HRC 31 - Statement - Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

Item 3:Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of HumanRights Defenders Oral statement that the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, could not deliver on 4th March 2016 due to time constraints.

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Mr.President,

OMCT and FIDH, within theframework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders,thank Special Rapporteur Michel Forst for the submission of his second reportto the Human Rights Council, in a context of increased repression and stigmatisationof human rights defenders around the world.

Mr. Forst, you recall in your report the numerousthreats faced by human rights defenders worldwide, in anincreasingly hostile and shrinking environment. Could you please mentionsome of the worst country situations in terms of the safety of defenders aswell as of the closing of civil society space, as documented in your annual report on communications?

You also mention that several States have introducedlegislation that provides a framework for the protection and promotion of thework of defenders, such as in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexicoor the Philippines. Yet those countries are also where human rightsdefenders continue to face harsh repression. Yesterday,prominent Honduran human rights defender BertaCáceres was assassinated. Mr.Forst, what measures should be taken by these States to ensure that suchmechanisms effectively protect defenders?

We also take note of your recent mission report on Burundi.Considering the serious deterioration of the human rights situation sinceNovember 2014, we call on your mandate to continue to closely monitor attackson human rights defenders and their families; to urge the Government of Burundito immediately end such violations and bring those responsible to justice; andto make recommendations for action to the UN Human Rights Council and, wherenecessary, the UN Security Council.

On a more general note, we remain alarmed by thenumber of States that persistently deny visits or fail to confirm specificdates despite their commitment, such as Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico,Peru, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. We are alsoconcerned by the lack of replies to your communications. Mr. Forst, could weobtain clarification on which States fail to respond and what are the reasons?

Last but not least, our organisations remainparticularly worried by thescale of attacks against economic, social and cultural rights defenders, inparticular land rights defenders, in countries such as in Brazil, Burma,Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador,Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru,the Philippines, SierraLeone and Thailand.

We therefore call on member and observer States of theCouncil to work towards the adoption of a strong resolution on economic, socialand cultural rights defenders, which would inter alia:

- Highlight the legitimatework carried out by human rights defenders, and the need for their protectionfrom harassment and attacks;

- Denounce impunity ofattacks and urge States to hold those responsible to account;

- Create and maintain asafe and enabling environment for human rights defenders.

Thank you.