Over 50 people from 6 continents and representing more than 30 key platforms and organisations engaged in civil society-led campaigns relating to sustainable development gathered in Istanbul, Turkey on 23-24 February 2014. The meeting was convened by CIVICUS in collaboration with the United Nations, the Overseas Development Institute and the United Nations Foundation. This communiqué summarises the discussions held in Istanbul.

TOGETHER WE STAND: Coordinating efforts for a global movement on the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda

4th February 2014 

The  Government  of  Eritrea  should  accept  recommendations  to  cooperate fully with the United Nations human rights system, said Human  Rights  ConcernFEritrea,  the East  and  Horn of  Africa 

Human Rights Defenders Project and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, following its examination at the Universal Periodic Review yesterday. 

Under the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, the human rights record of each UN member state is reviewed every four and a half years. Given the situation of widespread and systematic human rights violations in Eritrea, the UPR process is an important opportunity for scrutiny and dialogue.

During the three and a half hour working group session in Geneva, the delegation of Eritrea, headed by Ambassador Tesfamichael Gerahtu, stated its commitment to human rights and to engagement, dialogue and cooperation, and  was commended for its participation in the review. However, Eritrea simultaneously continues to refuse  to  cooperate  or allow access to the country to  the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea.

Eritrea: Under International Scrutiny, Allow Independent Human Rights Monitoring 

During the 24th UNHRC Session, 9-27 September 2013, CIVICUS facilitated the participation of a number of human rights defenders to discuss the challenges faced by civil society across a range of countries. Through these interventions CIVIUCUS gave support to and provided a platform for civil society partners and members experiencing threats and intimidation to make a number of inputs into Council processes, including the UN Universal Period Review (UPR).

CIVICUS and its partner organizations made several oral interventions on Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Syria and Uzbekistan to raise awareness about restrictions on civil society and reprisals against civil society activists for cooperating with UN bodies including:

Joint statement on threats to civil society in Azerbaijan

Joint statement on the deteriorating environment for human rights defenders in Bahrain

Statement on the Report of the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

Statement on continued harassment of independent media in Sri Lanka

Joint statement on harassment and imprisonment of civil society activists in Uzbekistan

Joint statement on intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders

CIVICUS also co-sponsored panel discussions on the on-going crackdown on CSOs and activists in Russia and Bahrain. The side events, panelled by a number of national civil society activists, examined recommendations made to both countries during the UPR process and discussed the continued invocation of regressive legislation to silence independent dissent.

Side event on the state of civil society in Russia

Side event on Bahrain’s implementation of UPR Recommendations

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Expert Working Group, a human rights policy organization based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan released a joint statement to the 24th Session of the HRC on the human rights session in Uzbekistan.

The Human Rights Council's review of Uzbekistan occurs at a time when the government continues to imprison activists and human rights defenders at an alarming rate for undertaking their legitimate and peaceful work.

Despite the government's acceptance of a number of recommendations committing to advancing judicial reform in accordance with international law and ensuring that human rights defenders and CSOs can freely operate in accordance with international standards, at least 15 civil society activists remain imprisoned on politically motivated charges. A number of those imprisoned were not provided guarantees under fair trial and due process standards and were sentenced to lengthy prison terms ranging from 10-15 years. Several of the detained activists, including Azam Turgunov and Dilmurod Saidov, have experienced an acute deterioration of their health, while at least seven others have reported being subject to ill treatment or torture while in custody.

Read the full statement

CIVICUS urges the Syrian government to give finally access to the Commission to hold perpetrators of crimes against humanity to account.

CIVICUS, in reading the abhorrent 10th update of the commission of inquiry on Syria, wishes in response to quote Mazen Darwish, head of Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression. He speaks from the prison of Damascus, where he has been detained since February 2012 by Syrian Security Forces. His words came when receiving the Bruno Kreisky award in June 2013, and his friends had asked CIVICUS to make them known. I quote:

"I asked myself why a firm fighter and a statesman pushed his nation to permanent neutrality leaving voluntarily the ecstasy of victory and the joy of winning, till I have realized that there is no winner in wars, everybody is a loser, and there is nothing good in war except its ending.
From Baghdad to Budapest, Lebanon to Prague and from Vietnam to the two Koreas, I have learnt that there is nothing good in war except its ending, and from the victims of wars .. to the victims of tyranny in our Arab world ... I have learnt that the road to democracy is as far from the path of extremism and terrorism as it is from dictatorships and tyranny.
Yes .. we want freedom and dignity and justice and yes we deserve it, but it surely is not the freedom of dying under torture or slaughtered, it is not to be killed by a shell from a jet or a by car bomb, it is the freedom of life on the basis of sharing and coalition between the universality of human rights values and the privacy of local social relations in order to reshape global human sphere that makes life itself a moral human experience and we look at it as more owned by others than us...."

Read the full statement

Maryam Alkhawaja, CIVICUS member and acting president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights speaks on the human rights sitiuation in Bahrain

My name is Maryam Alkhawaja, acting president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, speaking on behalf of our partners CIVICUS and CIHRS.

