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Summary: During the Human Rights Council's 22nd session, discussions were held on restrictions being placed on human rights defenders around the world. With a resolution being drafted, this is your chance to participate.
Last year’s report to the Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur (SR) on human rights defenders paid particular attention to the rights of youth and student human rights defenders, but a children’s rights focus is missing in this year’s report. Nonetheless, several interesting issues were raised during the debate in Geneva, not least in relation to the Rapporteur’s position that national human rights institutions could be considered human rights defenders and need to be able to enjoy immunity from civil proceedings in carrying out their work. During the discussion, the European Union also took the opportunity to raise the issue of the criminalisation of human rights defenders and the United Kingdom highlighted the problems that can be caused by restricting foreign funding for human rights defenders. At a side event organised by the International Service for Human rights (ISHR), the SR on human rights defenders questioned whether public morals can ever be a justification for human rights violations. This was in the context of a discussion about ‘anti-gay propaganda’ laws in Russia and Ukraine making the work of LGBT activists virtually impossible. Your chance to participate The Council is currently negotiating a resolution calling for the elimination of laws which restrict the work of human rights defenders and demanding the passage of laws which ensure that they are able to fully exercise their fundamental rights. To get involved, you may request your Government to express support for this initiative. Check the list of member States of the Council and the list of States that have supported previous Council resolutions. For further information, contact [email protected]. Hungary is working towards a joint statement in the Council to express concern about the attacks, intimidation or reprisal against those who cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms. You may request your Government to support this initiative. Check the list of States that spoke during the Council’s panel discussion. Further Information