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UN Human Rights CouncilAdvocacy/AppealsThe Democracy Coalition Project has been continuously engaged in efforts to create and maintain a strong human rights body at the United Nations. Since early 2005, DCP has worked in broad coalitions of US-based and international human rights and democracy organizations to advocate for meaningful reform of the human rights machinery at the United Nations. Throughout 2006 and 2007, DCP worked to develop a cross-regional network of human rights organizations from around the world to share information and advocate at the Council. In late 2007, this group formed HRCNet. Member organizations of the HRCNet include:
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Obama urged to support Commission of Inquiry on Burma. Following two years of ineffectual U.S. diplomacy with the military government in Burma, 22 U.S. NGOs called on the Obama Administration to mobilize support for a UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in Burma. The groups, which included the Democracy Coalition Project, also urged the administration to supplement its engagement efforts with increased financial sanctions against members of the ruling junta, as outlined in the U.S. JADE ACT. "Even as Burma's government rejects these steps towards genuine democracy, Burma's military, which continues to rule the country under the guise of civilian government, has returned the country to the brink of full-scale civil war," the groups stressed. Between May and June of this year, scores of ethnic villages were destroyed, while hundreds of people accused of supporting ethnic resistance groups were arrested, tortured and killed by Burmese troops.Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Community of Democracies spotlights emerging democracies at Sixth Ministerial Approximately 900 heads of state, foreign ministers, high-level diplomats and civil society activists from around the world attended the Sixth Ministerial of the Community of Democracies held in Vilnius, Lithuania June 30 – July 1, 2011. This year's Ministerial focused on emerging democracies and civil society's involvement in governance as a way to strengthen the efficacy of the Community of Democracies (CD), a global intergovernmental coalition of democratic countries founded in 2000. Participants attended forums focused on how youth, women, parliaments, corporations and civil society are essential to strengthening and promoting democracy. Many prominent global figures gave formal remarks at the Ministerial, including Secretary Clinton, who spoke about the recent wave of democracy movements in the Middle East and North Africa. Awards for achievements in the promotion of human rights and democracy were also distributed at the Ministerial. The Belarusian opposition won the Geremek Award, while the Palmer Prize was given to seven diplomats representing the Czech Republic, the United States, Peru, the Netherlands, Canada, Lithuania, and Poland. The conference concluded with the adoption of the Vilnius Declaration, which emphasizes the commitment to strengthening the CD's activities, takes note of the new governing structures of the CD, and endorses the Democracy Partnership Challenge, which is a new initiative to encourage reform in countries emerging from authoritarian rule. Mongolia will now assume the CD Presidency for the next two years and will host the Seventh CD Ministerial in 2013. To see a report by DCP Board Member, Ted Piccone, on the Ministerial, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
HRC takes action on human rights violations in Belarus, Libya and Côte d'Ivoire; ignores Sri Lanka and Bahrain The HRC concluded its 17th Session with the adoption of a ground-breaking resolution reaffirming the rights of the LGBTI community. Strong resolutions that extended the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Libya, established an Independent Expert on Côte d'Ivoire and renewed assistance to Somalia and Kyrgyzstan were also adopted by consensus. At the urging of the international human rights community, the Council also adopted a resolution requesting the UN High Commissioner and other UN experts to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Belarus by a vote of 21 in favor, 5 opposed and 19 abstentions. Unfortunately, the Council failed to take action on the ongoing human rights violations in Bahrain, despite pleas from the international human rights community for strong UN response to the situation. “The current silence that has characterized this Council’s response to the grave and deteriorating rights situation in Bahrain…only adds to the growing instability and future threat of atrocities being committed against innocent civilians within Bahrain," stated the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies at the session. The European Union urged the Bahraini Government to grant immediate access to Office of the UN High Commissioner for a mission leading to a report on alleged cases of torture, deaths in custody, and repression against medical personnel. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
HRC reaffirms rights of LGBTI persons The international LGBTI persons saw a breakthrough in the reaffirmation of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons at the June Session of the HRC. The Council adopted a historic resolution expressing grave concern over acts of violence and discrimination committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity by a vote of 23 in favor, 19 against and 3 abstentions. The resolution, presented by South Africa, also requests the UN High Commissioner commission a study to document discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against such individuals, as well as convenes a panel during the 19th Session of the HRC on the issue. UN experts have long presented evidence of killings, torture, rape, criminal sanctions, and violence against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. However, some States, particularly members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, have worked to prevent UN protection for, or even recognition of, this vulnerable group. “The Human Rights Council has taken a step forward in history by acknowledging that both sexual and gender non-conformity make lesbian, gay, trans* and bi people among those most vulnerable and indicated decisively that States have an obligation to protect us from violence,” stated Justus Eisfeld, Co-Director of Global Action for Trans* Equality.Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Film documents atrocities of Sri Lanka's civil war During the 17th Session of the HRC, many States highlighted the need for effective accountability for war crimes committed in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, the Council failed to heed the call of the Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka to establish an international investigation into the violations. The UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts recently reported credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity by both the Sri Lankan government forces and the opposition Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the Sri Lanka’s 26 year-long civil war. During the session, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch previewed a Channel 4 documentary presenting stark video evidence of the atrocities committed during the final weeks of the civil war. The film contains disturbing footage of executions and government shelling of civilians and hospitals in so-called “no-fire” zones and fiercely criticizes the United Nations and the Sri Lankan Government for the handling of the situation To view the film, Sri Lanka's Killing Fields, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Silent demonstration extends support to Iran's civil rights movement Two years after Iran’s disputed presidential election began an ongoing wave of government repression against its own people, Iranian human rights defenders are urging the international community to recommit support for Iran’s civil rights movement. On the June 12 anniversary of the elections United4Iran and Move4Iran coordinated a silent flash mob in a Paris metro station to highlight the sustained suffering of the Iranian people. Standing frozen and wearing green articles of clothing, participants displayed the peace/victory sign that has come to represent Iran’s civil society movement. Their silence was symbolic of the Iranian government’s attempt to stifle dissent inside the country. The NGOs urged individuals worldwide to show their support for the democracy movement in Iran by organizing similar demonstrations in their own cities. To see the video of the flash mob, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP urges US to support investigation into crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka At the urging of the US human rights community, US Ambassador to the Human Rights Council (HRC), Eileen Donahoe, highlighted the need for effective accountability for war crimes committed in Sri Lanka at the 17th Session of the HRC currently underway in Geneva. The UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka recently reported credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity by both the Sri Lankan government forces and the opposition Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the country’s 26 year-long civil war. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 11 US-based NGOs, including DCP, urged the US Government to express concern at the failure of the Sri Lankan government to investigate and prosecute these crimes. The NGOs also urged the US to call for the full implementation of the Panel’s recommendations, in particular the establishment of an international investigation into alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs call for international monitoring of repression in Belarus Widespread human rights violations following protests against the outcome of the December 19, 2010 presidential elections in Belarus, has prompted 33 international and regional NGOs to urge the establishment of a monitoring and reporting mechanism for the country at the 17th Session of the HRC. In the wake of the controversial re-election of President Aliaksandr Lukashenka, riot police violently beat dozens of demonstrators and arrested hundreds more. Human rights monitors continue to report that those accused are being convicted for unsubstantiated rioting or public disorder charges and that the trials lack due process. At least 700 people, including political activists, presidential candidates, and journalists, have been sentenced in unfair summary proceedings, with many suffering from abuse and ill‐treatment in custody. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Lack of competition undermines credibility of 2011 HRC elections The 2011 elections for the UN Human Rights Council concluded May 20, 2011 with 15 new Member States elected to the body by the UN General Assembly. Unfortunately, the absence of competition in three out of the five regional groups made it practically futile for governments to assess candidates on the basis of their human rights records and pledges. The African, Asian and Western European and Others Group ran closed slates, enabling candidates in these regions to run unopposed and easily obtain three-year terms in the 47-member body. Nonetheless, competitive elections in the Eastern European Group allowed the Czech Republic and Romania to beat out Georgia for the two open seats. In the Latin American and Caribbean Group, Chile, Costa Rica and Peru obtained unexpectedly high margins of victory over Nicaragua, which in the past has attempted to shield repressive regimes, such as Iran, Libya, Myanmar and Syria, in UN human rights fora. The new members elected to the Council are as follows: Africa: Benin, Botswana, Burkino Faso (re-elected), Congo To see the full membership of the 6th Cycle (2011-2012) of the HRC, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Kuwait replaces Syria as candidate to HRC due to intense international opposition After months of international outcry over Syria's candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), Kuwait has stepped forward to replace Syria as the preferred Asian Group candidate to the HRC elections, which will be held by secret ballot on May 20 at the UN General Assembly. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
