ISHR

#ACHPR89: Speakers at the third Joint Special Mechanisms forum urged States to prioritise implementation, resourcing, protecting civic space, accountability, and tangible remedies to ensure the African Charter is an enforceable source of protection rather and not an aspiration on paper.

📢 Today! Join us for a discussion on human rights in Nicaragua and advancing accountability 🕐 1:15–2:30 p.m. EST | 7:15–8:30 p.m. GMT+2 📍 Conference Room 9, UN Headquarters 🗣️ English and Spanish 📌 https://ow.ly/gpfr5100eci 💻 Watch the event live on UN Web TV

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What does accountability for human rights violations in Nicaragua look like? Join the discussion 📅 27 October, 1:15 p.m. EST / 7:15 p.m. GMT+2 📍 UN Headquarters, Conference Room 9 🗣️ English & Spanish 📌 https://ow.ly/TaQj5100eah 💻 Watch on UN Web TV

🎥 The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition just released a new video: “Feminist Coalitions Matter More Than Ever”. Watch it now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGnlNYoblMs

Ahead of China’s first UN child rights review since 2013, #UN committee raises questions about #HongKong's national security laws and China's Ethnic Unity Law, alongside longstanding concerns over children’s fundamental freedoms. https://ow.ly/WVIp5100q85

📢 Join us for a discussion on the human rights situation in Nicaragua and efforts to advance accountability 📅 27 October 2026 🕐 1:15–2:30 p.m. EST | 7:15–8:30 p.m. GMT+2 📍 Conference Room 9, UN Headquarters 🗣️ English and Spanish 📌 https://ow.ly/WNr55100e1O 
💻 Watch the event live on UN Web TV

💧 NGO Forum: Ahead of the 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the NGO Forum convened an inaugural panel on advancing water justice and democratic inclusion for Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent in Africa 🤝 📌 https://ow.ly/aSmX50ZZEKk

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🎂 Today, human rights defender & poet Ahmed Mansoor spends another birthday behind bars. Jailed in the UAE since 2017 for his online activism, he got 15 more years in the #UAE84 trial. With Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) HRW_AR, we send #BirthdayWishes4Ahmed & call to #FreeAhmed

At the NGO Forum ahead of the 89th session of the African Commission, panelists highlighted how climate change disproportionately affects persons with albinism and persons with disabilities and called for inclusive, rights-based climate action 🌍 ⚖️ 📌 https://ow.ly/p9s750ZZrNj

ACHPR89: Resilience over attacks on defenders in West Africa On 15 October, the West African Human Rights Defenders Network organised a side event on human rights defenders and civic space in west Africa 🌍 🗣️ 📌 https://ow.ly/h9FL50ZZrIS

🌿 On the sidelines of the NGO Forum & the #ACHPR89, ISHR, DefendDefenders & Front Line Defenders held an event on environmental & digital rights, with defenders from the DRC, Mali, Nigeria & Western Sahara sharing their contexts & recommendations 🛡️ 🔗 https://ow.ly/8u8050ZYW1V

ACHPR89: Civic space, press freedom alarmingly constrained in the Sahel 🚨📰 At the margins of the 89th session of the African commission, civil society groups discussed the growing challenges and threats weighing on journalists working the Sahel 🌍 📌 https://ow.ly/9FU950ZZrCL

ACHPR89: Zambia must ensure that human rights defenders can speak out, organise & work freely. In a joint submission to the African Commission, ISHR, SACCORD & ZNHRD highlight restrictive laws & call for the adoption of a law protecting defenders. 🔗 https://ow.ly/3j3R50ZYXvW

In light of the sanctions against the ICC, +250 NGOs and individuals call on States Parties to protect the ICC and those cooperating with it. Failure to respond decisively risks weakening the int'l justice system States pledged to uphold. 📌 https://ow.ly/e4oM50ZZkwm © Coalition for the ICC

#ACHPR89 training: 17 defenders from across Africa sharpened their advocacy skills from 5 to 13 October during the second edition of the training organised by ISHR, DefendDefenders and Front Line Defenders 🌍 📣 🔗 https://ow.ly/y4cZ50ZYVyr

