Wednesday 13 March

13.30-14.30

Room XXIII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

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In November 2018, China underwent its Universal Periodic Review, a peer review by UN Member States about progress and challenges in protecting human rights. In this process, governments made many recommendations aimed at supporting the promotion and protection of freedom of expression in the country, both online and off.

At the March 2019 session of the Human Rights Council, China will report back in Geneva, to tell the world what recommendations it will accept. Given limited dialogue in the Council room, this public side event will elevate the views of civil society actors who are committed to seeing improvements in the protection of freedom of expression in China.

Panellists: 

• Judith Lichtenberg, Director of Lawyers for Lawyers
• A 1989 student and democracy activist
• A representative of Uyghur PEN
• Steve Butler, Asia Programme Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists
• Sarah M Brooks, Asia Advocate at the International Service for Human Rights

Access with UNOG pass only.

Photo: Badiucao

March 1, 2019
11:30-13:00

Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva

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Women human rights defenders are on the front lines of struggles to attain peace, security, dignity and sustainable development for all. They work diligently to advance justice, freedom and equality to meet the ultimate goals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Yet, State and non-State actors, in the majority of cases involving violations against these defenders, have experienced widespread impunity including at the international level. Women human rights defenders met in New York at a high-level event at the UN Headquarters in July 2018 to send a strong message: “we’ve had enough!”

Join us in Geneva parallel to the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council where women human rights defenders will present how the shortcomings and gaps of the UN system with regards to women human rights defenders protection can be filled.

Panellists: 

• Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
• Brenda Valladares, WHRD from USA
• Lucy Mazingi, WHRD from Zimbabwe
• Cindy Aung, WHRD from Myanmar
• Alda Facio, member of the UN Working Group on discrimination against women in law and practice

Moderator :

Veronica Vidal, Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID)

Spanish-English interpretation provided

Light refreshments and drinks

Follow the event on Twitter at: #HRC40

Cosponsors: ISHR, Amnesty International, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), Gulf Centre for Human Rights, Mesoamerican Initiative for Women Human Rights Defenders (IM-Defensoras), Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights and Just Associates (JASS). All are members of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition.

Photo: Karla Cote

Tuesday 23 October 

15:00-16:30

UNHQ Conference Room 7

Download event flyer here

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders. 

The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders will report to the 73rd session of the General Assembly on 23 October 2018. His report will focus of the situation of human rights defenders in the world, outlining trends, the challenges faced as well as achievements. This report will be complemented and informed by a comprehensive country-by-country analysis of their situation and it will update the 2006 report of the former Special Representative Hina Jilani (E/CN.4/2006/95/Add.5), titled ‘Compilation of developments in the area of human rights defenders’.

Last session Norway presented a resolution to the 72nd session of the GA, focusing on the implementation of previous resolutions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur. The event will also be an opportunity to reflect on key ideas put forward in the resolution and look towards the outputs of that resolution. 

Participants:

Opening remarks delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative Mari Skare

• Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
• Julia Cruz, Conectas Human Rights, Brazil

Moderator: ISHR

The event is co-sponsored by member States Norway and the Bahamas.

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Wednesday 19 September

16:00-17:30

Room XXIV, Palais des Nations 

This event seeks to provide a space for human rights defenders and experts to shed light on the nature and extent of reprisals and intimidation against those cooperating with the UN; discuss and expand on the Secretary-General’s report; and to consider efforts to date to address reprisals and intimidation against those cooperating with the UN as well as ways to further develop and strengthen policies and practices to prevent and address reprisals. 

Participants: 

• Andrew Gilmour, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights 
• Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 
• National human rights defenders 

Moderator: Phil Lynch, Director of ISHR 

The event is co-sponsored by member States of the core group on reprisals (Fiji, Ghana, Hungary, Ireland and Uruguay). 

Tuesday 11 September 2018

13h30-15h30

Palais des Nations, Room XXII,  Geneva

#HRCpledging 

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In advance of the Human Rights Council elections that will take place this autumn for the membership term 2019-2021, Amnesty International and the International Service for Human Rights will hold a pledging event for candidate States in Geneva on 11 September 2018.

The event is co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Albania, Canada, Chile, Mongolia and Senegal, and is intended to give candidates an opportunity to present their visions for Council membership and to respond to questions from a range of stakeholders on how they propose to realise the pledges and commitments they may have made in seeking election.

Can’t make it or have a question? Follow the event live and submit questions to candidates via Twitter: #HRCpledging

Follow the event live: 

https://youtu.be/Omg2xJ5IyRc 

A mirror event was held in New York on 5 September. 

You will require a UN Ground Pass to attend the event.  If you do not have a UN Grounds Pass, please RSVP by Monday 3 September, 10 AM (CEST time).

Wednesday 5 September 2018, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm 

United Nations Headquaters, New York

Trusteeship Council Room

#HRCpledging 

Download the event flyer here

In advance of the Human Rights Council elections that will take place this autumn for the membership term 2019-2021, Amnesty International and the International Service for Human Rights will hold a pledging event for candidate States in New York on 5 September 2018.

The event is co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Australia, Chile and Nepal, and is intended to give candidates an opportunity to present their visions for Council membership and to respond to questions from a range of stakeholders on how they propose to realise the pledges and commitments they may have made in seeking election.

State representatives and civil society are invited to participate actively in the event and pose questions to candidate States.

You will require a UN Grounds Pass to attend the event. If you do not have a UN Grounds Pass, please RSVP here by Friday 31 August, 6 PM EST.

Can’t make it but have a question for one (or all) of the candidates? 

Follow the event live on UN Web TV: http://webtv.un.org and submit questions to candidates via Twitter: #HRCpledging

A mirror event will be held in Geneva on 11 September. 

In advance of the election of one country from the Western Europe and Others Group to the Human Rights Council on Friday 13 July 2018, Amnesty International and the International Service for Human Rights will hold a pledging event for Council candidate Iceland.

The event will take place at 10-11.30am on 12 July 2018, in Room 12, UN Headquarters, New York. 

The event is intended to give Iceland an opportunity to present their vision for Council membership and to respond to questions from a range of stakeholders on how they would realise the pledges and commitments made in seeking election.  

Can’t make it?
Follow the event live and submit questions to the candidates via Twitter using #HRCIcelandPledge.

ISHR has published a ‘scorecard’ for Iceland which can be accessed here.

Please RSVP by 11 July using this link. You require a grounds pass to attend this event. 

Thursday 21 June

15:00-16:30

Room XXIII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

See flyer here

This event is organised by ISHR, ILGA, TGEU and GATE. 

The panelists will discuss the Yogyakarta Principles +10 and the protection of the rights of transgender people. 

Attendance with UN accreditation only.

Follow us on Twitter @ILGAWORLD @TGEUorg @GATEOrg @ISHRglobal  #YP+10 #HRC38