This event will take place on Thursday 18 June, from 10:00 to 11:30 in Palais des Nations, Room XXII.

The integral work of human rights defenders (HRDs) has been firmly recognised within the discourse of the international human rights community. However, despite the growing movement to ensure greater codification and integration of the active participation of HRDs in facilitating and safeguarding international and national human rights law, HRDs continue to face grave and unwarranted persecution for pursuing their vital work. Women human rights defenders (WHRDs), operating within entrenched patriarchal ideologies and systems, are not only subjected to the routine persecution endured by their male colleagues, but also face targeted violence, discrimination and restrictions as a result of their gender. 

The event will provide a unique opportunity to reflect on the key role that WHRDs play in the implementation of human rights in the Middle East and North Africa and effective strategies to create intra-state and international solidarity to address targeted restrictions on WHRDs. The panel will also provide a venue to discuss concrete measures that states need to take at the national level to ensure effective protection for WHRDs and ensure their right to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. 

Panelists:

• Enma Aouij, Chair of the Working Group on Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice 
• Maryam Al- Khawaja, Co-Director, Gulf Center for Human Rights 
• Sara Brandt, International Advocacy Advisor, Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA) 
• Elsa Saade, Golf Center for Human Rights, Saudi Arabia 

Moderator:

• Phil Lynch, Executive Director, ISHR 

Download the event flyer here.

Read and watch our post-event coverage here.

ISHR is pleased to co-sponsor an event with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote and protect human rights. The event will take place on 19 June, from 10.30 - 12.00 in room XVII, Palais des Nations.

The event will follow the presentation by the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of his report on the use of ICTs for the protection of the right to life. The discussion is intended to sensitise those working at the Human Rights Council to the potential of this dynamic and growing field, with which official international mechanisms need to engage. It will also offer an opportunity for participants to highlight the challenges presented by new technologies and to consider the limitations of digital human rights work.

Panelists:

• Christof Heyns - Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
• Maryam al-Khawaja - Co-Director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights and ISHR Board member
• Josh Lyons - Satellite Imagery Analyst at Human Rights Watch
• Kelly Matheson - Senior Programme Manager at WITNESS
• Félim McMahon - Digital Investigator at the Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
• Tanya O’Carroll - Adviser to the Technology and Human Rights Team at Amnesty International

Download the event flyer here.

For those unable to attend, we invite you to follow the event on Twitter through @ISHRGlobal and via the hashtag #ICT4HR.

Photo: Flickr/Tim Caynes

International Service for Human Rights

Australian Government

Government of Chile

invite you to a panel discussion on

Strengthening NGO participation and freedom of association at the UN: Current challenges and opportunities for reform

Date: Thursday, 28 May 2015, 13.15-14.45pm (a light lunch will be provided)

Venue: Australian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, 150 East 42nd Street, 33rd Floor

RSVP: Essential by 27 May to [email protected]

This event will examine the importance of civil society engagement and participation at the UN and the need to ensure that accreditation processes are transparent, non-disccriminatory and compatible with the right to freedom of association. The event will also launch a major new ISHR publication entitled 'A Practical Guide to the UN Committee on NGOs' and discuss ways and opportunities to better enable civil society participation at the UN.

Panelists

• H.E. Christian Barros, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile to the UN
• Ms Rikke Nöhrlind, International Dalit Solidarity Network
• Ms Michelle Evans, International Service for Human Rights
• Ms Jessica Stern, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission

Moderator

• H.E. Gillian Bird, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the UN

For those unable to attend, we invite you to follow the event on Twitter @ISHRGlobal, using the hashtag #NGOaccess.

For further information please download the event flyer here.

Background

In his most recent report to the General Assembly, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association Maina Kiai said ‘strong civil society participation is essential for multilateral institutions’ effectiveness’. His report documents a range of ways in which the UN is falling short in this regard, including through an accreditation process for NGOs – overseen by the Committee on NGOs in New York – which is ‘long, complex, costly, beyond the capability of many small civil society organisations, and impossible to obtain for informal organisations and grass-roots networks’. The report also documents how the accreditation process has resulted in the systematic exclusion of human rights NGOs, particularly those working on minority rights, women’s rights, sexual orientation and gender identity.

International Service for Human Rights

and

United Kingdom Mission in Geneva

invite you to a panel discussion on
 

'Human rights defenders and the rule of law'

Date: Monday, 8 June 2015, 16.30-18.00 (followed by a reception)

Venue: The Graduate Institute, Maison de la Paix (Auditorium 2), Genève, Switzerland

RSVP: By 3 June to [email protected] 

This event will discuss the importance of the rule of law in safeguarding the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly for human rights defenders and activists and the vital role of human rights defenders and international mechanisms in establishing, maintaining and promoting the rule of law. The event will also explore the notion that respect for the rule of law requires respect for the rule of international law and national law that is in conformity with international law

Panelists

• Olga Abramenko, Director, ADC Memorial (Russia)
• Ruki Fernando, Human Rights Advisor, INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre (Sri Lanka)
• Mona Rishmawi, Chief of the Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Phil Lynch, Director, International Service for Human Rights

Moderator

• H.E. Julian Braithwaite, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva

For those unable to attend, we invite you to follow the event on Twitter through @UKMissionGeneva and @ISHRGlobal.