U.S. urged to support HRC Special Sessions on Bahrain and Yemen Following strong U.S.-led action at the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) against the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in Syria, U.S.-based NGOs are calling on the Obama Administration to demonstrate the same resolve toward violations in Bahrain and Yemen and seek HRC Special Sessions to address these human rights crises. While the NGOs commended the U.S.'s efforts to obtain robust HRC actions on Syria, Libya and Iran, they urged the U.S. to dissuade charges of selectivity by signaling clear support for the convening of HRC Special Sessions on Bahrain and Yemen that would establish mechanisms to investigate human rights violations in those countries. "It is necessary to demonstrate that the Council can consistently and uniformly uphold international human rights law, even when it is strategic allies of the United States who are responsible for serious human rights crimes," the NGOs asserted. To read DCP's newsletter on the call for US leadership at the HRC on Bahrain and Yemen, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Members of US Congress call on Obama to lead the establishment of an inquiry into crimes in Burma Ongoing atrocities committed by Burmese authorities have prompted 31 bi-partisan members of the United States Congress to call on the Obama Administration to lead the establishment of an international commission of inquiry into grave human rights abuses in Burma. The Representatives acknowledged the Administration's previous statement supporting an international investigation, but stressed the need for immediate action in light of the mounting evidence of systematic crimes against humanity committed by Burma's military regime. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP hosts Congressional briefing on U.S. leadership at the HRC On April 14, the Democracy Coalition Project, the Open Society Foundations and Freedom House held a congressional briefing, sponsored by Congressman Russ Carnahan, on the pivotal role the United States has played in addressing gross human rights violations at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The event was convened to highlight the importance of continued U.S. engagement with the HRC amidst a climate of budget cuts and Congressional opposition to U.S. support for the United Nations. The event, US leadership at the UN Human Rights Council: Featuring Voices from the Ground - Iran and Burma, was comprised of a distinguished panel of prominent human rights defenders from Burma and Iran, as well as current and former ambassadors to the HRC. The speakers discussed recent accomplishments of the body, including the appointment of a special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, an unprecedented mandate on the right to freedom of association and assembly, and the Council's swift action on Libya and Cote d'Ivoire. To read DCP's summary of the event, please click here. For a transcript of the event, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
UN Human Rights Council to hold Special Session on Syria The HRC will convene a Special Session on the situation of human rights in Syria on Friday, April 29. Thirty-seven cross-regional States called for the session in response to the escalating government violence and repression against peaceful pro-democracy protests in the country. The announcement is a welcome development. On April 6, human rights groups urged the HRC to hold accountable those responsible for targeting civilians, particularly Syrian security forces that used live ammunition to silence growing protests. Syria's grave human rights record prompted thirteen Arab human rights NGOs to urge the League of Arab States and the Asian Group to withdraw their support for the Syrian government's bid for membership to the HRC. Syria is currently a candidate for the May 20 elections within a closed slate that does not allow for competitive elections. Eight additional Arab NGOs joined the group in another appeal to all UN Member States to ensure that Syria is not given a seat in the upcoming elections. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs urge US to press for UN investigation on human rights abuses in Burma In an effort to renew engagement with the Government of Myanmar (Burma), the Obama Administration has nominated Derek Mitchell as the Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma. Although 13 prominent US NGOs, including DCP, welcomed the move, they expressed hope that the appointment will be utilized to press for serious democratic reforms in Burma. “As the United States continues to try to engage the regime, it also should demonstrate that its patience is not infinite and that continued defiance of international concerns will have consequences for the government’s leaders,” the group stressed. Last fall the Obama Administration expressed support for the creation of an International Commission of Inquiry for Burma to investigate serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the country. The NGOs urged the US to follow through on its call and lead the effort to create an investigation mechanism at the June session of the UN Human Rights Council. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP to convene congressional briefing on US leadership at the HRC On April 14, 2011 the Democracy Coalition Project, along with Freedom House and the Open Society Foundations, will convene a briefing at the US Capitol from 10:00 to 11:30 am on the importance of US engagement at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Leading human rights defenders from Burma and Iran and current and former ambassadors to the HRC will discuss the capacity of the body to address crisis situations, as well as chronic human rights violations worldwide. The panel will address recent HRC accomplishments and remaining challenges, including the appointment of a special rapporteur on human rights in Iran and the possibility of establishing a commission of inquiry on international crimes in Burma. Speakers will discuss the ways in which U.S. engagement and leadership has helped the HRC more effectively realize its mandate to protect and promote human rights. PANEL SPEAKERS: Moderator: Paula Schriefer, Advocacy Director, Freedom House Opening and Closing Remarks: Dokhi Fassihian, Executive Director, Democracy Coalition Project Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Violent crackdown in Syria prompts call for HRC Special Session The escalating violence and repression in the Syrian Arab Republic has prompted the international human rights community to call for an urgent HRC Special Session on the situation. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs Applaud US Commitment to Second HRC Term The United States Government recently announced that it intends to pursue a second term on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). In response, eleven prominent US based NGOs welcomed the move and congratulated the US government on the successes that it achieved at the 16th session of the HRC, including strong resolutions on Iran, Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Guinea, North Korea and Burma, as well as derailing the dangerous “defamation of religions” concept. The group underscored the need for continued leadership and engagement by the United States to address the many problems that remain at the HRC, such as eliminating the Council’s disproportionate focus on Israel and increasing attention on other ongoing and emerging human rights priorities. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP welcomes US announcement to seek second term DCP welcomes the recent announcement that the United States will seek a second term on the UN Human Rights Council next year in light of recent achievements by the body. Improvements in addressing critical human rights situations were particularly evident throughout the Sixteenth Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), which concluded last Friday. The appointment of a UN expert to investigate rights abuses in Iran marked the creation of the first new country rapporteur since the inception of the HRC. The establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into violence in Côte d'Ivoire and resolutions on the human rights situations in Tunisia and Guinea also demonstrated the Council's increased responsiveness to grave human rights violations. In another significant development, the dangerous resolution on “defamation of religions” was discontinued in favor of a well received resolution that focused on combating intolerance and incitement to violence against persons based on religion or belief. The international human rights community also welcomed a statement made during the session by Columbia (on behalf of 85 countries) which called on States to end violence, criminal sanctions and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. For a more comprehensive overview please see the end of session statement from the International Service for Human Rights. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Urgent action needed on the human rights crisis in Yemen Building on the achievements of the 16th HRC session, fifteen NGOs – including DCP - called on the Council to urgently respond to the deteriorating human rights situation in Yemen. Since February 2011, authorities in Yemen have violently attacked protestors across the country in an effort to halt the spreading call for economic reforms, an end to corruption and the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. “In the face of grave and widespread violations such as those being carried out in Yemen, silence is not an option,” the NGOs stated. “We therefore urge the Council to hold, without delay, a ‘Special Session on the Human Rights Situation in Yemen.’” Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
UNGA and UNHRC urged to strengthen UPR and HRC membership On the last day of the March session, the HRC adopted by consensus the outcome of the Inter-governmental Working Group charged with reviewing the work and functioning of the Council five years after its inception. In response, twenty-nine NGOs, including DCP, expressed disappointment over a process they described as "diluted to a mere 'fine-tuning' exercise as opposed to a thorough Review." The group regretted that the review did not introduce major improvements in any area and did not include proposals aimed at strengthening the Universal Periodic Review Process. DCP also joined eleven NGOs in calling on the General Assembly (GA) to strengthen the HRC membership criteria in order to offset the failure of the HRC Review Process to improve the Council. The NGOs urged the GA to create a public "pledge review" mechanism to help States evaluate which candidates meet the membership threshold and an annual "cooperation audit" where the GA would assess the degree of state cooperation with the Council's special procedures, as well as put in place measures to guarantee that elections are genuinely competitive. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Is the U.S. Prepared to Win at the UN Human Rights Council? We Just Did. Dokhi Fassihian, executive director of DCP has published an opinion editorial in the March 25, 2011 edition of the Huffington Post in which she discusses the role of the United States in the lasted session of the UN Human Rights Council. “The Obama administration's 2009 decision to reverse the counterproductive non-engagement policy [of the Bush administration] is producing dramatic changes at the Geneva-based body [the UN Human Rights Council], as evidenced by this week's vote on Iran. The United States wasted no time in working to reverse the worrying trend away from country scrutiny. In addition to the victory on Iran, attention to severe situations in Sudan and Burma have been strengthened, while emerging conflicts in Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Cote D'Ivoire, and Libya were swiftly addressed. The U.S. has worked intensively to combat the dangerous resolution on "defamation of religions," and achieved another signal victory this week when the whole concept was abandoned by its sponsors… The Obama Administration deserves credit for the positive changes we've witnessed at the Human Rights Council even as we recognize that there is more to be done. The Iranian people will be the most recent beneficiaries. For those still denied their rights in places like Burma and North Korea, and those struggling to attain them in Bahrain and Belarus, it is critical for us to stay, to lead, and to win…” To read the full article, please click here. To read DCP's newsletter on the HRC adoption of the Iran resolution and rejection of "defamation of religions" concept, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs push for HRC to uphold human rights at 16th Session With the 16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council underway in Geneva, 38 NGOs working mainly on behalf of the rights of citizens of Muslim countries urged States belonging to the Organization of the Islamic Conference to support the establishment of a human rights monitoring mechanism for Iran. “The Human Rights Council must do all it can to prevent the Islamic Republic from following the violent course of Libya, and encourage the Iranian authorities to adhere to human rights principles and standards,” the NGOs stated. The deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain has also prompted a group of NGOs from around the world to call on the HRC to hold an urgent debate on that situation during the session. The group argued that the systematic use of excessive force by Bahraini security forces against protestors constitutes a human rights emergency, and the Council has a solemn duty to react promptly to it. A group of Burundian NGOs called on the President of the HRC to abide by the decision to hear the report of the independent expert on Burundi and hold a dialogue with him on the human rights situation in the country this session. Despite repeated commitments to hold a discussion with the expert at successive sessions, opposition from the Burundian Government continues to delay the interaction. Meanwhile, the annual resolution on the controversial concept of “defamation of religions” prompted 112 NGOs from across the globe, including the Democracy Coalition Project, to urge States to vote against any resolution which refers to the concept. In addition, the group called on governments to support a resolution which focuses on freedom of expression, freedom of religion and non-discrimination. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
