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08/06/2016
The UN Human Rights Council will hold its 32nd regular session at Palais des Nations
in Geneva from 13 June to 1 July 2016.
Stay up-to-date: Follow @ISHRglobal and #HRC32 on Twitter, and look out for our
weekly Human Rights Council Monitor.
The global crackdown on human rights defenders and independent civil society is a
threat to international peace and security and undermines sustainable development.
on business and human rights, Wednesday 15 June, 16:00 17:30, room XXIII
Protecting civil society space through a Model National Law on the protection of
In this context, the need to protect, engage with, and facilitate access to information
for human rights defenders and affected communities should be clearly highlighted.
We encourage the Council to adopt a strong resolution that recognises both the
contributions of and threats to defenders and civil society in developing and
monitoring business and human rights policies, including national action plans, and
the importance of an enabling environment including the full protection of
fundamental freedoms to the ability of victims of corporate abuse to successfully
access appropriate remedy.
Freedom of peaceful assembly and association
It is critical at this time of increasing restrictions on civil society and NGOs, as well as
growing limitations on the right to peaceful assembly in the name of national security,
that the mandate for the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Peaceful
Assembly be renewed.
The resolution is also a chance to follow-up on key elements of Special Rapporteur,
Maina Kiais, work over the last five years related to the benefits of civil society in
strengthening respect for human rights on the ground, including professional
associations such as those in the legal, medical and business sectors.
Country situations
Burundi
Following the special session of the Council on Burundi in December 2015, and the
enhanced interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on the human rights
situation in Burundi in March 2016 there will be an interactive dialogue with the High
Commissioner during which he will present his report on the human rights situation in
Burundi.
During the special session on Burundi, ISHR made a statement to the Human Rights
Council welcoming the enhanced UN human rights monitoring and investigation role
envisaged in the resolution adopted by consensus at the session. During the
31st session, ISHR highlighted Burundis failure to uphold high standards in the
promotion and protection of human rights or to cooperate fully with the UN Human
Rights Council, of which it is a member. Council membership comes with higher
expectations on States in terms of their respect for human rights and cooperation with
human rights mechanisms. As a member of the Human Rights Council, it is even more
important that the Government of Burundi be urged to demonstrate good faith
attempts to address human rights violations in the country
China
In flagrant disregard of the concerns raised by the joint statement highlighting human
rights violations in China at the March Council session not to mention those raised
by the High Commissioner and various Special Procedures the Government
continues to silence dissent, harass defenders and suppress civil society.
ISHR urges governments to stand resolutely with Chinese human rights activists to
call for transparency, reform and accountability of laws and policies that undermine
human rights and fundamental freedoms, and for the unconditional release of
detained human rights defenders, lawyers such as Wang Yu and Li Heping, and press
freedom and democracy activists, in particular Guo Feixiong. The unwillingness to
engage substantively with the Council, or to answer in any way for its actions, should
call into question the Chinese governments role and legitimacy as a Council member.
Other country-specific developments
Several thematic reports on the situation of human rights in specific countries or
regions will be presented to the Council, including the reports of the experts on human
rights in Cte dIvoire, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. The Council
will also conduct interactive dialogues with the experts on these countries, providing
an opportunity for local human rights defenders to highlight violations that have
occurred.
The Council will adopt the UPR reports of 14 countries. This will provide an
opportunity for Niger, Singapore, Sierra Leoneand Paraguay to accept
recommendations made in relation to human rights defenders, as recommended by
ISHRsbriefing papers on these countries.
Organisational meeting
During the organisational meeting for the 32nd session, the President of the Human
Rights Council once again stressed that delegations and organisations should
contribute to a constructive working atmosphere.
He highlighted that it is in the common interest of all those engaging in this Council
session that a climate free from intimidation or reprisals be maintained.
There is a heavy programme of work for the session, which includes 6 panel
discussions and 82 reports to be presented. This session the programme for some days
will be scheduled from 10am until 6pm, and effort will be made to avoid scheduling
sessions at night.
As it did in previous sessions, the Council has limited the overall time for its interactive
dialogues with special procedures to four hours, by reducing the individual speaking
time for States. The overall time allocated to civil society was already limited to 30
minutes, and will remain unchanged. The President urged all those speaking at the
session to exercise self-restraint in the preparation of statements, and reiterated that
time limits will be enforced.
Appointment of human rights experts
The following vacancies among Special Procedures mandate holders will be filled at
this session:
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Candidates are
available here.
Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other
business enterprises. Candidates are available here.
In view of the pending appointments, it is relevant to recall that in appointing mandate
holders, the President of the Council is required to give particular attention to the need
to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Mandate holders should also be
genuinely committed to the independence and effectiveness of the special procedures
system, and have a demonstrated commitment to civil society engagement and
participation.
