Search Results for “human rights defenders” – International Justice Resource Center

UN Senior Official Visits Honduras Following Threats to Human Rights Defenders

August 1, 2017 IJRC civil society, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, environmental rights, human rights defenders, indigenous communities, Inter-American System, international human rights, regional human rights protection, right to life, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Procedures, Universal system, women's rights

The United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Andrew Gilmour, visited Honduras last week to assess the human rights situation in the country – particularly regarding the protection of human rights defenders and indigenous peoples – a visit that took place in the context of continued threats to human rights defenders in the country. [OHCHR Press Release: Honduras; IACHR

African Commission Declaration Recommends Expanded Protections for Human Rights Defenders

July 10, 2017 IJRC African System, assembly and association, civil society, discrimination, enforced disappearance, health, human rights defenders, international human rights, liberty & security of person, regional human rights protection, reproductive and sexual rights, right to life, thought, expression & association, torture, Universal system, women's rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) recently published the Cotonou Declaration on strengthening and expanding the protection of all Human Rights Defenders in Africa that recommends repealing harmful and discriminatory laws, ensuring compliance with existing international standards that impact human rights defenders, and developing standards on women human rights defenders, among other recommendations. Adopted earlier this year during the 2nd

UN Mandate Created to Reduce Reprisals Against Human Rights Defenders

October 13, 2016 IJRC civil society, human rights defenders, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Procedures, Universal system

On October 3, 2016, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in consultation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, announced a new mandate for the Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Andrew Gilmour, to lead UN work on ending intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders. [United Nations Information Centre] In a recent report, Ban Ki-moon emphasized the range

Increased Oppression of Chinese Human Rights Defenders Draws International Criticism

February 22, 2016 IJRC civil society, democracy & political rights, human rights defenders, international human rights, liberty & security of person, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, torture, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Procedures

Human rights monitors have expressed alarm at China’s ongoing crackdown on those critical of the government. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, recently drew attention to the Chinese government’s continued oppression of human rights defenders and government critics, specifically referring to a wave of arrests and harassment of civil society actors that began after

IACtHR 109th Ordinary Session Addresses Custodial Death in Guatemala, Abuses of Colombian Human Rights Defenders

July 6, 2015 IJRC armed conflict, civil society, democracy & political rights, due process & judicial protection, human rights defenders, Inter-American System, international human rights, liberty & security of person, persons with disabilities, reparations, right to life, thought, expression & association, women's rights

The 109th Ordinary Session of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) began on June 18 and concluded on July 1, 2015, in San Jose, Costa Rica. During this session, the Court publicly heard two cases, Chinchilla Sandoval and Others v. Guatemala and Yarce and Others v. Colombia. The first case concerned the ill-treatment, followed by the death, of a diabetic woman

African Commission Addresses Torture of Human Rights Defenders in Sudan

April 6, 2015 IJRC African System, democracy & political rights, due process & judicial protection, health, human rights defenders, international human rights, labor rights, liberty & security of person, thought, expression & association

On March 10, 2015, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights published a decision condemning Sudan’s mistreatment of human rights defenders, which remains a pressing concern in the country. In the case of Monim Elgak, Osman Hummeida and Amir Suliman v. Sudan, the African Commission held that the government of Sudan violated several articles of the African Charter on

Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

MANDATE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders is one of the special mechanisms overseen by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Special Rapporteurship was created in 2004 during the Commission’s 35th Ordinary Session. See, e.g., ACommHPR, Resolution 69, Resolution on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in Africa, 4 June 2004. The mandate

Rapporteurship on Human Rights Defenders

MANDATE OF THE RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS The Rapporteurship on Human Rights Defenders is one of the special mechanisms overseen by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The Commission created a Unit for Human Rights Defenders in 2001 and established the Rapporteurship during its 141st Session in 2011. See, e.g., IACHR, Press Release No. 28/11. Its purpose is to protect

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders

MANDATE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders is one of the thematic special procedures overseen by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The mandate holder supports the implementation of the 1998 Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and gathers information about the situations of human rights defenders globally.

UN Human Rights Council Focuses Attention on Promoting and Protecting Human Rights Defenders, Civil Society Space, and Peaceful Protest during 25th Regular Session

April 4, 2014 IJRC civil society, human rights defenders, international human rights, thought, expression & association, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures

During its 25th regular session last month, the UN Human Rights Council undertook several measures to address the challenges and risks faced by human rights defenders and other civil society actors. On March 11, it held a panel discussion to analyze the factors that reduce civil society space and to evaluate strategies to promote an interactive partnership between States and