HRC establishes commission of inquiry on Libyan crisis At the request of fifty-three member and observer States to the UN Human Rights Council, the first special session addressing human rights violations of a current member state was held on Libya at the Council. The resulting resolution was among the strongest texts consensually adopted by the Council. It decides to urgently dispatch an independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate those responsible for violations of international human rights law in Libya. In addition, it recommends that the General Assembly consider suspending Libya’s membership to the Human Rights Council. At the session, Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, condemned the violence and called on Libyan authorities to ensure equality, civil liberties and social justice, and to promote transparency and accountability. A group of global NGOs, including the Democracy Coalition Project, are also urging the UN General Assembly to suspend Libya’s membership to the Council, as is advised in such circumstances according to the resolution that created the Council.Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs call for urgent HRC action to address violent repression in the Middle East and North Africa In response to the rising backlash against protestors across the Middle East and North Africa, NGOs from around the globe are urging the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to condemn the violent repression of demonstrators calling for their democratic rights. Over the past few weeks, hundreds of thousands of people are rejecting governments that have long deprived their citizens of fundamental civil, political, social and economic rights. In response, security forces in Libya and Bahrain have initiated a violent crackdown that has left hundreds dead. In a petition addressed to UN member states, nineteen NGOs, including the Democracy Coalition Project, urge the HRC to condemn the killings and excessive force against demonstrators, call for the release of people arbitrarily detained, and to call for independent investigations into rights violations committed during the demonstrations.Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
US Senate members call for HRC mandate on Iran In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, twenty-four US Senators called on the Administration to work through multilateral institutions to address the state-sponsored repression of peaceful protestors in Iran since its disputed 2009 Presidential elections. The Senators noted that the Human Rights Council has thus far failed to take any concrete measures to address the situation or provide meaningful protections for Iranian citizens. “We believe it is essential that US membership on the HRC be utilized this March to take an overdue step to address Iran’s human rights crisis by reestablishing an independent human rights monitor to observe and report on the grave situation in the country,” the letter concludes.Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs call for improvements to HRC On February 17 and 18, an open-ended intergovernmental working group will meet once again to review the work and functioning of the HRC. In anticipation of the meeting, fourteen NGOs, including the Democracy Coalition Project, sent the President of the HRC a series of 'minimum outcomes' they believe are essential to the Human Rights Council review process. "We believe that the success of the review requires an outcome that improves the Council's responsiveness to the realities of human rights situations around the world, and strengthens and safeguards the independence of the Council's mechanisms," the document states. To see the NGOs key benchmarks, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP calls for UN HRC Special Session on Egypt As the crackdown on the public call for democratic reforms escalates inside Egypt, 29 NGOs, including the Democracy Coalition Project, urged the establishment of a UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Special Session that could help prevent further human rights violations and protect Egyptian citizens who have already suffered government repression. “With the strong risk that escalating repression, violence and instability in Egypt could lead to an unprecedented deterioration in the human rights situation in the coming days, it is critical that the international community take up this issue,” the letter states. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs call for free and fair elections in Egypt In response to the week-long violent government crackdown on protesters across Egypt, 94 NGOs, including the Democracy Coalition Project, urged the international community to condemn the human rights violations being carried out by the Egyptian authorities. Since January 25, Egyptians have staged mass protests calling for democratic reform and the end of President Hosni Mubarak's repressive three-decade authoritarian rule. Government retaliation, including beatings, arbitrary detentions and the use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians, has led to more than a hundred deaths thus far. In a letter on behalf of civil society organizations from around the world, signatories called on UN Member States and regional bodies to remind the Egyptian government to respect the basic rights and freedoms of the people in the region. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs call for HRC Special Session on Côte d’Ivoire Amidst growing violence in Côte d’Ivoire following its disputed Presidential election, the Democracy Coalition Project and 13 NGOs called today for an urgent special session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) to address the deteriorating situation. On December 2, 2010, Côte d’Ivoire’s Independent Electoral Commission announced that opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, defeated incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo in the Presidential elections. However, the President of the Constitutional Council declared the results invalid and pronounced Gbagbo the winner. Tensions surrounding the elections have given way to numerous reports of violations inside the country, including illegal detention, abductions and extrajudicial killings. Fearing a risk of further violence, the NGOs sent a letter to member states of the HRC urging them to support a special session that requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights appoint a special representative to report to the HRC on developments until the situation stabilizes. “A special session could condemn attacks on civilians as well as UN peacekeepers and staff, and firmly remind those responsible that they will be held accountable, in accordance with international human rights law,” the letter states. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Human rights experts and NGOs seek to strengthen HRC As the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) undertakes its five-year review, governments, NGOs, and human rights experts are re-examining its effectiveness in promoting and protecting human rights. The Intergovernmental Working Group mandated to review the work and functioning of the HRC since its creation in 2006 concluded its first session October 29th in Geneva, Switzerland. At the session, states discussed proposals on key aspects of the HRC; including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a mechanism developed to assess the human rights situations of all UN Member States; and Special Procedures, which generally refers to the body of human rights experts mandated by the HRC to work on country or thematic issues. In conjunction with the meeting, human rights experts and NGOs submitted recommendations designed to improve the ability of these mechanisms to address human rights situations, as well as to enhance state cooperation with these tools. To view these recommendations, please read DCP's full report by clicking here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs Survey the Work and Functioning of the HRC To enhance the relevance of the HRC 2011 review to the needs and experiences of victims and human rights defenders on the ground, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Conectas and the International Service for Human Rights, developed a survey to solicit the views of local and national level NGOs who have had prior experience with the work of the HRC. The preliminary results of the survey were then presented during the first session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the HRC review. A number of concerns were indicated by NGOs as the most problematic to fulfilling the mandate of the HRC to promote and protect human rights. The survey found the UPR consultation process at the national level insufficient and lacking effective follow-up mechanisms to UPR recommendations. The survey also revealed that financial constraints of NGOs and limited speaking time for NGOs during the interactive dialogue diminished NGO participation at HRC sessions. In addition, the survey found that the HRC should prioritize its attention to human rights emergencies and implement States' human rights obligations and commitments.Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs call for a robust response to critical human rights violations in Iran In a joint statement to the UN General Assembly, six human rights organizations called for stronger follow-up mechanisms to address the critical human rights situation in Iran. The signatories highlighted the increasing human rights violations since Iran’s disputed 2009 Presidential elections, as well as the Iranian authorities’ refusal to cooperate with existing international human rights mechanisms. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
NGOs seek to improve HRC responses to human rights violations in the Five-year Review In preparation for the Human Rights Council's (HRC) five-year review, 16 NGOs, including the Democracy Coalition Project, have presented a paper that seeks to strengthen HRC responses to human rights violations based on the level of genuine cooperation offered by governments. The paper, sent to the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and the HRC President, maintains that cooperative approaches are only effective when the concerned state acknowledges and seeks to address human rights abuses. Unfortunately, this principled commitment to protect human rights is often neglected at the HRC. To provide incentives for cooperation, the signatories developed a methodology of when and how to use the tools at the HRC’s disposal to address human rights violations contingent upon the level of cooperation of the concerned state. If the state demonstrates willingness to cooperate, it is granted greater participation and authority in the HRC process to address the violations. To read the paper in its entirety, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Report on UN Special Procedures Released A new report on UN Special Procedures that analyzes the on-the-ground impact of this system has been released by Ted Piccone, Deputy Director of Foreign Policy for the Brookings Institution and board member of the Democracy Coalition Project. The report entitled, Catalysts for Rights: The Unique Contribution of the UN's Independent Experts on Human Rights, assesses for the first time, how these mechanisms promote international human rights norms at the national level. The report finds that UN independent experts (IE) play an important role influencing government behavior and shedding light on compliance with international human rights norms. However, Piccone notes that IEs face several challenges including a frequent lack of state cooperation, inadequate resources and training, and the absence of a systematic process to implement their recommendations. To read the report in its entirety, please click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP calls on governments to oppose Cuban resolution on OHCHR oversight The Democracy Coalition Project urges members of the UN Human Rights Council to reject a draft proposal at the 15th session of the HRC which will infringe on the independence of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The resolution, presented by Cuba, attempts to usurp OHCHR's independence by enabling the HRC to exercise administrative and budgetary oversight of the High Commissioner's program plans. In a letter addressed to member states of the HRC, 20 NGOs, including DCP, argued that the resolution fundamentally threatens the High Commissioner's ability to remind governments of their obligations and to recommend specific actions to improve the protection of human rights. To learn more about this and other resolutions being considered at the HRC and UN General Assembly please read DCP’s full report by clicking here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
US Senators and EU Parliament call for re-establishment of UN mandate on Iran A bi-partisan group of US Senators and the European Parliament have called for the re-establishment of a UN mandate to monitor the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. On September 8, 2010 the European Parliament passed a resolution that expressed concern about the human rights situation in Iran and joins the call for the re-establishment of a UN mandate for a Special Rapporteur to investigate human rights abuses in Iran. The resolution also calls for the expansion of the EU travel ban and freezing of assets to include those responsible for human rights violations in Iran.
