UNGA passes resolution on the protection of human rights defenders
PRESS RELEASE - THE OBSERVATORY
Geneva-New-York-Paris,November 26, 2015. The Observatory forthe Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a joint FIDH-OMCT programme) commendsthe passing of a United Nations General Assembly resolution on the protectionof human rights defenders in the Third Committee yesterday. At a time whenhuman rights defenders have come under increasing pressure amidst a growingcrackdown on civil society in many parts of the world, this resolution is moreimportant than ever.
117 Member States voted yes on the resolution, entitled “Recognizing therole of human rights defenders and the need for their protection,” calls foraccountability for attacks on human rights defenders (including attacks ontheir family members) and urges states to release defenders who have beenarbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom ofexpression, peaceful assembly and association. Norway, as the main sponsor ofthe resolution, faced many challenges in the negotiation phase with someStates, notably members of the African Group, attempting to significantlyweaken the text. Nevertheless, Norway and the co-sponsors of the resolution,resisted pressure and delivered a strong text.
While normally adopted as a consensus resolution, this year China andRussia asked for the resolution to be put to a vote. Fourteen States voted noon the resolution (China, Russia, Syria, Burundi, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria,Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, North Korea, South Africa, Iran, Pakistan, and Sudan).
“It is no accident that manyof these States have poor records on the their treatment of human rightsdefenders, including Burundi which recently suspended 10 NGOs this week andpromotes acts of violence against defenders. It remains however problematicthat some of these opponents include democracies such as South Africa, whichowes its anti-apartheid struggle and its beacon Constitution to a solid civilsociety movement”, said Karim Lahidji, FIDHPresident.
“The factthat the resolution was not adopted by consensus reinforces our concerns aboutthe shrinking space for civil society organisations and human rights defendersacross the globe. Now more than ever it’s essential that all of us who aresupportive of independent civil society join our voices to defend not only thelegitimacy of their work but also to reaffirm how essential it is for anysociety wanting to advance human rights and the rule of law”,said Gerald Staberock, Secretary General of the World Organisation AgainstTorture (OMCT).
Just before the vote, Norway also urged States not to abstain, whichwould represent a failure to recognize the role of human rights defenders andthe need for their protection. Overall, 40 States abstained (Algeria, Angola,Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, CAR,Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador,Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic,Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Qatar,Swaziland, Tajikistan, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United republic ofTanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen).
FIDH and OMCT, as well as their member organisations, will continue tostand up for human rights defenders across the world who have been unjustlytargeted owing to their human rights work. This resolution will serve as animportant tool for their protection.
For moreinformation, please contact:
• FIDH: Audrey Couprie - Tel: +33 6 48 05 91 57 (Paris) / Arthur Manet -Tel: +33 6 72 28 42 94 (Paris)
• OMCT: Delphine Reculeau - Tel: +41 22 809 49 39 (Geneva) / Miguel MartínZumalacárregui - Tel: +32 2 218 37 19 (Brussels)