uncompetitive or semi-competitive elections. Other robust reforms are essential and urgent to address structural weaknesses limiting the Council’s effectiveness. These include institutional links with other UN and international bodies such as international judicial institutions and the full implementation of the Council’s prevention mandate.

Thematic Priorities

At this 62nd session, the Council will discuss a range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights through dedicated debates with the mandate holders and the High Commissioner. CIVICUS will mainly make interventions related to the following thematic areas: 

• Human Rights and International Solidarity 

  Amid escalating crises and protracted conflicts, transnational human rights challenges, rising authoritarianism, democratic backsliding and increasing attacks on civil society, this is a critical time for the international community to commit to international solidarity as the foundation of a new form of multilateralism and unifying principle for the promotion and protection of civil society and of a peaceful, inclusive, sustainable and equitable world order.                                                                             

  The UN Secretary-General’s report Our Common Agenda recognizes international solidarity as foundational for future-oriented, inclusive multilateralism. This is a critical moment for the international community to commit to solidarity as the basis for a renewed multilateralism and as a powerful tool to address the structural causes of global crises. At this session, the revised Draft Declaration on International Solidarity will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council.

  We urge States to:

  • Adopt the Declaration on the Right to International Solidarity by consensus as a powerful response to rising repression against those engaging in solidarity and fragmented responses to global crises.
  • Give full effect to the Declaration through the adoption of legislative, administrative, budgetary and other measures; indicators to measure the impact of transnational solidarity actions, drawing on civil society-led metrics; and report on progress made via existing peer-review mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
  • Strengthen mechanisms addressing intimidation, reprisals and sanctions against civil society actors and others cooperating with UN and regional mechanisms.
  • Institutionalize regular, meaningful engagement with national, international and regional civil society on matters of international and transnational solidarity
  • Ensure that civil society can operate across borders on regional, national and international solidarity issues without hindrance, within the limits of relevant legal frameworks.
  • Invest in cross-border alliances and community-based strategies that can sustain movements in restrictive contexts.
  • Stand in solidarity with oppressed peoples and use diplomatic engagement and actions when gross violations of international human rights or humanitarian law occur.
  • Pomote people-centred approaches and ensure inclusive, diverse participation in decision-making at all levels including within multilateral institutions.

   

• Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association

  A global surge in legislation and policies aimed at combating cybercrime and terrorism has opened the door to punishing and surveilling activists and protesters in many countries around the world. Such threats are often used as a pretext to push back against the new digital civil society and impose restrictions on the digital exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly and association rights.

  Authoritarian States have adapted quickly to this rapid digitalization, using the same technologies to expand surveillance, spread disinformation, and harass dissenters. Tactics such as internet shutdowns, online censorship, and the misuse of cybersecurity laws are now widely used not only by authoritarian actors to restrict civic space and undermine democratic engagement. Protesters, human rights defenders, citizens are being identified, tracked, and in many cases, prosecuted as a result of their exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

  With the increased accessibility and advancement of specific technologies to drive advocacy work, governments are frequently ordering shutdowns and limitations, particularly ahead of critical democratic moments such as elections and protests. However, the impact of surveillance and digital technology on the right to freedom of association has been overlooked. Drawing on recent reports by the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association and the draft General Comment 38 on the right to freedom of association, critical gaps have to be addressed in the context of the Council.

  We urge States to:

  • Repeal and condemn the adoption and misuse of foreign agent laws and laws restricting the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, including under the guise of increasing transparency.
  • Address the new challenges faced with by associations, such as new technologies and digital rights, increased surveillance of their activities or those of their members, the role of the business sector and private digital platforms, and artificial intelligence, which can turn into a tool of control and repression.
  • Develop international obligations to protect and promote the digital civic space, including by preventing unlawful surveillance, censorship and shutdowns, and by ensuring safe online communication and activities for associations.
  • Update legal frameworks governing freedom of association applying to online associations or associational activities drawing on new international guidelines, such as General Comment 38.

 Country-specific Priorities

At this 62nd session, CIVICUS will spotlight country-specific situations where civic space is under threat or where urgent action is needed to protect fundamental freedoms. Our interventions will focus on the following countries:

Country situations on Council agenda

Several country situations are scheduled for discussion during this session of the Human Rights Council. CIVICUS will engage in these discussions to highlight civic space violations and push for stronger Council action. These include: 

Country situations that require Council attention

Beyond the countries officially on the Council's agenda, there are critical civic space crises that remain unaddressed. CIVICUS urges the Council to consider these overlooked or emerging situations:

For additional information on CIVICUS’ engagement during the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council or any related queries, please contact the Geneva team at .