International Service for Human Rights

and

Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

invite you to a panel discussion on

Strengthening NGO participation and the right to freedom of association at the UN: Current challenges and opportunities for reform

Date: Wednesday 22 April 2015, 10.45am-12.15pm followed by a light lunch from 12.15pm-1.30pm

Venue: Australian Permanent Mission, Chemin des Fins 2, Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland

Please note: This event is by invitation only and registration by 15 April is essential. To request an invitation, please email [email protected].

This event will feature a panel of international human rights experts who will examine the importance of civil society engagement and participation at the UN, particularly in the Human Rights Council. The event will also launch a major new ISHR publication entitled 'A Practical Guide to the UN Committee on NGOs'.

Opening remarks

• The Presidency of the Human Rights Council

Panelists

• Marta Mauras, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile to the UN in Geneva
• Rikke Nöhrlind, International Dalit Solidarity Network
• Eleanor Openshaw, International Service for Human Rights
• Jean-Daniel Vigny, international human rights expert and former Minister in the Swiss Missions to the UN in New York and Geneva

Moderator

• John Quinn, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the UN in Geneva

For those unable to attend, we invite you to follow the event on Twitter @ISHRGlobal, using the hashtag #NGOaccess.

For further information please download the event flyer here.

Background

In his most recent report to the General Assembly, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association Maina Kiai said ‘strong civil society participation is essential for multilateral institutions’ effectiveness’. His report documents a range of ways in which the UN is falling short in this regard, including through an accreditation process for NGOs – overseen by the Committee on NGOs in New York – which is ‘long, complex, costly, beyond the capability of many small civil society organisations, and impossible to obtain for informal organisations and grass-roots networks’. The report also documents ways in which the accreditation process has resulted in the systematic exclusion of human rights NGOs, particularly those working on minority rights, women’s rights, sexual orientation and gender identity.

This event will discuss the importance of civil society engagement and participation at the UN, particularly in the Human Rights Council, and the need to ensure accreditation processes are transparent, non-discriminatory, expeditious and compatible with the right to freedom of association. The event will also launch a major new Practical Guide on the UN Committee on NGOs and discuss ways and opportunities to better enable civil society engagement at the UN.

CALL FOR APPLICANTS IS NOW CLOSED.

ISHR today published the call for applications for its 2015 Geneva training programme for human rights defenders. If you are a human rights defender keen to increase your interaction with the UN system, apply now!

ISHR's Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP) equips defenders with the knowledge and skills to make strategic use of the international human rights system. It also provides an opportunity for participants to directly engage in lobbying and advocacy activities at the UN level to effect change on the ground back home.

As well as receiving training modules on all the UN human rights mechanisms from a range of experts, participants will also have the opportunity to build networks in Geneva and around the world, carry out lobbying of UN member States and UN staff, and learn from peers from a range of regions working on a range of human rights issues.

At the end of last year's trianing,  64% of participants felt that they fully met their advocacy objectives, whilst another 36% felt they had been met at least partially. ISHR will look to build upon this success this year.

Participants will take part in:

1) A short online learning component, prior to face-to-face training, to enable you to consolidate your existing knowledge and develop your advocacy objectives

2) Intensive training in Geneva during June, to coincide with the 26th session of the Human Rights Council. The training will focus on ways to effectively use international human rights mechanisms and to influence outcomes

3) Specific advocacy at Human Rights Council sessions and other relevant meetings, with regular feedback and peer education to learn from the experiences, including expert input from leading human rights advocates.

This programme is directed at experienced human rights defenders in non governmental organisations and national human rights institutions, with existing advocacy experience at the national level and some prior knowledge of the international human rights system.

If you are interested in applying for ISHR's training programme, please read the call for applications to check that you comply with the requirements. The link to the online application form can be found under point 5 of the call for applications.

The call for applicants can be found here. For more information, write to [email protected].

Monday, 9 March, from 13h00 to 15h00

Palais des Nations, Geneva, Room XXIII

With the support of Ville de Genève

Women human rights defenders across the world continue to face unique threats as they work in increasingly challenging contexts.

A number of national and regional initiatives have been taken to develop practical solutions to ensure their recognition and strengthen their protection. The adoption of the first ever UN General Assembly resolution on the protection of women human rights defenders in 2013 provides guidance towards this end. 