The human rights situation in Bahrain unfortunately continues to deteriorate. In July law amendments were made that further infringe on people's basic rights to free assembly and free expression. The Ministry of Justice announced a new decision that any meetings between political societies and foreign embassies must be announced to the ministry and they have the right to sit in on these meetings.

Since mid-February until now we have documented at least 1200 arbitrary arrests, including women and children, some being tried under the terrorism law. In August alone, we documented at least 400 house raids. The visit of the special rapporteur has been effectively cancelled and torture is rampant and systematic. Most of those arrested are subjected to enforced disappearance that last from several hours and sometimes up to a week, during which people are ill-treated at times amounting to torture.

Read the full statement

CIVICUS member Nada Dhaif speaks at the 24th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation for women in Bahrain.

I am Dr. Nada Dhaif, chairperson of BRAVO. I am speaking as a member of CIVICUS and wish first of all to thank the High Commissioner for her update, in particular for the concerns raised on the deteriorating situation in Bahrain.

Secondly, having been harassed and tortured myself and been mentioned in the report of the Secretary General on reprisals, I strongly welcome his report and recommendations with the roadmap to follow by all governments, including the government of Bahrain. We also warmly welcome the joint statement delivered by Switzerland.

Thirdly, I wish to raise the situation of women in Bahrain – so far not often mentioned at this Council - which is seriously deteriorating. Based on discrimination and violations it has now reached unprecedented levels. Since the protests in 2011, approximately 5000 women have been dismissed from their jobs, faced suspension and in some cases a reduction in their salaries which can be attributed to sectarian reasons.

Read the full statement

CIVICUS makes interventions for the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which scrutinizes each country's human rights record every four years. In advance of the 19th session of the UPR, CIVICUS has made five joint submissions on threats to the freedoms of expression, association and assembly in Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nicaragua and Qatar. The submissions further highlight the need for an enabling operating environment for civil society and the need to protect human rights defenders.

In Cote d’Ivoire, CIVICUS, the West African Human Rights Defenders Network and the Ivorian Coalition of Human Rights Defenders examine the persistent harassment, intimidation and attacks against journalists and human rights defenders by the country’s military forces and armed militia groups.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, CIVICUS’ joint submission with the League for Human Rights in the Great Lakes Region gravely notes the lack of any discernible improvement in the treatment and safety of protestors, members of the media, and civil society activists since 2009.

In Ethiopia, CIVICUS, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project and the Human Rights Council analyse the continued invocation of broad and imprecise legislation, including the 2009 Charities and Societies Proclamation and the 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, to silence all forms of independent dissent.

In Nicaragua, CIVICUS and the Nicaraguan Network for Democracy and Local Development warn about the growing use of judicial, financial and administrative channels, by the Nicaraguan authorities, to restrict freedom of expression, independence of the media and access to information.

In Qatar, CIVICUS’ joint submission with the Gulf Center for Human Rights examines the criminalization of the creation of an independent civil society sector, severe limitations on freedom of association and to collective bargaining for unions, and strict controls domestic media outlets.

Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion
of a democratic and equitable international order
Interactive Dialogue, 10 September 2013

We wish to comment on the report on 'promotion of a democratic and equitable international order.

CIVICUS welcomes your report Mr. de Zayas, in particular as you focus on participation. This comes at a time when in general it is recognized that participation of a free and vibrant civil society is a fundamental building block of democratic societies and a means to promoting economic and social development.

In the submission, CIVICUS argues that meaningful development cannot be achieved without the realisation of human rights as both are intertwined. We also highlight that economic, land rights and indigenous people’s rights defenders are seen as a political and economic threat by vested interests as communities that traditionally relied on rivers, forests and communal land are increasingly being displaced through collusion between private corporations, government officials and politicians. Additionally, legal and policy restrictions on the work of human rights defenders and their persecution in many parts of the world are a major cause for concern. We also call for specific indicators and targets on enabling environment to measure progress of lack thereof on measures to protect human rights defenders.

Read more

In advance of the 18th Universal Periodic Review session of the UN Human Rights Council, CIVICUS made two independent submissions and three joint submissions on threats to freedoms of expression, association and assembly in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Eritrea, Vietnam and Yemen. The submissions also highlight the need for an enabling operating environment for civil societies around the world and the need to protect human rights defenders.
 
In Afghanistan, CIVICUS’ joint submission with the Afghan NGOs Coordination Bureau focuses on the kidnappings of journalists and murders of human rights defenders. In Cambodia, CIVICUS raises concern about politically motivated attacks on land rights protestors. In Eritrea the joint submission with Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea highlights extreme restrictions on any civil society activities. In Vietnam, CIVICUS warns about the government’s use of vague legislation to curtail press and other civic freedoms. In Yemen, the joint submission with the Arab NGO Network for Development scrutinises the brutal crackdowns on pro-democracy protestors.