TODAY! Join our #GA81 side event 'Beyond Borders, Not Beyond Reach: Addressing Transnational Repression (#TNR) and #Reprisals for Cooperation with the UN'. 📅 20 October 2026 🕐 1:15–2:30 p.m. EST 📍 Conference Room 7, UN Headquarters, New York 🔗 Livestream on UN WebTV: https://ow.ly/Qw2X50ZZ2lZ

🛡️ NGO Forum: protecting defenders in Africa amid restrictive laws, transnational repression At the NGO Forum ahead of the 89th session of the African Commission, a high-level panel discussion tackled the growing issue of transnational repression in Africa 🌍 📣 🔗 https://ow.ly/cFkF50ZYVfZ

📊 NGO Forum: ahead of the 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the NGO Forum convened a panel on cross-border issues affecting human rights defenders in Central Africa and presented a new publication 🌍 📖 🔗 https://ow.ly/zSm050ZYTFg

🇺🇳 UN Decolonisation Committee: ISHR delivered a statement before the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee) during its hearing on the "Question of Western Sahara" on 8 October 2026. Watch and read the statement below. 🔗 https://ow.ly/vs2h50ZYTxr

TOMORROW! Join our #GA81 side event 'Beyond Borders, Not Beyond Reach: Addressing Transnational Repression (#TNR) and #Reprisals for Cooperation with the UN'. 📅 20 October 2026 🕐 1:15–2:30 p.m. EST 📍 Conference Room 7, UN Headquarters, New York 🔗 Livestream on UN WebTV: https://ow.ly/Qw2X50ZZ2lZ

🌍 At the 89th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, civil society organisations held a side event on confronting reprisals against environmental human rights defenders in Africa. 🔗 https://ow.ly/9QyG50ZYTgT

TOMORROW! Join our #GA81 side event 'Beyond Borders, Not Beyond Reach: Addressing Transnational Repression (#TNR) and #Reprisals for Cooperation with the UN'. 📅 20 October 2026 🕐 1:15–2:30 p.m. EST 📍 Conference Room 7, UN Headquarters, New York 🔗 Livestream on UN WebTV https://ow.ly/IRqg50ZYpUK

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Join our #GA81 side event 'Beyond Borders, Not Beyond Reach: Addressing Transnational Repression (#TNR) and #Reprisals for Cooperation with the UN'. 📅 20 October 2026 🕐 1:15–2:30 p.m. EST 📍 Conference Room 7, UN Headquarters, New York City 🔗 Livestream on UN WebTV https://ow.ly/IRqg50ZYpUK

#ACHPR89: At the 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, ISHR shared concerns about human rights defenders in Cameroon, Zambia and Guinea, particularly the restrictive legal frameworks they face, and the shrinking civic space across Africa 🌍 🔗 https://ow.ly/q2uf50ZXYru

🗳️ Uncontested vote lands 15 new States at the #UN Human Rights Council In a mockery of an election at the General Assembly, States essentially appointed 15 new members of the Council. For the second year in a row, the vote was wholly uncompetitive 🔗 https://ow.ly/GyV550ZXXVG UN Photo/Manuel Elías

🌍 TODAY in Dakar! Join us for a conversation on African and diasporic perspectives on reparations, and pathways towards reparatory justice. 📅 15 October 🕠 5:30–6:30 PM CEST 📍 Hotel King Fahd Palace 🔗 https://ow.ly/P24j50ZVv9o

🌍 Join us in Dakar for a conversation bringing African and diasporic perspectives to reparations and reparatory justice. 📅 15 October 2026 🕠 5:30–6:30 PM CEST 📍 Hotel King Fahd Palace 🗣️ English & French interpretation 🔗 https://ow.ly/jAHr50ZVv54

Feminist voices at the #UN: Women Human Rights Defenders Advocacy Week 2026 From 21 to 25 September 2026, Women human rights defenders working at the intersection of gender, climate and conflict came together in Geneva for a week of solidarity, learning and exchange 💬 🔗 https://ow.ly/euV550ZWTZ9