Opening remarks

• Ambassador Steffen Kongstad, Permanent Mission of Norway

Panelists

• Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
• Hina Jilani, Pakistani human rights lawyer 
• Ahlem Belhadj, Tunisian woman human rights defender and feminist activist
• Alejandra Burgos, Salvadoran Network of Women Human Rights Defenders
• Jane Connors, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Moderator

• Geir Sjøberg, Policy Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway

Those unable to attend can follow the event on Twitter @ISHRGlobal, using the hashtag #ProtectWHRDs, #WHRD and #reflect2protect and by following the accounts of @NorwayUN, @UNrightswire, @ISHRGlobal and @AWID.

If you would like to attend but do not have UN accreditation, please email [email protected] before 12 noon on 4 March.

This event will happen in conjunction with an event on women human rights defenders at the Commission on the Status of Women in New York on the same day. 

Sandwiches will be provided. French and Spanish interpretation will be available. 

This event will be webcast live at www.ishr.ch/webcast.

Monday, 9 March 2015 from 10h00 to 11h30

Palais des Nations, Geneva, Room XXIII

Together with CMDPDH, OMCT, FIDH, JASS, Front Line Defenders, PBI, Connex, Protection International, the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition, the Mesoamerican Women Human Rights Defenders Initiative, Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca A.C., the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) is organising a timely Human Rights Council side-event on the how the violent context in Mexico is affecting the work of human rights defenders in the country, and of women defenders in particular.

The panel discussion will feature:

• Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
• Yésica Sánchez Maya, Founder of the Mexican National Women Human Rights Defenders Network
• Garrett O’Brien, responsible for human rights defenders, European External Action Service
• Norma Mesino, Mexican woman human rights defender, Organización Campesina de la Sierra del Sur (OCSS)
• Videos from 'Haz Que Se Vean', a campaign for the recognition for Mexican human rights defenders 

A UN badge is required to access the premises.

More about the event:

Last month, Human Rights Watch claimed that Mexico is facing its 'worst human rights crisis in years', with the situation worsening in the context of the continuing 'War on Drugs'. Yet as the human rights defenders double efforts to mitigate the crisis, their own situation is deteriorating apace, with cases of murders, disappearances, threats and criminalisation well-documented by both UN experts and independent NGOs.

In this context, the risks facing women defenders are distinct and exacerbated, with threats posed by both State and non-State actors, as pannelists Yésica Sánchez and Norma Messino will explain.

The panelists will also discuss the current failures of Mexico's Protection Mechanism for human rights defenders in responding to the specific needs of women defenders. The Mechanism was created by law in 2012, but has so far failed to live up to expectations due to political and practical failures, as documented by WOLA and PBI recently.

This event is an opportunity to discuss the impact of violent contexts upon human rights defenders, what the Mexican State can do to ensure that this impact is mitigated in a way which takes into account the specific needs of women defenders, and what is going on with the Protection Mechanism. It is also a chance to discuss the implementation the UN General Assembly resolution on women human rights defenders, in contexts such as Mexico. 

The panel will also discuss preliminary observations from November’s Civil Society Observation Mission to Mexico, in which ISHR participated.

This event will be webcast live at www.ishr.ch/webcast.

For more information, contact Ben Leather at [email protected] or +41787794859

On the occasion of the 59th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, ISHR, in partnership with the Missions of Norway and Tunisia, together with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, AWID, ICAN, JASS Associates, the Nobel Women's Initiative and the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition, is delighted to present:

'Protection in practice for women human rights defenders'

Monday, 9 March 2014 1:15 to 2:45 pm (with a light lunch served from 1.00pm)

Conference Room 7, United Nations HQ, New York

This exciting event will commence with an introduction by Hans Brattskar (State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ivan Šimonović (Assistant Secretary General, OHCHR) and featuring:

• Cristina Hardaga Fernández, Strategic and Political Coordinator, JASS Mesoamerica
• Mary Akrami, Chair of Board of Directors, Afghan Women’s Network
• Reine Alapini-Gansou, African Commissioner and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa
• Mozn Hassan, Director, Nazra for Feminist Studies

Closing remarks will be delivered by Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Tunisian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

RSVP: Required to [email protected] by 6 March. The event is open to anyone with a UN badge and NGOs registered for CSW.

Background: The first ever UN resolution on the protection of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) was passed by the UN General Assembly in December 2013. Since the adoption of the resolution, there have been many initiatives, including at national and regional level, to ensure its practical implementation in support of WHRDs. This event will provide an opportunity to reflect on these initiatives, discuss challenges to and good practice regarding protection mechanisms and other measures to create an enabling environment for defenders all around the world. We invite member states, the UN and civil society to attend the event and particularly those who are or work with and for women human rights defenders.

You can follow the event on Twitter using the hashtags #ProtectWHRDs and #WHRD and by following the accounts of @NorwayUN, @UNrightswire, @ISHRGlobal, @AWID, @WhatTheWomenSay, @AmnestyUN, @jass4justice and @NobelWomen.

Please download and share the flyer for the event available here.