NGOs call for a renewal of the mandate on the human rights situation in Sudan The Democracy Coalition Project joined twenty-six national, regional and international NGOs from around the world in calling upon governments to address the widespread human rights abuses which continue to occur in Sudan. Signatories to the letter expressed serious concern over the severe human rights violations in Sudan, including post-election repression, the increasing violence in Darfur, and ongoing insecurity and human rights abuses by the security forces in Southern Sudan. They noted that the 15th Session of the Human Rights Council, taking place in Geneva September 13th – October 1st, will take place at a critical moment for Sudan, following the April 2010 elections, and in the run-up to the referendum on southern self-determination scheduled to take place in January 2011. The letter urged member states to respond to human rights abuses in Sudan by supporting a resolution renewing the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan at the 15th Session of the Human Rights Council. To learn more about this and other resolutions being considered at the HRC and UN General Assembly please read DCP’s full report by clicking here.
DCP urges strong UN action on Myanmar, Iran, and Sudan The Democracy Coalition Project calls on governments around the world to support UN action to address the grave human rights situations in Myanmar, Sudan, and Iran at upcoming UN meetings in New York and Geneva. Likewise, urgent action should be taken to extend protection to Iranian citizens. While states have extended significant political will and resources toward resolving the nuclear issue, they have failed to give adequate attention to the country's worsening human rights situation. To learn more please read DCP’s full statement by clicking here.
It's time for Obama to support a UN rights monitor on Iran In an article published September 3, 2010 in Foreign Policy Magazine, DCP executive director, Ms. Dokhi Fassihian, calls on the US government to support an independent UN mandate to address the severe human rights crisis in Iran. "The Iranian people need the UN's help -- as did the citizens of Chile, South Africa, and Hungary -- to attain justice. At the UN General Assembly meeting this fall, the United States has another opportunity to help them by ensuring the establishment of a UN mandate that will investigate abuses and encourage accountability for those perpetrating crimes in Iran. We should not miss it again." To read the article in its entirety please click here.
HRC struggles to challenge governments on rights violations The Fourteenth Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) concluded last Friday with limited action on human rights situations requiring its attention. While the Council took positive steps toward addressing the urgent human rights crisis in Kyrgyzstan, as well as an Israeli attack of a humanitarian flotilla in international waters, it failed to adequately address the situations in Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, and Afghanistan among others. "If the Council reacted to urgent crises around the world the way it does to every new incident relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we may actually have an effective body," said Dokhi Fassihian, executive director of the Democracy Coalition Project. "So it is clear the tools are there and states know how to use them. What's missing is principled leadership." Shortly following the end of the session the HRC elected Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow, the Permanent Representative of Thailand, as the President of the Council for a period of one year. In response, 55 Asian NGOs urged the government of Thailand to demonstrate a renewed commitment to human rights and to provide accountability for the human rights violations committed during the recent unrest in its capital. To learn more about the resolutions and events surrounding the Fourteenth Session of the HRC please read DCP’s full report by clicking here.
Iran’s deepening human rights crisis spotlighted at the UN At the urging of the international human rights community, a cross-regional group of more than 50 states called for improvement of the human rights situation in Iran at the 14th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). In a joint statement read by Norway, the states expressed concern over a lack of progress in protection of human rights in Iran citing the violent government crackdown on peaceful protestors that began after Iran's disputed June 2009 presidential elections. To read more about the event and the joint statement, please click here.
DCP urges for free and fair elections in Burma The Democracy Coalition Project has joined the Global Campaign Against Burma’s 2010 Military Elections in response to the upcoming military led elections in Burma. The Campaign, consisting of more than 150 world wide organizations, calls upon the junta to change its course towards fraudulent elections by meeting the following minimum benchmarks: 1) The unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; Without meeting these benchmarks, members of the Campaign believe the elections will only serve to solidify the junta’s rule and sow the seeds for further instability and conflict. For more information on the Campaign, please click here.
HRC elections: clean slates mar election process Maldives tallies highest vote count; major rights violators draw least amount of support On May 13, 2010, the UN General Assembly elected fourteen states to a three-year term on the UN Human Rights Council, despite the poor rights records of many of the candidates. This was the first time since the Council's founding that all five UN regions presented non-competitive "clean slates" of the same number of candidates as seats available. African group candidates - Libya, Angola, Mauritania and Uganda - drew the least amount of votes across all regional slates, reflecting concerns that Africa had failed to put forward the region's strongest rights performers. The Maldives, a country demonstrating major strides on human rights in recent years, drew the highest number of votes in Asia and in the election as a whole; outstripping Thailand, Malaysia, and Qatar. To learn more about the HRC elections please read DCP's elections newsletter by clicking here.
NGOs propose structure for HRC 2011 Review In 2011, the UN General Assembly is scheduled to review the Human Rights Council’s work and functioning. In preparation for the review, a global coalition of civil society members, including the Democracy Coalition Project, has submitted a proposal to member states on the structure of the review. The proposal came in response to the emerging consensus among member states that renegotiating the Council’s institutional framework should not be the basis of the review process. Instead, the coalition argued, the review process should only supplement this framework where necessary to ensure that the Council fulfils its mandate to promote and protect human rights. The NGOs’ proposal would enable member states to identify the challenges and areas of improvement of the Council.
NGO coalition demands improvements by HRC candidates The Democracy Coalition Project has joined the global NGO Coalition for an Effective Human Rights Council in calling upon candidates for the upcoming UN Human Council elections to take concrete steps to meet membership standards for the Council. On May 13, 2010, member nations of the UN General Assembly in New York will elect 14 new members to the 47-member Human Rights Council. For the first time, each UN geographical region has put forward "clean slates" with only as many candidates as vacancies; thus depriving states the chance to select the candidates best suited to serve on the council. However, a member can only be elected by an affirmative vote of more than half of the overall UN membership. In letters to UN member states, the coalition expressed concern that the human rights records of Angola, Libya, Malaysia, Thailand, and Uganda currently fall short of the standards set for council membership, including the obligation that they uphold the "highest standards" of human rights and that they "fully cooperate" with the council. Signatories to the letters urged member states to withhold their votes from countries that do not take concrete steps to address human rights concerns. To learn more about the appeals outlined in each letter please read DCP’s latest newsletter on the elections by clicking here.