Report on the 16th Session of the UPR Working Group
Review of Azerbaijan (Tuesday 30 April 2013, 14:30 ~ 18:00)
Led by H.E. Mr. Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Opening Remarks
In the opening remarks, the Deputy Minister H.E. Mr. Khalafov stated that Azerbaijan is committed to the promotion and protection of Human Rights in accordance with the UPR mechanism. Azerbaijan, for this Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session, established a working group with participation of civil society and the Ministry of Interior.

In his statement, he raised a concern about ethnic cleansing carried out by Armenia in Azerbaijan and this resulted in the Armenian delegation repeatedly asking for a point of order. The head of Azerbaijan's delegation criticised this attempt to stop the dialogue at the Human Rights Council. The point of order was rejected by the President of the Council.

In 2011, The National Action Program for human rights protection in Azerbaijan was set up to cover issues and recommendations made to the country during its 1st UPR. Overall it develops measures to cover the legal framework and activities of state agencies. This National Action Program contains several categories including job creation, promotion of cultural diversity, fighting against corruption, Promotion of E-technology, rights of women. It set up a working group that coordinates its implementation and periodically submits implementation reports to the president of the country.

This June, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Human Rights and the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action (VDPA). After twenty years, it remains as relevant as ever in guiding or efforts in responding to global human rights challenges. The European Union looks forward to celebrating this event by taking stock of the advances – and where necessary, the current difficulties – in the promotion and protection of human rights for all persons.

Read more

23rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Geneva, 10 June 2013
General Debate Item 8

Joint Statement on behalf of
Norway, the United States of America and Germany

H.E. Mr. Hanns H. Schumacher
Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany

Mister President,

On behalf of Norway, the United States of America and Germany, I speak today regarding the deeply concerning recent developments in Egypt relating to the universal human rights to freedom of association and freedom of opinion and expression. Taking into account the commitment of all states in the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action (VDPA) to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

We deplore the decision of an Egyptian court in the politically motivated trial of dozens of international and domestic NGO representatives. The charges, trial, and verdict discourage the exercise of the freedom of association. The court’s decision to shut down several NGOs and seize their assets contradicts the government of Egypt's commitment to respect and protect the right to freedom of association and to support the role of civil society in Egypt. Civic groups, including NGOs, play a key role in advancing education and civil rights and freedoms, supporting human rights, and promoting development.

23rd session of the
Human Rights CouncilItem 6

Universal Periodic Review
General Debate

Delivered by Olivia Tchamba

I thank you Mr President,

Founded on a consensus-based decision-making process, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) provides a legitimate platform to request the responses to human rights issues by the state under review. Though the UPR first cycle resulted in some tangible benefits, the whole mechanism was tainted by numerous flaws. One pressing flaw being the unprecedented decision of Israel to suspend cooperation with the mechanism. IsraelS non-cooperation sets a breach for the universality of this crucial human rights protection mechanism. In this light, CIVICUS vividly encourages Israel to participate in its 2nd Cycle UPR review as schedule for the 29 of October 2013.

As the UPR has the potential to become an important part of anchoring universal human rights norms in practice, it is essential to identify recommendations which could help to further strengthen this mechanism. In view of this, the role of stakeholders from civil society should not be weakened in the process. More accurate NGO involvement will have a very significant impact during the pre-review national process and post-review outcome document adoption stages. Additionally, more emphasis should be placed on action-orientated and measurable recommendations to avoid undermining the utility and impact of these recommendations. The follow-up procedure should also be strengthened through accelerating the institutionalisation of a mid-term reporting requirement.

The UPR is one key element of the international human rights protection system. It triggers self-evaluations by states and reminds them of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The human rights community should thus work towards its becoming more deeply and permanently rooted.

I thank you

23rd session of the
Human Rights Council
Item 7

Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories
General Debate
Statement delivered by Enrica Barago

Thank you Mr President,

CIVICUS warmly welcomes Israel’s decision to pursue its dialogue with the Human
Rights Council and hopes it will cooperate with its mechanisms in a positive and meaningful spirit.

CIVICUS wishes to use this opportunity to reassert a number of concerns regarding the situation that prevails in Israel as well as in Palestine and in the Occupied Territories. Israel failed to comply with its legal responsibilities as the Occupying power. Additionally, in the context of the prolonged occupation, International Humanitarian Law shows its limits that should be addressed by the ICRC or by a special Commission of Inquiry as stated by Mr Falk.