#HRC63: Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan — mandate renewed 🇦🇫 One more year of scrutiny on women's and girls' rights. ISHR welcomes it and urges States to make the Independent Investigative Mechanism operational now ⚖️ 🔗 https://ow.ly/APk650ZWU7s

⚖️ HRC63: Structural change is needed to combat racism in drug laws and the criminal justice system 📢 Organisations delivered a joint statement calling on States to move towards drug policies based on harm reduction, human rights, an ethnic-racial approach 🌍 🔗 https://ow.ly/rz3f50ZWQes

🌐 Transnational repression happens when states target people abroad for speaking out. From spyware to threats against families, these tactics know no borders. 📢 Join the #EndReprisals campaign and take action: (link) https://ow.ly/1QR250ZjJVt

#HRC63: nearly 50 countries condemn democratic collapse in Nicaragua 🇳🇮 🗣️ 47 States jointly denounced the dismantling of democracy in Nicaragua, while #UN experts presented new evidence of systematic repression, enforced disappearance & deaths in State custody 🔗 https://ow.ly/A1x250ZWQlB

🗳️ TODAY ! The #UN Member States will elect 15 new members to the Human Rights Council. They should only vote for candidates that uphold the highest human rights standards 🌍 🔗 https://ishr.ch/campaigns/hrcelections2026/ UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

🌍 Join us in Dakar for a conversation bringing African and diasporic perspectives to reparations and reparatory justice 📅 15 October 2026 🕠 5:30–6:30 PM CEST 📍 Hotel King Fahd Palace 🗣️ English & French interpretation 🔗 https://ow.ly/jP1s50ZVv3u

TOMORROW: Side event on #EnvironmentalJustice in the #UN Binding Treaty, co-sponsored by ISHR: 📅 Tuesday 13 October ⏲️ 9:00 am - 10:00 am CEST 🏡 Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva

🗳️ TOMORROW ! The #UN Member States are set to elect 15 new members to the Human Rights Council 15 candidates are running for 15 seats — all with room for improvement 🌍 🔗 https://ow.ly/u3O150ZUQA1 #HRCelections2026 UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

🥰 Throwback to July 2014: ISHR & partners hosted a farewell reception, at the end of her mandate, for then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, & 2026 #NobelPeacePrize winner, Navi Pillay! Discover civil society tributes reflecting on her work and achievements back then: https://ow.ly/5Ia950ZWJNz

🇺🇳 At #HRC63, 185 civil society organisations urged States to reaffirm their political and financial commitment to UN treaty bodies, warning that underfunding and the liquidity crisis threaten their ability to protect rights-holders. 🔗 https://ow.ly/NKNj50ZVWbY

🌍 Join us in Dakar for a conversation bringing African and diasporic perspectives to reparations and reparatory justice. 📅 15 October 2026 🕠 5:30–6:30 PM CEST 📍 Hotel King Fahd Palace 🗣️ English & French interpretation 🔗 https://ow.ly/AjYj50ZVuJZ

📢 UNGA81: 17 civil society organisations presented a joint statement urging #UN Member States to improve the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of the Third Committee's human rights work 🇺🇳 ⚖️ 🔗 https://ow.ly/cRfH50ZVVP5

🎉💖 Warmest congratulations to ICJ judge Navi Pillay on winning the #NobelPeacePrize for promoting international law!!! At ISHR we had the immense privilege of welcoming Navi as a Board Member until 2017. We are overjoyed at this well-deserved recognition of her work!

🌍 Durban at 25: public security, racial justice and responses to multiple crises A quart of a century after its launch, civil society continues to mobilise around the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 📜 🔗 https://ow.ly/2ZuR50ZVVJg

🗣️ HRC63: Civil society presents key takeaways from the session At the 63rd Human Rights Council session, civil society organisations shared reflections on key outcomes and highlighted gaps in addressing crucial issues and situations 🌍 🔗 https://ow.ly/4oG950ZVYgy