Opening remarks

• Tone Skogen, State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ambassador Mara Marinaki of Greece, European External Action Service (EEAS) Principal Advisor on Gender, and on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and all other gender-related matters

Panelists

• Bai Ali Indayla, KAWAGIB – Alliance for the Advancement of Moro Human Rights, Philippines
• Noelene Nabulivou, Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Fiji
• Fatima Outaleb, Union of Women’s Action (UAF), Morocco

Closing remarks

• Samira Merai Friaa, Minister for Women, Family and Childhood, Tunisia

Moderator

• Richard Bennett, Representative and Head of New York UN Office 

Watch live: http://webtv.un.org/

Follow on the event on Twitter: #WHRDs @ISHRglobal @NorwayUN @AmnestyUN 

Crisis in Burundi : Implementing sustainable solutions

Friday 4 March

15.00 - 17.00

Room XXIV, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Read / Download the event flyer here

 In the context of the ongoing crisis, this side event aims at fostering a discussion on the current human rights situation in Burundi and the way forward for the Council, examining how it can play an active role in preventing further violations.

The event will also provide an important opportunity for the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to further discuss his recent mission to Burundi and engage in a candid dialogue with leading Burundian civil society activists about the developing situation on the ground.

Panellists

• Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders 
• Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, President of APRODH
• Tom Gibson, Protection International

Moderator

• Hassan Shire, Executive Director of EHAHRDP

Translation & refreshments will be provided

China’s Second-Cycle UPR Mid-Term: A Technical Assessment from Civil Society

Monday, 14 March 2016

 10:00-11:00

Room XVIII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Download the event flyer

The year 2016 marks the mid-point of China’s second cycle of the UPR, and provides a moment to reflect on the recommendations made and responses received during China’s October 2013 review. It is also an opportunity to consider the role of civil society in pressing for and assisting with the implementation of accepted recommendations throughout the UPR cycle, and the value of transparent benchmarks of progress and areas for continued effort.  

Panellists

• Teng Biao, lawyer and human rights defender
• Namgo Tschasang, human rights defender
• Padma Dolma, Students for a Free Tibet
• Peter Irwin, World Uyghur Congress

Moderator

• Sarah M. Brooks, Asia Programme Manager, ISHR

This event is also supported by: Students for a Free Tibet, World Uyghur Congress and the Tibet Justice Center.

Follow the event on Twitter: #ChinaUPR
Watch live: www.ishr.ch/webcast

Protection needs of human rights defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights:

Challenges and good practice

Monday, 7 March 2016

13:30-15:00

 Room XVIII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Human rights defenders play a critical role in securing the right to housing, pushing for adequate health care and ensuring community voices are heard in major development projects.

Despite this, the current and previous Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights defenders have emphasised the specific risks that defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights face. Whether they are activists fighting corruption or promoting transparency, working on land and environment rights, or defending their right to housing, ESC-rights defenders are among the most isolated and stigmatised defenders.

This high-level side event will shed light on the risks faced by economic, social and cultural rights defenders, and draw on the report of the Special Rapporteur presented to the 31^st session of the Human Rights Council to present good practices in furthering their protection. 

Panellists

• Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders 
• Navi Pillay, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 
• Allo Awol, human rights defender from Ethiopia 
• Arutchelvan Subramaniams, founder of Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Oppressed Peoples Network)
• Pedro Tzicá, Consejo de Comunidades de Cunén

Moderator

• Catarina de Albuquerque, Executive Chair of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) and former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Interpretation in English and Spanish will be provided.

Follow and engage with the event via Twitter using #ESCRdefenders and download the flyer here.

The event will also be webcast live at www.ishr.ch/webcasts

Wednesday 20 January
12.40-14.30 pm
Room XXII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Download / Read the event flyer here

On the occasion of the 24^th UPR session, held between 18 and 29 January 2016, Paraguay will be reviewed by the Human Rights Council. Civil society representatives of the NGO network Coordinadora Derechos Humanos Paraguay (CODEHUPY), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the International Service for Human Rights cordially invite you to a panel discussion on 20 January 2016, 12:40 – 14:30pm, immediately following the Working Group session. The aim of this event is to present key concerns regarding the human rights situation in Paraguay, to analyse the recommendations received through the UPR and to discuss strategies for implementation at the national level.

Sandwiches and drinks will be served outside room XXII at 12.15.

• Ben Leather, International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)

• Francisco Benítez, Coordinadora de Derechos Humanos del Paraguay (CODEHUPY)
• Marcial Gómez, Federación Nacional Campesina (FNC)
• Aníbal Cabrera, Coordinadora por los Derechos de la Infancia y la Adolescencia (CDIA)
• Ireneo Téllez, Mesa de trabajo por los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas en el Paraguay
• Hipólito Acevei, Mesa de trabajo por los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas en el Paraguay
• Rosalía Vega, Amnistía Internacional ParaguayJulio Duarte, Gente, Ambiente y Territorio (GAT) 

The call for applicants for HRDAP 2016 is now closed.