23rd session of the
Human Rights Council
Item 8

Follow up to and implementation of the
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action

Delivered by Renate Bloem

Thank you Mr. President,

During this year of the 20th anniversary of the Vienna Conference, CIVICUS wishes to reiterate the mile stone achievements and fundamental agreements reached in consensus by the 171 participating UN member States during this Conference. The legacy still shapes the human rights agenda of today:

• Universality and indivisibility of human rights: the freedom from want and fear
• Women’s Rights are Human Rights
• Civil Society as crucial to the framework of human rights
• Establishment of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights
  

Oral Statement
Item 4 General Debate
5 June 2013

Statement delivered on behalf of:

Human Rights Watch, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), Conectas Direitos Humanos, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), International Service for Human Rights and International Commission of Jurists,

With the support of:

African Democracy Forum; African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies; Think Centre, Singapore; Task Force Detainees Philippines (TFDP), Philippines; Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Philippines; Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Taiwan; Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP), Timor Leste; INFORM Information Documentation Centre, Sri Lanka ; People's Watch, India; People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), South Korea; Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Indonesia; IMPARSIAL, Indonesia; Human Rights Working Group, Indonesia; People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), India; Law and Society Trust (LST), Sri Lanka; Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), Nepal; Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India; Community Self Reliance Centre (CSRC), Nepal; KontraS, Indonesia; Pilipina Legal Resource Centre (PLRC), Philippines; Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), Mongolia; Function 8, Singapore; Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign (SADPC), Singapore; Project X, Singapore; Alliance National Timor Leste International Tribunal (ANTI), Timor Leste; Programme Against Custodial Torture and Impunity (PACTI), India;
***

The United States continues to detain individuals for indefinite periods without charge or trial at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan in violation of its obligations under international human rights law.

23nd session of the
Human Rights Council
Item4    

Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention, General Debate
Dr. Nada Dhaif

Thank you Mr. President,

I speak here on  behalf of CIVICUS.  I am  Dr. Nada Dhaif, chairperson of BRAVO, and am here to draw your attention to 3 problems in Bahrain

1. Absence of Medical Neutrality
2. Reprisals against Human Rights Defenders
3. The use of Toxic Chemicals against civilians

Firstly, on the absence of Medical Neutrality: There are still 4 health care workers remaining in prison today and the Bahraini health system is largely under the occupation of the Bahraini Defence Forces.

Secondly, Reprisals against Human rights defenders and their families. During the last session of the HRC in March, I specifically asked that there be protection for Human Rights Defender Ali Fakhrawi.

Mr. Fakhrawi, who is part of the exiled Bahraini diaspora, lives out of a suitcase, en-route to various destinations to speak about his experiences, and of his father who was tortured to death. A month after his participation in a side event during the HRC session, his brother was detained. Others like him continue to live under restrictive conditions, as the case of Nabeel Rajab demonstrates.

23rd session of the
Human Rights Council
Item 3

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Interactive Dialogue

Statement delivered by Enrica Barago

Thank you Mr. President,
CIVICUS warmly welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression. We wish to stress once again the fundamental importance of Freedom of Opinion and Expression not only as a fundamental right per se, but also as an essential prerequisite for the promotion and protection of all other human rights.

Mr Special Rapporteur, as emphasized in your report, the lack of security in the field of communications has a chilling effect on victims of all forms of violence and abuses; victims who may later be reluctant to report to the authorities fearing double victimisation. The right to privacy being unequivocally recognised as a fundamental human right, could you please elaborate on the absence of an explicit definition of this right in the existing international human rights instruments knowing that this relative legal vacuum has a direct impact on the enforcement of this right.

23nd session of the
Human Rights Council
Item4    

Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention: Belarus

By Yuri Dzlibladze

Thank you Mr. President,

CIVICUS and the Committee of International Control over the Human Rights Situation in Belarus, a coalition of more than 50 NGOs from different countries, welcome the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human rights situation in Belarus. We believe it clearly reflects the situation on the ground and the main concerns of the international community.

As a result of our monitoring on the ground, we see that the human rights situation in Belarus has not only remained bad, but it has deteriorated further. Firstly, in the areas of freedoms of association, expression, and assembly as well as concerning the use of torture and ill-treatment in custody, enforced disappearances, impunity of perpetrators of human rights abuses, and violations of due process and fair trial safeguards.

We support references in the report to specific areas where comprehensive review of relevant legislation, policies, strategies and practices should be done on the basis of relevant UN documents containing recommendations on the human rights situation in Belarus that should serve as a framework for legislative and policy change.

On 29 May 2013, the UN Human Rights Council squeezed in an urgent debate on Syria into its already crowded schedule. CIVICUS representative Renate Bloem delivered the following statement. 

CIVICUS supports this urgent debate, although it comes too late for the some 100, 000 people who have lost their lives, including those in Al-Qusayr. The un- civil war in Syria and the enormous human suffering is a direct consequence of the failure of the international community to arrive at diplomatic consensus on how to deal with the crisis in its early days when peaceful pro-democracy protestors and civilians were bombarded with heavy weapons by the regime in gross violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.

During the second week of the council, on the 6th of March, we organised a joint side event with the HRHF on the “Criminalisation of Human Rights Defenders in the Russian Federation “. This followed on the heels of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Margaret Sekaggya’s report to the council and gave ample illustration to her previous report to the UNGA on the theme of “criminalisation”. It was also meant to prepare for the upcoming Universal Periodic Review on Russia in April. Read the full report here.