As diverse group of African NGOs have addressed a letter to African governments urging them to support competitive and principled elections in preparation for the May 2010 Human Rights Council elections. Signatories to the letter expressed their concern regarding the African Union’s (AU) process of nominating candidates to the Council. They argued that the process often discourages countries from seeking a seat as a result of political considerations and not from an assessment of the states’ human rights record. Consequently, the organizations were particularly troubled that the AU only officially endorsed two candidates with poor human rights records, namely Libya and Mauritania, for the four open African seats at the upcoming Council elections. The letter calls upon the African group to select in a fair and transparent manner at least five qualified candidates for the forthcoming May 2010 elections. “Commitment by the African group to the Council election process can not only help to enhance the effectiveness and credibility of the Council, but it can also shape the future of human rights in Africa,” the letter concludes. To view the press release on the letter, please click here.
Thirteenth session of the Human Rights Council concludes Resolutions adopted on Burma, North Korea, Guinea and DRC; Iranian victims neglected The UN Human Rights Council concluded its Thirteenth Session on March 26th with marked improvements in how the Council addresses serious human rights situations around the world. The Council took action on North Korea, Myanmar (Burma), Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as adopted a follow-up resolution to monitor Israeli and Palestinian investigations into violations during the Gaza conflict of 2009. While yet another resolution on the controversial concept of "defamation of religion" was adopted, several states withdrew their previous support for the resolution, resulting in its lowest margin of adoption to date. Also, efforts by several states to restrict the activities of human rights defenders in the resolution on the protection of human rights defenders were also defeated. Despite this progress, the Council failed to confront the serious and ongoing human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran despite continued calls from the international community to address grave abuses against Iranian citizens. Finally, despite resistance from the human rights community, a UN expert report on "secret detention" was successfully blocked by several states from being considered at this session and deferred to the June session. To learn more about the resolutions and events surrounding the Thirteenth session of the HRC please read DCP’s full report by clicking here.
Support for ‘defamation of religion’ declines at the HRC Thirteenth session The problematic resolution on 'combating defamation of religion,' sponsored by the OIC, was once again adopted by the HRC during the Thirteenth session, but by the lowest margin yet. In anticipation of the debate, forty-seven NGOs from around the world urged members of the HRC to reject the adoption of any text that undermines the right to freedom of expression. The vote of 20 states in favor, 17 against and 8 abstentions marked the lowest state support for the resolution since its inception. Following the vote, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) released a statement on the resolution's waning support. "Today the Human Rights Council moved a little closer to confirming the universality and inviolability of freedom of expression," said Jeremie Smith, Geneva director of CIHRS.
Report on Secret Detention removed from Council agenda The removal of a joint special procedures' report on the use of secret detention around the world from the Council's Thirteenth session agenda was met with resistance by many quarters. Prior to the start of the session the African group, led by Nigeria, and the OIC successfully blocked the reading of the report, arguing that the report was not explicitly requested or authorized by the Council. Regretting its government's role in the removal of the report, Partnership for Justice released a statement calling upon Nigeria to "show its support for the Human Rights Council and the important work of the Special Procedures who are working to promote and protect human rights worldwide."
Iranian women’s rights activist receives Human Rights Defenders Tulip Award In August, DCP and Justice and Peace Netherlands jointly nominated Iranian lawyer and human rights defender Ms. Shadi Sadr for the 2009 Human Rights Defenders Tulip Award. The Dutch Government created the Tulip Award to emphasise the achievements and importance of the work of outstanding human rights defenders worldwide. In November, the Dutch government bestowed the award to Sadr "as a tribute to her moral courage and perseverance in protecting and promoting the rights of her fellow citizens." As a lawyer, journalist, and researcher, Sadr dedicates herself to defending the rights of Iranian women. In addition, Sadr is campaigning to abolish the practice of stoning in Iran. To this end, she co-founded the campaign ‘Stop Stoning Forever’. In March 2007 she was arrested and imprisoned. During the unrest surrounding the Iranian presidential election on 12 June, Sadr was again violently arrested and jailed for 11 days in detention. Sadr accepted the Tulip award valuing $250,000 to continue her work. To view Sadr’s acceptance speech, please click here.
109 NGOs across the globe call on UN to condemn human rights violations in Iran Over one hundred human rights and civil society organizations from across the globe, including the Democracy Coalition Project, have addressed a letter to member states of the UN General Assembly (GA) calling upon them to support a resolution condemning human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and directing the IRI to fulfill its international human rights responsibilities. Local groups from Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Russia, Malaysia, India and other non-western societies, as well as international organizations, called on states to condemn the targeting of peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders, and political activists who have been attacked simply for questioning the legitimacy of the results of the June 12 Iranian presidential elections. The letter also describes the repression of women’s rights advocates and discrimination against minorities in Iran. The letter concludes by addressing the moral obligation of the GA to refocus its attention on the citizens of Iran, stating that “it must make clear that it will not forget the Iranian people who continue to be denied their fundamental human rights.” To view the press release on the letter, please click here.
Global civil society rejects “defamation of religion” Over 100 civil society organizations, including DCP, have joined together in a Common Statement to oppose the inclusion of the controversial concept of “defamation of religions” in international human rights instruments. The statement responds to recent efforts by the Organization of the Islamic Conference and African states to propose binding treaty amendments to the International Covenant on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) that includes the concept of “defamation of religion.” Syria, Belarus and Venezuela have also made their own attempt to advance such language in a General Assembly resolution entitled “combating defamation of religions.” A final plenary vote on the resolution is expected in early to mid-December. “United Nations resolutions on the `defamation of religions' are incompatible with the fundamental freedoms of individuals to freely exercise and peacefully express their thoughts, ideas, and beliefs,” affirm the signatories of the statement. They also assert that the notion of “defamation of religion” has often been abused by governments to punish the peaceful expression of religious or political ideologies that run contrary to the dominant state belief system.
UNGA adopts resolution on the Goldstone Report On November 5th, 2009 the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that seeks accountability for the war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict by a vote of 114 states in favor, 18 against and 44 abstentions. Specifically, the resolution endorses the recommendations made by Justice Richard Goldstone in the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict by calling upon both Israel and the relevant Palestinian authorities to undertake independent investigations of the violations of human rights and humanitarian law during the conflict. The United States was among the states that voted against the resolution arguing that the appropriate discussion forum for the Report was the Human Rights Council and not, as the text suggests, the Security Council. There was also dissent over the failure to mention Hamas by name within the resolution, an omission that was cited as an example of the unbalanced handling of Israeli-Palestinian issues. Despite the these complaints, the passage of the resolution marked an important step in combating impunity and was a welcomed follow-up to the call made by 57 NGOs in a letter urging all member states of the General Assembly to protect the rights of Israeli and Palestinian civilians. To view the final resolution, please click here. To view a description of state responses to the resolution and the final vote count, please click here.
Zimbabwe denies access to UN special rapporteur on torture DCP joined a world wide coalition of NGOs to denounce the Government of Zimbabwe’s recent attempt to impede UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Mr. Manfred Nowak, from exercising his mandate. While in transit to Zimbabwe to conduct a fact-finding mission to the country from October 28 to November 4, 2009, Nowak was informed that his entry was not cleared by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and was subsequently denied access. In a letter addressed to President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe, the NGOs expressed their disappointment over the cancellation of Nowak’s visit, particularly in light of “ongoing and widespread violence; and recent arbitrary arrests of senior civic leaders, political activists and human rights defenders” currently unfolding in Zimbabwe. The letter concluded by affirming the urgent need for the Government of Zimbabwe to remedy the incident by cooperating with all UN human rights mechanisms.
NGOs urge the United States to support Goldstone Report DCP has joined together with other prominent US NGOs to call upon the US Administration to support Justice Richard Goldstone’s report on the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict at the 64th UN General Assembly currently being held in New York City. In a letter to the administration, the signatories, including Amnesty International USA, Arab American Institute, The Carter Center, The Open Society Institute, Rabbis for Human Rights-North America and DCP, urged the US to work with others in the General Assembly to adopt a resolution which follows up on the recommendations of the report for both Israeli and Palestinian authorities to launch credible and independent investigations into the conduct of both sides of the conflict. “We believe strong U.S. leadership on this issue can generate international support for your Administration's efforts in the region and demonstrate to Israelis and Palestinians that respect for human rights is a fundamental objective of U.S. policy in the region,” the letter states.
