View the event flyer here

Ghana, Hungary, Ireland and Uruguay in cooperation with ISHR invite you to a panel discussion about current situations, existing practices and new ideas for better implementation of Human Rights Council resolutions on preventing and responding to reprisals.

Monday, 26 September, 2016, 1.00 -3.00 pm

Room XXIII, Palais des Nations

Panelists
•    Ms Peggy Hicks, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
•    Mr Alessio Bruni, Rapporteur on reprisals of the Committee Against Torture
•    H.E. Ms Yvette Stevens, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the UN
•    Ms Maryam Al-Khawaja, Co-director of Gulf Center for Human Rights
•    Mr Philip Lynch, Director of International Service for Human Rights

Moderator
•    H.E. Ms Zsuzsanna Horváth, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN

Follow the event on Twitter: #EndReprisals @ISHRglobal and watch the event live at: www.ishr.ch/webcast

Big thanks to the permanent missions to the UN of Ghana, Hungary, Ireland and Uruguay for sponsoring this event.

Through Resolution 16/21 the HRC strongly rejected any act of intimidation and reprisal against individuals and groups who seek to cooperate, are cooperating or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights and urged States to prevent and ensure adequate protection against such acts. The engagement of civil society in general and human rights defenders in particular is also essential to the work of the United Nations human rights system.

This event will provide an occasion for reviewing the tools and processes which have been introduced in this respect. The aim is to share the experiences of governments, international organizations and civil society representatives on the functioning of protection mechanisms currently in place against acts of intimidation and reprisal targeting individuals and groups seeking to cooperate, cooperating or have cooperated with the United Nations in the field of human rights. Acts of intimidation and reprisal are violations of basic human rights and while impunity for intimidation and reprisals continue, the effective functioning of the UN system as a whole is undermined. Although there have been some positive developments recently, acts of intimidation or reprisals continue to occur frequently, which leads to the conclusion that the present system is not adequate. While positive steps deserve to be presented, the deteriorating situation on the ground demands an open discussion on how a much more effective, coordinated and systematic response to reprisals can be found in order to end impunity for all acts of intimidation and reprisal, no matter who perpetrate them. The panel discussion will elaborate on the different views and proposals, and articulate a comprehensive response.

Photo: Jaskirat Singh Bawa

Join us for a special public event ​in Geneva with candidates for the Human Rights Council

#HRCpledging | Tuesday 13 September 2016
12-2pm, Palais des Nations, Room XXI, Geneva 

Or watch online here or on Periscope via the ISHR twitter account.

Following on from our recent event in New York, ISHR and Amnesty International invite you to a public discussion in Geneva with the States seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council.

The candidates have outlined their big picture visions and the thematic focuses they want to pursue on the Council. Now it’s time to explore the what, how and when of their pledges.

Facilitated by Peggy Hicks from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, candidates will present their strategies for promoting human rights and face questions from the audience and via social media. If you’re on Twitter and have a question for any of the candidates please tweet it with the #HRCpledging.

You can also view the 'scorecards' that ISHR has prepared for each candidate.

Candidate States participating are: Brazil, Croatia, Guatemala, Hungary, Iraq, Japan, Tunisia, United States, United Kingdom.

(All candidates were invited to participate, but Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China, Egypt, South Africa, Russia, Cuba and Rwanda were unavailable or declined to participate.)

Thanks to the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Canada, Albania and Mongolia for sponsoring this event.

In advance of the Human Rights Council elections that will take place this autumn, Amnesty International and the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), with the co-sponsorship of the Permanent Mission of Panama, are pleased to invite you to a presentation and discussion of the pledges and commitments made by candidates running for the term starting 2017.

The meeting, to be moderated by Mr Ivan Šimonović - the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, is intended to give candidates an opportunity to present their vision of membership on the Council and respond to questions on how they would realize the pledges and commitments they have made in seeking election.

The event will be webcast at webtv.un.org.  Join the conversation on Twitter and submit your questions to candidates using #HRCpledging, @ISHRGlobal @AmnestyUN

Candidates participating in the event are: Brazil, Croatia, Guatemala, Hungary, Iraq, Japan, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States.

(The other candidates - Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, China, Egypt,, South Africa, Russia, Cuba and Rwanda - declined or have not responded to our invitation to participate in the event.) 

(Español aquí)

Monday 6th June – 18:30
Rue de Varembé 1, Geneva

Introductory remarks: Maria Jesus Alonso Lormand, Director of the SSI (Service de la solidarité internationale du Canton de Genève) and Office of the UN High Commissioner for human rights (tbc)

Flyer here

Speakers:

• Irma Lemuz Amaya - OPDHA (Permanent Human Rights Observatory of Aguán)
• José Gaspar Sánchez Acosta - COPINH (Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras)
• Donny Reyes - Arcoiris (LGBT Association)
• Michel Forst - Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
• Manon Yard - Peace Brigades International
• Closing remarks: Permanent Mission of Norway
• Moderator: Helena Solà Martín - OMCT (World organisation against torture)

Event held in Spanish and English, interpretation available.