This was followed by another CIVICUS event on March 13th 2013 titled “Eurasia: The silencing of Human Rights Defenders in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan” which was also in preparation for the UPR Reviews of these three countries next month. The event had received considerable attention already. At the last minute one of our speakers from Uzbekistan was not allowed to leave the country and the other, well known exiled Uzbek activist Mutabar Tadzhibaeva, who had caused media attention after speaking out at the previous Human Rights Film Festival and afterwards trying to visit the Uzbek Ambassador’s residence of Gulnara Karimov (daughter of Uzbek President). She found herself facing an official complaint from the Uzbek authorities and she was sought after by the Geneva Police. Fortunately, we could settle the dispute in time. The report of the side event can be found here.

6th March 2013

Summary
On Wednesday 6 March, the Human Rights House Foundation together with CIVICUS, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Youth Human Rights Movement, the International Federation for Human Rights and the Civil Society and Freedom of Speech Initiative Center for the Caucasus hosted a side event titled "Criminalisation of Human Rights Defenders in the Russian Federation" at the United Nations in Geneva.

The meeting, which was attended by over forty people, provided an opportunity for activists on the ground in the Russian Federation to testify about the real situation the country is in, showing the real face of a campaign of repression to silence independent voices. Moreover, the event offered a unique opportunity to discuss the devastating impact of the criminalisation of the work of human rights defenders in the Russian Federation, with the main purpose of addressing key areas of concern to be highlighted during the upcoming UPR examination of the Russian Federation, on Monday 29 April 2013.
    
The session featured a high level panel of experts including Anna Dobrovolskaya, Programme Coordinator at the International Youth Human Rights Movement;  Abdulla Duduev, Executive Director of the Russian magazine DOSH; Boris Pustyntsev, Chair of Citizens’ Watch and Maria Kozlovskaya, Programme Manager from the Russian LGBT- Network. The panel was moderated by Florian Irminger, Head of International Advocacy and HRHF Geneva Office.

The whole event was carried out in a conducive atmosphere, there was a meaningful exchange of views between the panellists and the participants at the side-event. The spirit of the dialogue remained moderate, following the guidelines provided by the organisers. The general tone may have been a result of the fact that Russian Officials were in attendance.

22nd Session of the
UN Human Rights Council
Item 3

General Debate
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.
An enabling environment for civil society

Delivered by Enrica Barago

Thank you, Mr President.

CIVICUS calls once again the attention of the Human Rights Council to the issue of reprisals against human rights defenders and persons who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations in the field of human rights.

We note with great concern that over the last years human rights activists around the world were tortured, detained without trial, beaten, banned from travelling, labelled traitors and subjected to various forms of inhuman treatment, mostly at the hands of state security agents. Civil society has continuously highlighted this phenomenon and has urged States to prevent and ensure adequate protection against such acts.

In particular in countries such as Bahrain, Pakistan, Libya, Uganda and the Russian Federation, human rights defenders face different levels of reprisals by State and non-State actors. In Iran, between 26th January and 22nd February 2013, eighteen journalists were arrested by Iranian authorities, as part of a growing trend whereby security agencies have blocked websites, shut down reformist newspapers and threatened family members of journalists associated with foreign media agencies.

22nd session of the
Human Rights Council

Item 2
Annual Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
ID 28 February 2013
Delivered by Renate Bloem

Thank you Mr. President,

Madame High Commissioner, CIVICUS welcomes your annual report and commends you on the extraordinary number of country visits and your continued audacity to speak up whenever gross abuses of Human Rights occur. We also laud your offices’ thematic priorities and share your concerns about the scarcity of funds in complete disconnect with the importance of tasks you have been asked to fulfill. We hear your Human Rights Appeal for 2013 and call on all members of the council and governments beyond to request the Secretary General and the General Assembly to take immediate steps a) for more balanced distribution within the overall regular UN budget to reflect the equal status of peace, development and human rights and b) to take urgent steps to seek increased extra budgetary resources.

22nd session of the
Human Rights Council
Item4    

Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
Delivered by Renate Bloem

Thank you Mr. President,

CIVICUS is concerned about Iran that serious violations of the fundamental rights of women human rights defenders are continuing unabated. We strongly condemn the on-going crackdown on media and civil society.  Between 26 January and 22 February 2013, eighteen journalists have been arrested.  There are serious indications that more arrests are likely to follow The recent wave of arrests is part of a growing trend in Iran whereby security agencies have blocked websites, shut down reformist newspapers, jammed satellite stations, slowed down internet speed and threatened family members of journalists associated with foreign media agencies. Bloggers and online activists remain at heightened risk of being charged with spreading propaganda against the regime and threatening national security. Hadi Ghaemi, Director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said: “The regime is gearing up to restrict the flow of information ahead of the upcoming presidential election in June 2013”

22nd Session of the
Human Rights Council
Item7

General Debate
Report of the Independent Fact Finding Mission on Human Rights situation in the Palestinian other Arab occupied territories

Thank you Mr. President,

We are greatly concerned by Israel’s unprecedented decision to suspend cooperation with the UPR mechanism. We urge the government of Israel to resume cooperation and schedule their second cycle of Universal Periodic Review as soon as possible bearing in mind the harmful precedent their non-cooperation sets for the universality of this crucial human rights protection mechanism.