Global Civil Society Coalition Urges Un General Assembly To Support Goldstone Recommendations On Gaza The Democracy Coalition Project has joined a global coalition of 57 civil society organizations from every corner of the world, ranging from Human Rights Now in Japan to the South African Council of Churches, urging members of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to support the recommendations of the Goldstone Report and work collectively to adopt a resolution which will ensure accountability for victims of the Gaza conflict earlier this year. In the letter from the groups, which include Physicians for Human Rights in Israel, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza, Open Society Institute, and the Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales in Argentina, the NGOs urge the adoption of a resolution by the 64th UNGA which calls upon the Israeli Government and relevant Palestinian authorities to launch “credible, independent investigations of the findings of the Goldstone Report…[that] will promote accountability among all parties to the conflict and put an end to the culture of impunity.” DCP calls on the United Nations to uphold freedom of expression and equality The Democracy Coalition Project joined 24 NGOS from around the world in calling upon members of the United Nations to support proposals that protect and promote, rather than strip, the right to freedom of expression and equality. In the letter, the NGOs conveyed their principle concern about state proposals to the Ad Hoc Committee for the Elaboration of Complementary Standards which encourage the protection of religious ideas, rather than individuals and groups, in a new convention or additional protocol to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The NGOs argued that such measures could potentially stifle religious dissent and criticism of religious adherents and non-believers and urged the Committee to reject the concepts of “defamation of religion”; protection from offensive speech to religion; and religion-phobias. The NGOs countered that “tolerance and understanding can only be properly addressed through open debate and intercultural dialogue involving state actors, politicians and public figures, the media and civil society organizations.” Signatories of the letter encouraged Committee members to uphold existing international human rights protection of both the right to freedom of expression and equality by focusing “on measures that promote diversity and pluralism, promote equitable access to the means of communication, and guarantee the right of access to information.”
The Democracy Coalition Project (DCP) and the Cairo Institute of Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) have issued a letter calling upon members of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to ensure that innocent victims of the Gaza conflict receive justice. The letter came in response to the sudden convening of a UN HRC “Special Session on the Human Rights Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem” being held today, October 15 and tomorrow, October 16. The Permanent Mission of Palestine requested the session in the hope of adopting a follow-up resolution to the Goldstone report on the UN fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict. During the Twelfth Session of the HRC held in September of 2009, Justice Richard Goldstone presented a report that called for impartial and thorough investigations of the conduct of the armed forces of both Israeli and Hamas to prevent impunity of the grave human rights violations that were committed during the Gaza conflict in early 2009. In spite of Goldstone’s findings, the Council deferred a vote on the report until March 2010. DCP also addressed a separate letter to the United States who, along with members of the European Union, was largely responsible for the report’s initial deferral. The letter urges the US government to take a principled stance and uphold Justice Goldstone's recommendations at the Special Session. “This longstanding conflict demands that the United States take a balanced, yet principled position to ensure accountability for victims, and that it begins advancing a vision that is objective, and aimed at upholding the rights of all parties,” said Fassihian.
Human Rights Council concludes Twelfth session United States leads on Freedom of Expression but fails to ensure accountability for victims of Gaza conflict The Twelfth session of the Human Rights Council concluded last Friday with a mixed outcome. The Council took positive steps towards addressing serious country situations and saw the unanimous adoption of a breakthrough resolution on Freedom of Expression. While these resolutions reflect significant achievements, other outcomes marred this progress. Notably, a deeply flawed resolution on "promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms through a better understanding of traditional values of humankind" was adopted by a divided Council. While this resolution was pushed through by a vote, the creation of a mandate on the elimination of discrimination against women was delayed by state supporters in order to reach consensus on the subject. Perhaps most worrisome, the Council failed to uphold the report of Justice Richard Goldstone on the United Nations fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict of early 2009. The report found evidence of serious violations of the laws of war during the conflict by both Israeli forces and Hamas fighters and calls for international mechanisms to ensure accountability. However, in response to pressure from the United States and the European Union (EU), a vote on the report has been deferred until the March 2010 HRC session. To learn more about the resolutions and events surrounding the Twelfth session of the HRC please read DCP’s full report by clicking here.
NGOs around the world call for competitive HRC elections and an end to vote trading The Democracy Coalition Project joined 73 NGOs and human rights organizations from 37 countries in each region of the world to urge members of the United Nations to publicly commit to a competitive, genuinely-contested and principled electoral process for future Human Rights Council elections. In the letter the NGOs expressed concern over the practice of uncompetitive “clean slates” (where the same number of candidates is presented as seats available for the region), which result in the inability of UN Member States to have a real choice in electing countries who have demonstrated a real commitment to human rights both domestically and internationally. The lack of competition, the NGOs argued, make it futile for member states to evaluate candidates based on their election pledges, which are meant to encourage states to address pressing domestic human rights issues. Vote trading by member states was also highlighted as damaging to the elections process. “Vote trading effectively means that countries are elected based on their ability to provide a swing vote in other elections, rather than their rights records,” the letter stated. “We call on all UN member states to bring vote trading arrangements and uncompetitive elections for the Council to an end.” To view the letter in its entirety, please click here. To read an article from Reuters regarding the letter, please click here.
DCP Granted Consultative Status by the UN Economic and Social Council by a Vote of 30-9-9 On July 27, after a three-year process, the Democracy Coalition Project’s request for consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was granted by a large margin of 30-9-9 during a vote at the general segment of ECOSOC held in Geneva, Switzerland. The vote by ECOSOC effectively overruled the recommendation of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO Committee) in May to deny DCP’s request; a decision that ran counter to Resolution 1996/31 establishing the guiding principles of NGO relations with the United Nations. “ECOSOC sent a powerful message to the NGO Committee that it should not overstep its mandate,” Fassihian said. “It is our hope that this may positively impact the accreditation process in the Committee and relieve pressure on NGOs that face undue scrutiny, rejection, and delays.” To view the full statement on DCP’s victory, as well as the results of the two ECOSOC votes on DCP, please click here.
28 NGOs Call for Independent NGO Advocacy at the UN Twenty-eight NGOs from across the world, including the Democracy Coalition Project, have joined in on a sign-on letter urging for the protection and promotion of independent NGO advocacy at the United Nations. Their call stems from their concerns of the increasing difficulties NGOs face in gaining and maintaining UN accreditation within the UN NGO Committee. According to Article 71 of the UN Charter, consultative relationships should “enable organizations that represent important elements of public opinion to express their views.” However, in recent years, some NGO Committee member states have chosen to exert political control over the accreditation process by instituting a set of disturbing practices that ensure NGOs critical of their positions and policies are denied or stripped of their accreditation. Signatories of the letter are therefore urging member states to work within ECOSOC and the UN General Assembly to uphold the rights of NGOs to form and express independent viewpoints freely and prevent retribution based on those freely expressed opinions. To view the letter in its entirety, please click here.
Forty-Two Arab NGOs Condemn Rights Violations in Iran Forty-two Arab NGOs issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the abuses committed by Iranian authorities against Iranian citizens conducting peaceful protests against the controversial results of the June 12 Iranian presidential elections. Thousands of Iranians have been arbitrarily detained, dozens have been killed, and hundreds are facing maltreatment and torture in prison. Members of the political opposition, journalists, civil society members, as well as human rights defenders, have been targeted by Iranian authorities who have refused to respect the rights of citizens to freely express their opinions and assemble peacefully. Specifically, the statement urges the Iranian government to:
To the view the statement in its entirety, please click here.
DCP’s Consultative Status Denied by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations On May 26th, the Resumed 2009 Session of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations reviewed the Democracy Coalition Project’s application for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. After a three-year struggle, DCP lost a vote in the NGO Committee by 6-8-5. “We are deeply disappointed in the decision of the Committee and fear political considerations rather than implementation of Resolution 1996/31 has informed the judgment of some Committee members,” says Dokhi Fassihian, executive director of the Democracy Coalition Project. No official reason has yet been given for the Committee’s decision. Decisions of the NGO Committee can be overturned by ECOSOC and decisions have been overturned many times in the past. DCP will seek to ensure that the guidelines of Resolution 1996/31 will be upheld by ECOSOC at the upcoming session in July.To read the statement in its entirety, please click here.
UN: Lack of Competition Mars Vote on Human Rights Council The NGO Coalition for an Effective Human Rights Council, formed by 13 NGOs from around the world, welcomed U.S. reengagement with the Human Rights Council symbolized through its election today and applauded the defeat of Azerbaijan's candidacy in the Eastern European race. The NGOs however said that the election outcome was largely marred by a lack of competition in three of the five UN regional groups. This year, DCP and other international human rights organizations opposed the election of Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Russia, and Saudi Arabia to the Human Rights Council because of serious and systematic human rights violations. With the exception of Azerbaijan, all were elected to the council. But Saudi Arabia, China, and Cuba came in at the very bottom of their regional slates. The coalition noted that the US decision to run for the council for the first time was a positive step, even though the lack of competition among Western countries sent the wrong message. Having secured 167 votes, the United States will join the Human Rights Council. To read the press release in its entirety, please click here.
