Geneva

Statement: Severe restrictions to fundamental freedoms persist in Myanmar

41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue on the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s oral update on Myanmar and urge the Government to resume its cooperation and grant access to the Special Rapporteur, and to address the situation on the ground.

Advocacy priorities at 44th Session of UN Human Rights Council

The three-week human rights council sits from 30 June to 17 July, and there are a number of critical human rights resolutions up for debate, and for the 47 Council members to address.

Statement: Grave human rights abuses continue in Eritrea

41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea CIVICUS, along with eight other Africa-based organisations, (see below) welcomes the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Eritrea and we ask the UN Human Rights Council as a matter of urgency to renew the mandate, so that the Special Rapporteur can continue its vital monitoring of and reporting on the human rights situation in Eritrea.

Statement: Countless cases of arbitrary arrests in Burundi

41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi CIVICUS and independent Burundian civil society organisations thank the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi for its update and ongoing work on highlighting human rights abuses.

Statement: The same rights that people have offline must also be protected online

41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to peaceful assembly and association  Joint statement by ICNL, Article 19, CIVICUS, ECNL, and World Movement for Democracy Activists, peaceful protesters, and civil society have harnessed the power of the Internet and digital technologies, to share information, and to build and mobilise communities at unprecedented scale and speed.
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Saudi Arabia: States should adopt a resolution at UNHRC to address human rights violations

ARABIC Your Excellency, We remain highly concerned about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, in particular the recent mass executions of 37 men on 23 April, the continued arbitrary detention of human rights defenders including women human rights defenders and the ongoing impunity for serious human rights violations, including torture.

Civic space and fundamental freedoms in Zimbabwe

Joint Statement at the 41st Session of the Human Rights Council CIVICUS and the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) welcome the High Commissioner’s update.
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Open letter: Ensure continued monitoring of the human rights situation in Eritrea

To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council Excellency, We, the undersigned human rights organizations, are writing to urge you to support the adoption of a resolution at the upcoming 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council (“Council”) to maintain a monitoring and reporting mandate on the human rights situation in Eritrea.
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Open NGO letter about the funding gap affecting UNHR mechanisms & the OHCHR

To:All Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Geneva and New York Cc:UN Secretary GeneralUN High Commissioner for Human RightsChairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty BodiesCoordination Committee of UN Special Procedures It is with a sense of urgency that we convey our deep concern regarding the critical funding situation affecting the UN’s human rights mechanisms and OHCHR.
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Tanzania: 38 NGOs call on states to express concern over human rights

#Tanzania: Activists & journalists are experiencing a rapid decline in #civicspace.
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Country recommendations on civic space for UN´s Universal Periodic Review

  CIVICUS makes seven joint UN Universal Periodic Review submissions on civil society space in Angola, Egypt, El Salvador, Iran, Iraq, Fiji and Madagascar CIVICUS and its partners have made joint UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on 7 countries in advance of the 34rd UPR session (October-November 2019).
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Conclusions from the 40th Session of the Human Rights Council

  Joint NGO Statement - End of 40th Session of the UN Human Rights Council We welcome the positive step the Council has taken in the direction to effectively protect environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) from the grave reality they face every day.

Joint letter: Renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran

TO: Member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council 15 March, 2019 Your Excellency, We, the undersigned Iranian and international human rights organisations, urge your government to support resolution A/HRC/40/L.

Jordan: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

  UN Human Rights Council – 40th Session 15 March 2019 Oral Statement The Arab NGO Network on Development, the Phenix Center for Economic & Informatics Studies and CIVICUS welcome the government of Jordan’s engagement with the UPR process, including its decision to accept over 100 recommendations on a range of human rights issues.

Nigeria: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

  UN Human Rights Council – 40th Session 15 March 2019 Oral Statement The Nigeria Network of NGOs and CIVICUS welcome the Government of Nigeria’s engagement in the 3rd cycle of the UPR process, including accepting a range of recommendations presented by the UPR Working Group in November 2018.

Malaysia: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

  UN Human Rights Council – 40th Session 15 March 2019 Oral Statement Pusat Komas and CIVICUS welcome the government of Malaysia’s engagement with the UPR process.