22nd  session of the Human Rights Council
Item 6

Delivered by Dr Nada Dhaif

Thank you Mr. President,

I would like to thank the 44 member states who signed the Swiss initiated statement last week on Bahrain.

We hope to see more statements of this nature in future, with more signatures, and with more action from the counsel.

As you all know there has been a significant increase in the reprisals against Human Rights Defenders in the context of UPR.

Unfortunately the Bahraini authorities gave the worst example of repression of Human Rights Defenders, and therefore, I am deeply concerned for the welfare of two of my Bahraini friends who have joined me to advocate in Geneva, Mr Mohammed AlBoflasa, who was the first political detainee of the uprising in Bahrain.  He and his family were severely targeted and he is threatened with arrest and detention upon his return to Bahrain for his participation at the UNHRC.  

CIVICUS made two oral interventions with regard to the Universal Periodic Reviews of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea. CIVICUS urges the Sri Lankan government to reconsider the recommendations to put in place a national action plan on human rights and to ensure impartial investigations in all cases of attacks on and intimidation of human rights defenders.

CIVICUS urges the Korean government to repeal or amend the National Security Act to remove restrictions on the freedom of assembly and to ensure that there is full scrutiny of all arrests carried out by law enforcement officials during public demonstrations.

CIVICUS’ submission to the UPR working group outlines concerns related to the environment in which civil society organisation and human rights defenders operate in Bangladesh, and discusses threats they face in the exercise of freedoms of expression, association and assembly. CIVICUS is concerned by the persistent harassment, intimidation and attack against human rights defenders, trade union activists and independent journalists in Bangladesh. Impunity by security forces and the repression of civil society ramain pressing issues for redressal by the government.

CIVICUS also made a joint submission with Citizens’ Watch and GOLOS Association in which they outline urgent concerns related to the stifling of freedom of association, assembly and expression through the adoption of several draconian laws by the Russian Parliament which seriously restricts the activities of civil society groups and makes them vulnerable to persecution by the State authorities.

CIVICUS' latest interventions in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the UN Human Rights Council, which reviews countries' human rights progress, address the status of civil society freedoms in the countries of Burkina Faso, Colombia, The Republic of Turkmenistan and The Republic of Uzbekistan. CIVICUS raises a number of concerns regarding the freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

CIVICUS was active at the 21st session of the UN Human Rights Council, which came to an end in Geneva on 28 September. During the Council’s session we brought together different civil society organisations to raise awareness of challenging conditions for civil society across a range of countries, and working with our members, made a number of inputs into Council processes. Above all, we gave our support to and provided a platform for civil society partners and members experiencing threats and intimidation.

Among the highlights was an event we convened with Russian civil society organisations. The meeting enabled Russian human rights defenders and people from different forms of civil society, including youth movements and organisations that promote voters’ rights, to meet with representatives of governments and UN human rights staff in a spirit of constructive dialogue.

One of the main focuses of the discussion was the new legislation that requires that all CSOs receiving funds from outside Russia to be registered as ‘foreign agents’, and to indicate this on any activities they undertake. This move was identified as a clear attempt to undermine people’s trust in CSOs.

21st session of the
Human Right Council
Item6

UPR Bahrain
Delivered by Nada Dhaif

Thank you Madam President

My name is Nada Dhaif, Chairperson of Bravo (Bahraini Rehabilitation & Anti-Violence Organization) Let me tell you about the situation in many villages and neighborhoods.  The people in the villages are not armed, their weapons are their voices.

There are no men left.  Most of them are behind bars. Women are left with no income; they suffer from humiliation, blackmail, harassment and arrest and cannot protect their children.  A good example is a recent case of Zainab Al-Khawaja who was injured in the leg after state security forces ordered crowd controlled forces to directly shoot at her. She was alone.  She is still detained, heavily injured and without access to her family or proper medical care.  

21h session of the
Human Rights Council
Item4   

Delivered by Renate Bloem

Thank you Madam President,
CIVICUS has repeatedly urged the Ethiopian Government to realign its policy to international   human rights law. Following passing of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s we believe that now is the time for the new leadership to recommit the State to the full respect of its population’s human rights. The Council and Ethiopia’s international partners should equally take the opportunity to call for a number of pressing reforms to re-establish respect for the freedoms of association, assembly and expression as a matter of priority during this time of transition. In particular, we ask HRC member and observer states to call upon Ethiopian authorities to

• Amend the 2009 Ethiopian Charities and Societies Proclamation to remove restrictions on human rights organizations and bring the Proclamation in line with the Ethiopian Constitution and international human rights obligations, including the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
  Read more: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

20th session of the UN Human Rights Council

Item 5

Reprisals, protection, prevention

Delivered by Renate Bloem, CIVICUS UN Geneva Representative, 26 June 2012

Thank you Mme President

CIVICUS wishes to raise the issue of reprisals against persons cooperating with the UN. The joint statement of Special Procedures at today’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture brings it to the point: “Reprisals against people who cooperate with the United Nations mechanisms in protecting and advancing human rights are absolutely unacceptable and are in violation of international law and States’ legal obligations. There must be an effective means of ensuring that reprisals do not occur, and if they do, the individuals involved and the State must be held accountable”.