UN Democracy Caucus Releases Statement on the HRC Elections Members of the Community of Democracies, a community of more than 100 participating governments formed in 2000 to advance democratic governance, have gathered as the UN Democracy Caucus to release a statement on the Human Rights Council elections. The statement urges member states to support the candidacy of countries who have demonstrated a “genuine commitment to human rights, both in practice and in their pledges” worldwide in the up coming May 12th elections. This coming July, members of the Community of Democracies will meet for their Fifth Ministerial Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. To read the UN Democracy Caucus Statement, click here.
Ninety NGOs call for a Special Session on Sri Lanka at the HRC DCP has joined the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development and 88 other human rights and civil society organization in urgently calling upon the UN Human Rights Council to hold a Special Session in response to the human rights and humanitarian catastrophe in Sri Lanka. Fighting between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has already killed more than 6,400 people, along with many thousands severely injured, this year alone. In addition, over 50,000 people remain in danger from the ongoing fighting. They are also suffering from a desperate shortage of medical supplies, food and water.To read the appeal letter to the Human Rights Council, click here.
DCP Calls for Strong U.S. Pledges for Council Run DCP has joined Human Rights Watch, the Carter Center and the Open Society Policy Center in calling upon Secretary Hillary Clinton and the U.S. Department of State to make more substantive voluntary pledges and commitments in their campaign for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council in the upcoming May Council election. Specific pledges, such as endorsement for the competitive elections process and an open invitation to all UN special procedure holders to visit all U.S. detention facilities, including Guantanamo Bay, without restrictions or preconditions, would demonstrate a commitment to full engagement and cooperation with the Council. To see the letter to Secretary Clinton, click here. To see the subsequent follow-up letter, click here.
Local NGOs from Azerbaijan, Cuba, and the Arab region Oppose Candidacies for the Human Rights Council Human rights defenders and NGOs from Azerbaijan, Cuba, and the Arab region have written letters to UN member states opposing their government's candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council, scheduled for May 12 in New York. In three separate letters signed by members of civil society, the NGOs have called on member states to recognize the record of human rights abuses in their respective societies, and urged them to withhold support for their membership to the Council. “Your support for the reelection of Saudi Arabia, despite its total disregard and failure to live up to the obligations and commitments required of it as a HRC [Human Rights Council] member, would set a highly alarming and dangerous precedent for HRC membership, and greatly undermine the legitimacy of both the HRC and the GA [General Assembly],” write 26 Arab human rights organizations. To read the letter from Azerbaijani civil society members, please click here. To read the letter from Saudi Arabian civil society members, please click here. To read the letter from Cuban civil society members, please click here. Or for the letter in Spanish, please click here.
DCP Joins the NGO Coalition for an Effective Human Rights Counicl to Ensure Accountability in Council Elections The United Nations General Assembly will hold elections for 18 of the 47 seats on the Human Rights Council on May 12 in New York. In anticipation of this event, DCP has once again partnered with NGOs from all regions of the world to campaign for an effective Human Rights Council. The NGO Coalition works to ensure that UN member states enforce the requirements set in UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251 that members of the Council “uphold the highest standards of human rights” and “cooperate with the Council.” In a letter to UN member states, the NGO Coalition for an Effective Human Rights Council expressed concern that the human rights records of Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Russia and Saudi Arabia, all of which are running for re-election, fall far short of the required “highest” standards of human rights. The coalition has expressed concern this year about the lack of competitive elections in several regions, including for the first time in the Western and Asian groups. Members of the coalition include Human Rights Watch, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, International Federation for Human Rights, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, People In Need, and Centro de Derechos Humanos - Miguel Augustin Pro Juarez. For more information, visit the NGO Coalition’s website.
DCP Urges Obama to Reestablish the United States as a Leader on Human Rights DCP joined a coalition of seven organizations, including the United Nations Foundation, Human Rights Watch, and Human Rights First, in sending President-Elect Obama a letter encouraging him to begin his Administration with a strong commitment to international leadership on human rights issues. In order to reestablish the United States as a leader on human rights in the international community, the coalition recommended that the new Administration:
The coalition further urged that the new Administration upgrade the U.S. presence at the Council by appointing a fulltime Geneva-based ambassador for human rights.
A Call to the New President for Responsible U.S. Global Engagement The Connect U.S. Fund released A Call to the New President for Responsible U.S. Global Engagement, signed by over 145 individuals, including DCP Executive Director Dokhi Fassihian and others from the foreign policy community – including former President Jimmy Carter, Assistant Secretary of State John Shattuck, and former USAID Administrator J. Brian Atwood – calling on President-Elect Obama to take swift action to restore responsible U.S. global engagement. The letter urges the President-Elect to:
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Appeal from Arab Intellectuals on Religion and Freedom of Expression in the Arab World On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) held a workshop on November 21, 2008, titled “Religion and Freedom of Expression in the Arab World,” in which participants discussed several papers that addressed the issue from different perspectives. Several participants issued an appeal on Religion and Freedom of Expression in the Arab World, calling on "official and non-official religious institutions and movements in the Arab world to set aside the religious perspective when considering intellectual, academic, literary, and artistic expression, noting that religious guardianship over freedom of thought and literature harms both freedom and religion." The appeal goes on to urge "Arab regimes to purge constitutions, legislation, and laws in Arab countries of all content that curbs freedom of opinion, belief, and creativity..."
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DCP calls for special session of the Human Rights Council on the Democratic Republic of the Congo DCP joined forty-four other human rights organizations in appealing to H.E. Mr. Martin Uhomoibhi, President of the Human Rights Council, to urgently convene a Special Session on the “human rights situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo”. The organizations expressed their serious concern about the escalation of killings, sexual violence and looting in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the more than 250,000 new internally displaced persons since heavy fighting resumed in late August. They urged the Human Rights Council to use the Special Session to foster concrete measures to prevent further violations of human rights and protect those already suffering from violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP Works to Strengthen Cross-Regional Advocacy with Nigerian and West African Civil Society DCP Acting Executive Director Dokhi Fassihian recently traveled to Nigeria and Togo to meet with representatives of civil society. At the invitation of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, Dokhi Fassihian met with Nigerian civil society representatives in Lagos and Abuja from August 3-6 to brief them on the work of the UN Human Rights Council and the important role for Nigerian civil society at the Council given the current Nigerian presidency. The West African Human Rights Defenders Network General Assembly was held from August 22-August 25 in Lome, Togo and brought together 25 prominent human rights defeders and organizations representing 16 countries from the subregion. Dokhi Fassihian spoke to participants regarding developments at the UN Human Rights Council and cross-regional advocacy efforts to strengthen its work. She emphasized the importance of the Nigerian presidency of the Council, and West Africa's important role within the African Group. Other speakers included Hassan Shire from the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project and Arjan van der Wall from Amnesty International. Participants discussed national and regional plans of action for the coming year and agreed to include international advocacy, including the Universal Periodic Review, in their program of work. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Nigeria Elected President of Human Rights Council On June 19, the Human Rights Council began its third annual cycle by electing a new President and officers. Ambassador Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi of Nigeria was elected by acclamation as the new President of the Council. The election of the Nigerian Ambassador to head the 2008-2009 Council - a position which rotates by region - followed intensive lobbying efforts by African human rights and civil society organizations. In February, fourty-four African NGOs wrote in a letter to African heads of states urging them "to promote the selection of an African state which could serve as a human rights leader...and to oppose the selection of any state which does not uphold the highest standards of human rights." The letter further called on African states to to reject any possible candidates for the Presidency who have failed to cooperate with the Council or prevented the passing of positive, pro-human rights measures within the Council.
In addition to the election of the Presidency, four Vice Presidents were also elected: Elchin Amirbayov of Azerbaijan, Erlinda F. Basilio of the Philippines, Alberto J. Dumont of Argentina and Marius Grinius of Canada
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Democracy Coalition Project co-sponsors global petition to demand the independence of the "Special Procedures" The Democracy Coalition Project has joined 16
other international and regional human rights organizations
from around the world to sponsor a Global
Petition calling on the United Nations to maintain the
independence of the Special Procedures. On May 9, 2007, the
petition, signed by over 12,000 citizens from 147 countries,
was handed over to President Luis Alfonso de Alba of the UN
Human Rights Council in Geneva by the Secretary General of
Amnesty International’s Canadian Section, Alex Neve.