Officers of the Human Rights Council
Newly appointed members of the Bureau for the 10th cycle include:
H.E. Mr CHOI Kyong-lim (Republic of Korea), President of the Human Rights Council
H.E. Mr Ramn Alberto Morales QUIJANO (Panama), Vice President
H.E. Mr Janis KARKLINS (Latvia), Vice President
H.E. Mr Negash Kebret BOTORA (Ethiopia), Vice President
H.E. Mr Bertrand de CROMBRUGGHE (Belgium), Vice President and Rapporteur
Panel discussions
There are 6 panel discussions scheduled for this session:
The High-level panel discussion on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Human
Rights Council: achievements and challenges. This discussion will take place on
Monday 13 June 2016 at 15:00 in Room XX. The discussion will be focused on the
achievements and challenges faced by the Council. Eight formal presidents of the
Council will be present to share their observations and experiences at the Council.
The Panel discussion on the promotion and protection of the right to development
Thursday 16 June 2016 at 09:00.Violence against indigenous women and girls and its
root causes will be the first theme. The second discussion of the day will take place at
15:00 and will focus on Womens rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development: delivering on the promise to leave no one behind. The panel will aim to
link the rights of women to the other Sustainable Development Goals, especially
discrimination against women and gender equality.
The panel discussion Taking stock of the contribution of parliaments to the work of the
Human Rights Council and its universal periodic review, and identifying ways to
enhance further that contribution will take place on Wednesday 22 June 2016 at 15:00.
The main aim of the panel will be to provide a better understanding of the role of
Parliaments in protecting Human Rights and strengthening the rule of law.
The Panel discussion on the possibility of using sport and the Olympic ideal to
promote human rights for all, including persons with disabilities. This will take place
on Tuesday 28 June 2016 at 15:00.
Resolutions to be presented to the Councils 32nd session
The following resolutions were announced by main sponsors during the organisational
meeting:
Resolution on the impact of the transfer of arms on human rights (Ecuador and Peru)
Resolution on the realisation of the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every
come out with a research on regional regime on human rights (Belgium and the
Republic of Korea)
Resolution on the protection of human rights of migrants (Mexico)
Resolution on human rights and citizenship (Russia)
Internet (Sweden)
Resolution on the issue of the protection of the family (Egypt)
Resolution on the protection of civil society space (Ireland, Chile, Japan, Sierra Leone
and Tunisia)
Resolution on mental health and human rights (Portugal)
Resolution on the right to education (Portugal)
Resolution on human rights and climate change (Philippines, Bangladesh, Vietnam)
Resolution on the human trafficking in crisis and post crisis situation (Philippines)
Resolution on Discrimination against women and children in nationality laws (USA,
rights (Ukraine)
Resolution on freedom of peaceful assembly and association (Maldives, Czech
Events
All events will take place at Palais des Nations in Geneva.
ISHR events
Consult, Respect, Protect: Including human rights defenders in national action plans
on business and human rights
ISHR and the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable will hold a public
discussion about how and why human rights defenders should be consulted in the
development of National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights (NAPs) and
protected by their provisions at this session of the Council.
This event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 15 June from 16.00 to 17.30 in
Room XXIII.
This event will also launch ISHR and ICARs new guidance on this subject (available
in English, French and Spanish), situating NAPs in the broader contexts of extreme
risks facing human rights defenders taking on business abuses.
Civil society, State and UN representatives will discuss how defenders can help ensure
business respect for human rights, the risks they face in doing so, and how NAPs can
provide a policy platform through which to protect and engage communities, activists
and NGOs.
Protecting civil society space through a model national law on the recognition and
protection of human rights defenders
The legal recognition and protection of defenders is crucial to ensuring that they can
work in a safe, supportive environment and be free from attacks, reprisals and
unreasonable legal restrictions. It also contributes to the broader goals of upholding
human rights, promoting democracy and good government, respect for the rule of law,
and the achievement of sustainable development.
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.
In this context ISHR, in consultation with human rights defenders and human rights
experts from all regions have developed a Model Law on the recognition and
protection of human rights defenders.
A side-event (from 15.00 to 16.00, on 21 June in Room XXIII, Palais des Nations) will
officially launch the Model Law.
Ending violence against women, and ensuring an enabling environment for WHRDs
CIVICUS, the International Service for Human Rights and the Association for
Womens Rights in Development are organising a side event on 13 June 2016. The time
and the room are still to be confirmed. Panellists will include the UN Special
Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and women human rights defenders.
Other key events
Event on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Council, Monday 13 June,
organised by Switzerland and the State of Geneva. This event is scheduled for 18:15,
outside of Room XX or in the courtyard depending on the weather.
Event for the 10th anniversary of the HRC on challenges and achievements of Human
Rights, Tuesday 14 June, organised by Uruguay and the Francophonie. This event is
scheduled for 13:00, in Room IX.
Event on Violence against indigenous women, Wednesday 15 June, organised by
organised by European Union, South Africa and Denmark. This event is scheduled for
14:00 in Room XXV.
Event on preventing and accounting violence against women, Tuesday 14 June,
organised by Netherlands and Muslim for Progressive Values. This event is scheduled
for 8:30 in room XXIII.
Note that due to severe limitations of rooms at Palais des Nations, NGO events have
not been confirmed yet, and therefore cannot be highlighted in this Alert.
ISHR
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