20th session of the UN Human Rights Council

The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association

Interactive Dialogue 20 June 2012

Statement delivered by Renate Bloem, CIVICUS UN Geneva Representative

Thank you Mme President,

CVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation strongly welcomes both reports but will speak to the inaugural report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly of association. Mr Kiai, we concur with you that these freedoms are the cornerstones of democracy. We are pleased with the powerful legal framework you provide that underscores the positive and negative obligations States have to guarantee these rights and we welcome the examples of good practices that exist in some countries to promote the realisation of these rights. Unfortunately they are outnumbered by the vast incidents of denial and repression of these fundamental rights."

As documented in CIVICUS' recently released report on the State of Civil Society 2011, at least 88 countries saw different forms of mass citizens' action last year. While protest movements - led by informal and institutionalised civil society groups - met with varying degrees of success, including in seeking redress of the denial of democratic freedoms and highlighting the nexus between big business and unaccountable government, the corresponding pushback against and restrictions of civil society was also severe.

20 March 2012

The UN Human Rights Council, meeting in Geneva, Switzerland from 27 February to 23 March 2012, sees a number of countries come under the spotlight as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in which States report on their human rights records. CIVICUS alliance members are active in monitoring countries' progress on human right, and have recently made inputs to the UPR processes on Moldova, Syria, Uganda, Venezuela and Zimbabwe, available here.

Three more contributions to the UN Human Rights Council by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and one of its partners from the Philippines, Karaptan, are available to view here.

CIVICUS repeats its call for an enabling environment for civil society, and for the protection of human rights defenders, while Karapatan draws attention to human rights violations in the Philippines.

The 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council is taking place from 27 February to 23 March 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland.

8 March 2012

Presentations by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and one of its partners from the Philippines, Karaptan, are available to view here.

CIVICUS has called for a human rights perspective and space for civil society to be integrated into the fight against poverty, and the need for freedom of expression on the internet. Karapatan has called attention to multiple instances of arbitrary arrests and detentions in the Philippines.

The 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council is taking place from 27 February to 23 March 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Today the 12th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) comes to an end and with it the first cycle. 193 States have brought their country reports and have stood on the podium for their human rights record to be reviewed and discussed. The UPR process has also provided a new enabling environment for CS to be heard and recognized as an important stakeholder. It is quite an achievement and needs some assessment.

But before doing so, allow me some comments on this last session. CIVICUS was involved as never before. We helped, supported and registered CS delegations from Venezuela, Moldova and Uganda. For the Ugandan delegation we supported also financially the representative from the Ugandan NGO Forum. We organized a side event to highlight in particular issues related to Freedom of Assembly, Expression and Association and were able to bring the fractured parts of the Ugandans together to form one strong CS voice. (See presentations and photos attached thanks to Gabrielle, my Intern) We also organized informal meetings with Governments from Norway, the EU, Poland and Switzerland and Representatives from the OHCHR.

28 September 2011, Delivered by Renate Bloem

Thank you, Mme President,

This is a joint statement by our partner the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia, which represents over 130 members as well as the more than 400 endorsees of the Joint Statement on the Law on Association and NGOs.

We thank Professor Subedi for his report and want to underline that we appreciate that state-civil society cooperation has been a key factor in the development of Cambodia from a war-torn country to a peaceful, vibrant developing country. While government and civil society organizations have often held different opinions, these bodies have met in constructive discussions and cooperated.

The proposed Law on Associations and NGOs (LANGO) indicates a departure from this successful path. Civil society organizations are very concerned that the third draft of the law grants far-reaching power to government authorities to control the rights of citizens to organize and express themselves. These rights are set out in the Cambodian Constitution and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which Cambodia has signed and ratified, as well as in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

18th session of the Human Rights Council Item 4

Delivered by Renate Bloem

Thank you Mme President,

During the recent 10th World Assembly of CIVICUS (10-12 September) our members and partners from the ground asked to bring to the Council following strong concerns:

1.    Syria: With the death toll and arbitrary detention each day increasing - most recently Gayath Matar, a 26 years old, was arrested and died under torture and his body was sent back to his family with harsh bruises- the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) and CIVICUS condemn strongly this cycle of violence and terror. We welcome the appointment of the International Commission on Inquiry, but ask for depth investigation, field visits all around the country and insurance that witnesses and interrogated people will be safe of reprisals.