Senegal: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

  UN Human Rights Council – 40th Session 15 March 2019 Oral Statement The Senegalese Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (COSEDDH) and CIVICUS welcome the engagement taken by the government of Senegal in the UPR process, and welcome the acceptance of several recommendations on civic space during its review by the UPR Working Group in November 2018.

Mexico: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

  UN Human Rights Council – 40th Session 15 March 2019 Oral Statement CIVICUS welcomes the government of Mexico's engagement with the UPR process.

Human Rights Situations of Concern: Ethiopia

  While acknowledging the integral role that this Council plays in holding governments to account for wilfully persecuting individuals and groups who speak truth to power, we would like to use this opportunity to celebrate the recent civil and political liberation ushered in by sustained protest movements in Ethiopia,  while further encouraging the government of Ethiopia to ensure that this transformation is sustainable rather than fleeting, systemic rather than cosmetic.

States should defend environmental human rights defenders

Joint Letter at the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council Our organisations are calling on all UN Member States to demonstrate their support to environmental human rights defenders.

Burundi: Human rights violations continue

  UN Human Rights Council – 40th regular session Interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi CIVICUS is extremely concerned that grave human rights violations in Burundi continue without any signs of abating.

36 States stand with Saudi women human rights defenders

The massive crackdown on women #HumanRightsDefenders in #SaudiArabia must stop.
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Alarming trends facing protest movements

  40th Session of the Human Rights Council Statement delivered during General Debate (Monday 11 March) CIVICUS is deeply alarmed that protest movements find themselves on the frontlines of a global attack on democracy and human rights.

Attacks against human rights defenders in Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras

  Statement at the 40th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Response to country reports from the High Commissioner and Secretary General CIVICUS is extremely concerned about attacks against human rights defenders across Colombia, Honduras and Guatemala, of which governments of these counties show little sign of adequately addressing.

DRC: Statement on human rights violations

  Statement at the 40th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Response during the Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of Congo CIVICUS welcomes the decree signed by newly-elected Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi to pardon about 700 political prisoners detained for participating in peaceful protests or expressing dissenting opinions.

Dialogue with U.N Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed

40th Session of the UN Human Rights Council CIVICUS statement during dialogue with UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed After the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations delivered a statement on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, representatives from governments, UN agencies and civil society were able to respond and ask questions.

Renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on promotion of human rights while countering terrorism

Renewal of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism Our organizations are deeply concerned about reported moves to allow Egypt a role in the Human Rights Council resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (SR on CT).
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CIVICUS at the 40th Human Rights Council

  The 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council will meet from 25 February to 22 March.

Sudan: Civil society call on Human Rights Council to dispatch an independent international fact-finding mission to establish the facts and circumstances of alleged human rights violations committed in Sudan

To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council Dear Excellencies, We, the undersigned Sudanese, African and international organisations and individuals, write to you ahead of the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council (“the Council”), which will take place from 25 February-22 March 2019, to express our concerns and urge you to address the Sudanese government’s crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and ongoing violations of human rights.
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Country recommendations on civic space for UN´s Universal Periodic Review

CIVICUS makes six joint UN Universal Periodic Review submissions on civil society space: Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Nicaragua and Qatar CIVICUS and its partners have made joint UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on 6 countries in advance of the 33rd UPR session (April-May 2019).
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Outcomes & Reflections from 39th Session of UN Human Rights Council

This session, the Council adopted landmark resolutions on several country situations, further enhancing its contribution to the protection of human rights.

Yemen: Urgent need to address humanitarian crisis

39th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Joint statement during Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner's Report on Yemen Urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and its impact on the most vulnerable populations: A call for renewal and strengthening of the mandate for the Group of Eminent Experts This statement is made on behalf of Save the Children and 15 civil society organisations, including organisations with current operations in Yemen.

Uzbekistan at UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia, International Partnership for Human Rights and CIVICUS welcome the government of Uzbekistan’s engagement with the UPR process, including its decision to accept over 200 recommendations on a range of human rights issue.

Djibouti at UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

CIVICUS, DefendDefenders, and FIDH welcome the government of Djibouti's engagement with the UPR process.

Burkina Faso at UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

Coalition Burkinabé des Défenseurs des Droits Humains, the West Africa Human Rights Defenders Network and CIVICUS welcome the government of Burkina Faso's engagement with the UPR process.

