Picture: Gqual
ISHR is part of the #CHANGETHEPICTURE initiative, which calls on States parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to ensure gender parity in upcoming elections of Human Rights Committee experts.
In September 2020, during the 38th Meeting of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), States Parties will elect nine experts to the Human Rights Committee (HR Ctte). The current composition of the HR Ctte shows that there is no gender balance in its membership, with only five women on the 18-member Committee. In the last election in 2018, women members decreased in number from eight to six.
In the upcoming election, States must take into account gender parity when voting for the membership of the Human Rights Committee. They should also select experts who are acknowledged in the field and have the expertise and independence required to fulfill the Committee’s mandate.
Together with Gqual, American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU), Amnesty International, Human Rights in China, ILGA World, Mena Rights Group, REDRESS, TB-Net (Centre for Civil and Political Rights (CCPR Centre); Child Rights Connect; Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR); International Disability Alliance (IDA); International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR); International Women’s Rights Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW-AP); World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and Women’s Link Worldwide, ISHR sent a letter to the States Parties to the ICCPR to draw attention to this situation and recommend that they take into consideration General Assembly Resolution 68/268 (2014), on Strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system and the Committee’s own General Recommendation No. 28 on equality of rights between men and women (article 3).
Read the letter here.
At the 55th Human Rights Council session, civil society organisations share reflections on key outcomes and highlight gaps in addressing crucial issues and situations. Full written version below.
At the 55th session of the Human Rights Council, during the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report of Cape Verde, ISHR and the Cape Verde Network of Human Rights Defenders (RECADDH) delivered a statement calling on Cape Verde to promote the work of defenders and journalists and provide them with a safe environment.
Nazifa Jalali, along with ISHR, called on UN Member States to establish a mandated investigative mechanism to contribute towards accountability for the Taliban's human rights violations, and for States to continue to support Afghanistan’s human rights movement.