16th session of the Human Rights Council

23 September 2011

Delivered by Mme Heimat KUKU

Thank you Mme. President

This is a joint statement by CIVICUS, the Arab NGO Network for Development and the Sudanese National Civic Forum, the Human Rights and Legal Aids Network in Sudan, the Sudanese Gender Research Centre, the Child’s Center in Sudan, and the Sudanese Development Initiative.

We welcome the sincere desire stated by the Delegation to cooperate with Human Rights Council and the UPR mechanism and we are pleased with the acceptance of some of the recommendations received during the Working Group session, including those related to economic and social rights. We ask to immediately act to translate them into comprehensive, concrete and effective action.

18th session of the Human Rights Council Item 4

Interactive Dialogue

20 September 2011

Delivered by Anna Dobrovolskaya

Thank you Mme President,

I speak on behalf of the Youth Human Rights Movement, a member/partner of CIVICUS.

Mme High Commissioner,

We welcome your oral update on the human rights situation in Belarus.
We would like to address the issue of freedom of peaceful assembly in Belarus, as this is a fundamental right, guaranteed by the constitution of the country and by international agreements where Belarus is a part. The situation of freedom of peaceful assemblies in Belarus remains below international standards and the situation show no signs of improvement, even compared to the violent crackdown of the demonstration after the election on 19 December 2010.

CIVICUS and the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) declared their full support for the peaceful protests and the legitimate demands of the Syrian people during the Special Session on Syria at the UN Human Rights Council today. In a statement delivered by Renate Bloem, CIVICUS' representative to the UN in Geneva, CIVICUS and ANND condemned the criminal practices of the Syrian regime and called for the immediate end of the cycle of violence.

Here is the full statement.

17th session of the Human Rights Council
Item 4 Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention15 June 2011

Delivered by Renate Bloem

Thank you Mr. President,

CIVICUS repeatedly raised its concern about the situation in Belarus. Our partners from the ground spoke even last week here about the still deteriorating conditions for peaceful protesters and civil society activists and human rights defenders. We therefore wish to support any strong monitoring action by the Council, including adopting the draft resolution which should help to end the ongoing crackdown, the systemic violations and commit the Government to an urgently needed human rights reform which in particular should lift all unjustified restrictions placed on NGOs and civil society and guarantee in practice freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.

To the Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council
 

RE: Bahrain: Call for individual delegations to demonstrate commitment to ensuring that the situation in Bahrain is brought before the Human Rights Council within Item 4 statements

Geneva, 10th June 2011

Your Excellency,

As civil society organizations from around the world, we urge your delegation to make a strong statement and condemn the grave and deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain at the UN Human Rights Council (Council/HRC) under Agenda Item 4 (“Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention”) that will take place at the HRC next week, the 15th of June.

Interactive Dialogue

9 June 2011 

Delivered by Renate Bloem

Thank you Mr. President,

Mme High Commissioner, CIVICUS welcomes your detailed update as requested by the resolution of the Special Session on Libya of 25 February, as complimentary information to the report of the Commission on Inquiry (COI). We laud you own continued calls for impartial investigations, protection of journalists and restraint in military interventions during this time. It is surely worthwhile to also recall the legal framework and applicable law both for State and non-State actors.

In this regard CIVICUS wants nevertheless to put the spotlight on the peculiar governance structure of the jamahiriyan system instituted by the Qadhafi regime since its revolution in 1969.  A one man rule using fear, intimidation and incentives based on loyalty without any independent legislative or judiciary institution, nor any independent media. Instead a number of paramilitary and security apparatuses to consolidate a climate of fear, mistrust and submission.

To Permanent Representatives of all
member states of the UN Human Rights Council

RE: Addressing the situation of human rights in Belarus at the UN Human Rights Council

Geneva, May 30, 2011

Your Excellency,

The undersigned NGOs are writing to urge your Government to support the adoption of a resolution on the human rights situation in Belarus at the 17th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). We believe that in light of the alarming situation a Human Rights Council resolution unequivocally condemning the widespread human rights violations perpetrated in the aftermath of the December 19, 2010 presidential election and setting forth a monitoring and reporting mechanism for Belarus is needed. The current level of repression in Belarus is unprecedented and the government's efforts to stop international monitoring and shut down debate on its human rights record need to be countered.

On 21 February 2011, 130 international and national NGOs and activists called on the HRC to condemn the violations and to maintain pressure on the Government of Belarus. On 11 April 2011, a group of international and regional NGOs called the European Union to take the leadership for the adoption of an HRC resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus and to establish a mechanism to document and report on these violations at the Council. We call on your Government to support the initiative on Belarus to be taken at the on‐going session of the HRC.

An already poor human rights situation in Belarus deteriorated significantly in the wake of the December 19, 2010 presidential election. That night, tens of thousands of demonstrators protested the election outcome. Riot police violently broke up the largely peaceful gathering, beating dozens of people, including the elderly and those who were trying to leave the square, and arresting hundreds. At least 700 protesters were sentenced, in unfair summary proceedings, to 10‐15 days of detention.