Turkmenistan at UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

CIVICUS welcomes the government of Turkmenistan's engagement with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.

Statement on alarming trends of reprisals and killings -- 38 UN member states implicated

Human Rights Council 39th session  Joint statement: ISHR & CIVICUS Interactive Dialogue with Assistant Secretary-General on the Secretary-General's report on cooperation with the United Nations, it's representatives and Mechanisms in the field of human rights Human rights defenders must be able to access and communicate with the UN freely and safely so it can do its crucial work of monitor countries’ compliance with human rights obligations and protect victims from abuse.

Countries that require the attention of the UN Human Rights Council

39th Session of the Human Rights Council Oral Statement   Members of the CIVICUS Alliance in Zimbabwe have expressed grave concern for the authorities’ heavy-handed response to protests in Harare one day after presidential elections were held.

Civic Space Initiative statement on public participation guidelines

39th Session of the Human Rights Council General Debate Civic Space Initiative, including Article 19, CIVICUS, European Center for Not-for-profit Law, International Center for Not-for-profit Law and World Movement for Democracy, welcomes the draft guidelines on effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

CIVICUS Addresses the New UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

39th Session of the Human Rights Council   Opening Statement to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights  High Commissioner Bachelet, CIVICUS warmly welcomes you to the Council and congratulates your appointment as 7th UN High Commissioner.

750+ organizations highlight the vital role of the UN High Commissioner in calling out violators

Joint NGO letter to the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet – 5 September 2018 As local, national, regional, and international civil society organizations from every corner of the world, we offer warm congratulations on your appointment as United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Human rights monitoring needed in Democratic Republic of Congo

Letter sent to UN Member State Missions Re: Creating a dedicated country-wide human rights monitoring and reporting mechanism on the Democratic Republic of Congo at the UN Human Rights Council Your excellency, We, the undersigned Congolese, regional, and international organizations, write to urge your delegation to support the creation of a country-wide human rights monitoring and reporting mechanism on the Democratic Republic of Congo at the upcoming 39th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Burundi: Continued UN investigation of human rights violations needed

Frances To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland Burundi: Call to renew the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry Excellencies, Ahead of the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council (“HRC” or “the Council”), we, the undersigned national, regional and international civil society organisations, write to urge your delegation to support a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Burundi.
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CIVICUS Joint UN Universal Periodic Review submissions on civil society space

Submissions on civil society space– Afghanistan, Chile, Eritrea, Macedonia, Vietnam & Yemen The #UN is conducting human rights reviews for #Afghanistan, #Chile, #Eritrea, #Macedonia, #Vietnam & #Yemen.

Outcomes & reflections from UN Human Rights Council

38th Session of the Human Rights Council End of Session Joint Civil Society Statement Our organisations welcome the adoption of the resolutions on civil society space, peaceful protest, on violence against women and girls and on discrimination against women and girls and the Council’s rejection of attempts to impede progress on protecting civil society space, peaceful protest and the rights to sexual and reproductive health.
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Wanted: Strong UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

38th Session Human Rights Council Joint Statement* We want to highlight key features for the next High Commissioner – one of the world’s premier human rights defender – whose mandate includes providing technical assistance and capacity building to States, as well as standing up for universal human rights and those who defend them.

Burundi at UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

38th Session of UN Human Rights Council Adoption of the UPR report of Burundi  Mr.

Serbia at UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

38th Session of UN Human Rights Council Adoption of the UPR report of the Republic of Serbia   The Human Rights House Belgrade (Lawyer’s Committee for Human Rights, Belgrade Center for Human Rights, Civic Initiatives, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and Policy Center), the Human Rights House Foundation and CIVICUS welcome the Government of Serbia's engagement with the UPR process.

Israel at UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

38th Session of UN Human Rights Council Adoption of the UPR report of Israel Mr.

United Arab Emirates at UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of Universal Periodic Review Report

38th Session of UN Human Rights Council Adoption of the UPR report of the United Arab Emirates  The Gulf Centre for Human Rights, the International Service for Human Rights and CIVICUS welcome the chance to engage in the process of the UAE’s UPR.

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