The training will take place between 8 and 22 June 2016 and provides defenders with opportunities to put their advocacy skills directly into action at the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council and the 23rd Annual Meeting of UN Special Procedures.

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 training, all participants were either "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the overall programme, whilst 53 per cent of participants felt they had fully met their prime advocacy objective and another 47 per cent felt it 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 32nd 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 2017 training programme, please check the events page at ishr.ch in early 2017.

Thursday 17 December
9.00-10.00 am
Room XII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Download / Read the event flyer here

As the Human Rights Council finally convenes the urgently needed Special Session on Burundi - in response to the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation and repeated call by human rights defenders and civil society organisations - this event will provide an expert insight into the gravity of violations. Featuring several frontline human rights defenders, the event will provide up-to-date information on the attacks, threats and killings against defenders, political opposition and other civilians. 

Wednesday 18 November 2015

08:20 - 09:40 am

Room XXIV, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Read / Download the event flyer

Whistleblowing can be a key contribution to ensuring human rights compliance, both in public and private sectors. Despite their critical role, those who expose human rights related to corporate misconduct or violations often face corporate retaliation, dismissal or sanctions, and become the target of threats, attacks and restrictions by States and non-state actors. 

This event will explore – from the perspective of civil society, academia and business – the contribution of whistle blowers to better corporate respect for human rights, the actions state and business should take to protect whistle blower, and how the UN and other international mechanisms can contribute to this response.

Moderator:

• Arnaud Poitevin, Legal Researcher at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France)

Panelists:

• Mark Worth, Blueprint for Free Speech

• Sara Blackwell, International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR)

• Benjamin Cokelet, Project on Organizing, Development, Education and Research (PODER)

• Grant Stevens, Expolink Europe Ltd

• Brynn O’Brien, Director at Categorical Advisory

If you require a UN Ground Pass to attend, please email: [email protected] by 11 November 

Follow the event & ask questions:  #projectWhistleBlowers

Coffee and croissants provided

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

10.00 – 12.30 am 

Kairaba Hotel, Banjul, The Gambia

Human Rights Defenders working to promote corporate respect for human rights and pushing for corporate accountability for human rights violations face severe risks to their safety and challenges in their work. As documented by ISHR’s submissions to the West- and Central Africa regional consultations held by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights’ Working Group on Extractive Industries, Human Rights and the Environment, HRDs pushing for better respect for human rights in the extractive sector face particular risks. 

Held on the occasion of the 57th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, this event is organised by ISHR in collaboration with the ACHPR Working Group. It will seek to raise awareness on these threats, attacks and challenges faced by HRDs working to promote corporate respect for human rights and accountability for violations. It will also explore the role of States, extractive industries and the ACHPR to expand protection for HRDs and provide a platform for them to raise cases for concern. 

Panelists

• Reine Alapini-Gansou, ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
• Erick Kassango, Member of ACHPR WG on Extractive Industries and human rights  
• Pafing Guirki,  Monitoring committee of the government investement on oil revenue  (Chad)
• Nora Garmai Bowier, Sustainable Development Institute (Liberia)
• Jules Mbokani, CREDDHO (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The panel will be moderated by Michael Ineichen of ISHR. Follow the event on Twitter @ISHRglobal and #NGOForum . Download and share the flyers in English et en Français. 

Contact: Rumbidzai Masango, [email protected], Phone: +220 377 86 18 (Gambia), +225 4502 6882 (Côte d'Ivoire)

Sunday, 1 November 2015

10:15 - 11:15 am

NGO Forum on ACHPR 57 - Kairaba Hotel, Banjul, The Gambia

During its 55th session, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights decided to extend the scope of the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders to include protection from reprisals against human rights defenders engaging with the Commission.

This event, organised by ISHR in collaboration with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, will see the presentation by Ms Reine Alapini-Gansou, the Special Rapporteur, of her plans on operationalising this mandate, as well as presentation of draft Guidelines on Communicating with the ACHPR Focal Point. Both documents were  developed in consultation with civil society. 

The event will provide an opportunity for civil society present at the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 57th session of the African Commission.

Panelists: 

• Commissioner Ms Reine Alapini-Gansou
• Nadine Essmat, Cairo Insitute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
• Lucia Da Silveira, AJPD Angola

The event will be moderated by Clement Voulé, Head of ISHR's Africa Program. Follow the event on Twitter @ISHRglobal

Contact: Rumbidzai Masango, [email protected], Gambia: +220 377 86 18 (Gambia), +225 4502 6882 (Côte d'Ivoire)