---

Efectividad de las medidas y de los mecanismos de protección para defensores de derechos económicos, sociales y culturales: El caso de Honduras

Lunes 6 de junio – 18:30
Rue de Varembé 1, Ginebra

Introducción: Maria Jesus Alonso Lormand – Directora del SSI (Service de la solidarité internationale du Canton de Genève) y Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos (tbc)

Folleto informativo aquí.

Panelistas:

• Irma Lemuz Amaya - OPDHA (Observatorio Permanente de Derechos Humanos del Aguán)
• José Gaspar Sánchez Acosta - COPINH (Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas de Honduras)
• Donny Reyes - Arcoiris (Asociación LGBT)
• Michel Forst - Relator especial de la ONU sobre la situación de defensores de derechos humanos
• Manon Yard - Peace Brigades International
• Conclusión: Misión permanente de Noruega
• Moderación: Helena Solà Martín – OMCT (Organización mundial contra la tortura)

Evento en español e inglés, interpretación disponible.

(Español aquí)

Publication launch and public debate

Wednesday 15 June 2016

16h00 - 17h30

Palais des Nations, Room XXIII, Geneva

Tuesday 21 June 2016

15.00 - 16.00 

Palais des Nations, Room XXIII, Geneva

Despite this, only a few States have incorporated the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders comprehensively into national law, while many States continue to implement legislation restricting the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms.

This event will officially launch a Model Law for the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders, developed in consultation with human rights defenders and human rights experts from all regions of the world. The Model Law will provide comprehensive and authoritative assistance to States to implement their obligations under the Declaration, together with key recommendations arising from the High Commissioner's report. 

Moderator

• Phil Lynch, Director of International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)

Panellists 

• Peggy Hicks, Chief of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Branch, OHCHR
• Chris Sidoti, Chair of Panel of Experts on a Model National Law on Human Rights Defenders
• Guadalupe Marengo, Head of Global Human Rights Defenders Team, Amnesty International
• Rumbi Masango, Africa Human Rights Consultant and Ambassador Bari Bari Fellow
• Alexandra Montgomery, Justica Global (Brazil)

French / English interpretation 

Sandwiches will be provided

Follow the event on Twitter: #DefenderModelLaw

​Tuesday 7 June 2016

13h00 - 15h00

Palais des Nations, Library Events Room (B-135)

​Wednesday 6 April 2016

13.30-14.30

Kairba Beach Hotel, Banjul

Read the event flyer / Lire le flyer de l'événement en FRANCAIS 

Background

In June 2014 Côte d’Ivoire enacted a law that will strengthen the protection of human rights defenders. The Law on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Defenders was adopted by the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire on 11 June. It is the first time an African State has enacted a law with the specific purpose of protecting human rights defenders and comes at a time when many other African States are developing laws and policies which restrict rather than enable their work.

In 2012, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights recommended that the country adopt such legislation, while the UN Human Rights Council, of which Côte d’Ivoire is a member, has called on States to enact specific laws to support human rights defenders and protect them from intimidation and reprisals

With 2016 being the African Union year for human rights, this panel seeks to inspire and motivate NGOs, national human rights institutions and African governments present at the African Commission to encourage their respective States to develop similar legislation.

Objective

The objective is to provide a space to share and discuss Côte d’Ivoire’s HRD law as a measure to protect HRDs. It should be seen as a start on which we can build. Participants will be given an understanding of the history of the law and what was entailed for it to be passed, together with a status update on the implementation decree. The event will also provide a forum to share strategies, learnings and opportunities so that other countries can follow.

Panelists

• Ms Pedan Marthe Coulibaly - Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CIDDH)
• Mr Banhouman André Kamate - Human Rights Promotion Director, Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Human Rights
• Mr Diaby Bakary Sidick - Côte d’Ivoire National Human Rights Commission
• Ms Mélanie Kombate - West Africa Human Rights Defenders Network

Moderator

• Mr Clément Voulé - ISHR Africa Advocacy Director

 Follow the event on Twitter: #ACHPR58 @ISHRglobal

• AMAL ELMOHANDES (Egypt), Nazra for Feminist Studies
• CARRIE SHELVER (South Africa), Coalition of African Lesbians
• CYNTHIA ROTHSCHILD (USA), WHRD-IC, Moderator (with others)

CND Side event

What should the human rights agenda be post-UNGASS? 

How can regional and international human rights systems contribute to ongoing debates on drug policy? 

Panelists

• Robert Husbands, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Margarette May Macaulay, Commissioner, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 
• José Antonio Guevara Bermudez, member of the UN Working Group on arbitrary detention 
• Ben Leather, International Service for Human Rights 

Moderator