The petition was delivered while negotiations are still underway
in the Human Rights Council to review – and potentially
reduce the effectiveness of - the system of “Special
Procedures”, the term used to refer to the UN’s
independent human rights experts that monitor human rights
situations around the world. Among the supporters of the initiative
are Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi; Senator Dick Marty (member
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe); Thomas
Hammarberg (Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe),
Anders Johnsson (Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary
Union); Sonia Picado (President, Inter-American Institute
of Human Rights) and several former Special Procedure mandate-holders,
including Diego Garcia Sayan, Sir Nigel Rodley, Peter Leuprecht
and Theo van Boven. The review is due to be completed by 18
June 2007. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP joins major human rights organizations from around the world calling on the Democracy Caucus to support strong reforms at the UN Human Rights Council in June On May 1, 2007, the Democracy Coalition Project,
in a joint statement with other human rights organizations
around the world, called on the members of the UN Democracy
Caucus to support strong reforms at the UN Human Rights Council
in its Fifth and final session of its inaugural year from
June 11-18. The statement urges democratic countries to work
together in the next two months to ensure the UN Human Rights
Council adopts mechanisms that will strengthen its ability
to address human rights violations around the world. The groups
write "Specifically, the Council must preserve the independence
and flexibility of the system of 'special procedures' that
monitor human rights worldwide" and "establish a
universal periodic review that involves independent experts
and non-governmental stakeholders at all stages." Finally,
the groups urge the Council to "demonstrate an increased
willingness to act on urgent human rights situations in a
balanced and proactive way." The statement was joined
by the Open Society Institute, the Commonwealth Human Rights
Initiative, the International Helsinki Federation for Human
Rights, Conectas Direitos Humanos, and the Cairo Institute
for Human Rights Studies. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Democracy Coalition Project helps organize an intervention at the UN Human Rights Council on the situation in Darfur On March 22, 2007, The Democracy Coalition Project,
the Open Society Institute, and the Cairo Institute for Human
Rights Studies organized an intervention at the UN Human Rights
Council signed by 26 human rights organizations representing
every region of the world calling on the Council to take strong
action on the human rights situation in Darfur. The intervention
was delivered in Geneva during the Fourth Session of the Council
held from March 12-March 30, 2007. At the session, the Council
heard from the High-level Mission mandated by a Special Session
of the Council in December to go to Darfur and investigate
the human rights situation there. The mission, led by U.S.
Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, was prohibited from visiting
Darfur, and conducted the investigation from neighboring Chad.
A resolution introduced by the EU and the African Group was
adopted by the Council that takes note of the High-level mission
report and forms a group headed by the UN Special Rapporteur
on the Human Rights Situation in Darfur to continue monitoring
the situation and working to implement UN recommendations. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Democracy Coalition Project joins Amnesty International to sponsor a Global Petition in support of an independent and expert system of Special Procedures at the Human Rights Council In March 2007 Democracy Coalition Project joined a petition to reiterate the need to keep the system of expert Special Procedures at the Human Rights Council independent and strong. Over the forty years of their existence, the Special Procedures have made urgent interventions and are crucial for an effective human rights system. The current review of the Special Procedures undertaken by the new Human Rights Council is being used by some states to weaken the Special Procedures by curtailing their independence. Support this valuable petition by clicking here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Former US Ambassadors to the UN Commission of Human Rights urge Secretary Rice to appoint a US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council On January 26th 2007, three former US Ambassadors to the UN Commission on Human Rights sent a letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging her to appoint a US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In the letter, Ambassadors Geraldine A. Ferraro, Nancy Rubin and Richard S. Williamson express their belief that appointing an ambassador would be crucial to ensure the necessary level of US engagement in the newly established UN body, as the Human Rights Council works to strengthen international human rights standards. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus calls on democratic states to seize the initiative as new Human Rights Council begins sessions On 25th May, coordinators of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus (Freedom House, Democracy Coalition Project and Transnational Radical Party) issued a statement calling on democratic states to fulfill their promise to actively work to make the new UN Human Rights Council a credible body. The statement reminds democratic states that the new Human Rights Council has the potential to strengthening the international human rights regime only if democratic governments seize the initiative in this inaugural year. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP endorses statement by Global Rights calling for NGOs to become full partners in the new Human Rights Council DCP has joined other 31 organizations and individuals from more than 20 different countries in signing a statement issued by Global Rights calling for non-governmental organizations to be granted full participation in the new Human Rights Council. The statement highlights the unique position enjoyed by NGOs to provide the council information on country situations, urgent issues, and violations of human rights. According to the signatory organizations, the Council should view the arrangements for NGO participation in the UN Economic and Social Council and in the previous Human Rights Commission as the minimum standard form which to further develop NGO participation in the new Council. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Human Rights organizations urge Secretary
Rice to support latest proposal for new UN Human Rights Council A group of prominent U.S. human rights and democracy organizations, including the Democracy Coalition Project, urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to support a new proposal to establish an effective and credible UN Human Rights Council in a joint letter issued on February 23. The letter points out that the new proposal released by the President of the UN General Assembly, Jan Eliasson, includes criteria that would potentially improve the body's membership and effectiveness, representing a concrete step in the right direction to creative an effective Council." To view the complete Press Release, click
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Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus urges Convening Group of the Community of Democracies to lead final stage of negotitations on new Human Rights Council On 14th February, coordinators of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus (Freedom House, Democracy Coalition Project and Transnational Radical Party) sent a joint letter to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and UN Permanent Representatives of members of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies urging them to play a more active role in the final stage of the negotiations to establish the new Human Rights Council. The letter emphasized that the final resolution establishing the new Council should include the following essential elements: improved membership mechanism, including election by two-thirds of the General Assembly and preventing human rights violator from becoming members of the Council; procedures to suspend the privileges of countries that are found to be involved in human rights violations; and annual sessions of no fewer than six meetings per year for a total duration of no less than twelve weeks. To view the Press Release issued by Freedom House, Democracy Coalition Project and Transnational Radical Party, click here. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sign a letter urging the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies to lead the Democracy Caucus to work actively in the negotiations for a strong and effective Human Rights Council On 24th January, members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sent a joint letter to the UN Permanent Representatives of members of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies. As negotiations on the new Human Rights Council entered into a final phase, the letter urged members of the Convening Group to fulfill the pledge made at the Santiago Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies to strengthening the UN's capacity to implement the principles and practices of democracy. The letter encouraged Convening Group members to create a strong and effective Human Rights Council by promoting the objectives set in a previous letter sent to all UN permanent Representatives in early January. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sign a letter to UN member states underscoring essential elements to create a new Human Rights Council On 6th January, members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sent a joint letter to Foreign Ministers and Permanent Representatives of UN member states. As negotiations on the new Human Rights Council resume between 11-16 January, the letter welcomes some of the provisions reflected in the draft resolution dated 19 December 2005, but also outlines certain elements still missing from the text that NGOs believe are absolutely essential to create a new credible Council. English
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Members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sign a letter to the Permanent Representatives of UN Member States expressing the urgency of completing negotiations for a new Human Rights Council before the end of the year On 6th December, members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sent a new letter to the Permament Representatives of UN member states urging them to complete before the end of 2005 negotiations on a resolution creating a new Human Rights Council. The letter asks UN Representatives to increase their efforts within the next two weeks of final negotiations, in order to create an effective, credible body consistent with the principles outlined in the November 1st letter sent to the President of the UN General Assembly. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
Members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sign a letter to the President of the UN General Assembly urging the establishment of an effective, credible and authoritative Human Rights Council On 1st November, members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus signed a letter addressed to the President of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Jan Eliasson, encouraging him to support the establishment of a strong Human Rights Council. The letter, endorsed by more than forty leaders of NGOs and civic groups, detailed a series of recommendations regarding the status, mandate, composition, voting, working methods, special procedures and NGO participation that could help make the Human Rights Council an effective and credible body, fulfilling the reform promises made at the UN World Summit. Back to Top | Back to UN Human Rights Council | Home |
DCP Executive Director urges Community of Democracies to make the new UN Human Rights Council a credible body On 19th September, the Executive Director of
the Democracy Coalition Project, Ted Piccone, addressed the
Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies in New
York. Representing the Campagin for a UN Democracy Caucus,
Mr. Piccone's statement urged CD members to play a central role at creating the new
UN Human Rights Council and making it a more credible body
than its predecessor, the Human Rights Committee. | Back to Top | Home | |
