LRWC intervenes at the UN Human Rights Council on violations in over a dozen countries | Letters and statements at the 51st Session 12 September to 7 October 2022

07/10/2022

During the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council held 12 September to 7 October 2022,  Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) intervened to seek the Council’s action to address serious human rights violations in a number of countries including: Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Philippines, Russia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, and Ukraine.

Prior to the Council session, LRWC joined non-governmental organizations around the world seeking transparency and consultation in the process of selection of a new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights after the end of Michelle Bachelet’s term. On 8 September, a new UN High Commissioner, Volker Türk, was appointed to take up the position on 17 October 2022.

LRWC welcomes a historic Council resolution creating a Special Rapporteur for the Russian Federation. However, LRWC deplores the defeat of a draft decision to hold a debate on the situation in the China’s Xinjiang Uyghur region, where it is alleged that China has committed crimes against humanity.

LRWC’s interventions at the 51st session included 10 oral video statements, a number of which were joined by other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). LRWC co-sponsored four additional oral statements of other NGOs. LRWC also signed two joint letters to UN Human Rights Council members prior to the 51st session. See the individual statements listed and linked below for details.

Key actions of the Council for which LRWC advocated

LRWC was among a number of NGOs that advocated in relation to the adoption of key resolutions put forward at the 51st session:

  • China: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Draft decision to hold a debate on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, at the 52nd Session of the Council (February/March 2023). The draft decision was co-sponsored by the US along with other countries including Canada. See the draft decision A/HRC/51/L.6 . On 6 October, the draft decision was rejected with 17 votes in favour, 19 against and 11 abstentions. See the record of the vote. See LRWC statements listed and linked below.
  • Russia: On 7 October, the Council adopted a resolution that appoints “a special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation for a period of one year, and requests the mandate holder to monitor the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, to collect, examine and assess relevant information from all relevant stakeholders…” This is the first ever Council resolution mandating a monitoring mechanism for a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The resolution was sponsored by Luxembourg and co-sponsored by a number of European States as well as the US, UK, and Canada. The resolution passed by 17 votes in favour, 6 votes against and 24 abstentions. Countries voting against the resolution were Bolivia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela. See more about resolution A/HRC/51/L.13. See LRWC’s statements listed and linked below.
  • Sri Lanka: On 7 October, the Council adopted a resolution, “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka” which requests the Office of the High Commissioner to enhance its reporting, including on accountability, and to make oral updates to the Council at its 53rd and 55th sessions, and provide a written update at the 54th session and a comprehensive report at the 57th session. The resolution passed with 20 votes in favour, 7 votes against and 20 abstentions. Countries voting against the resolution were Bolivia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela. See more about resolution A/HRC/51/L.1/Rev.1. See LRWC’s statement listed and linked below.

Joint letters to UN Human Rights Council member States and observer States prior to the 51st session

  • NGOs seek role in appointment of next UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Letter dated 28 July 2022 to the UN Secretary-General, led by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and signed by 22 international NGOs, including LRWC. See the letter. Also available in Arabic عربي on the CIHRS website. However, no NGO consultation was held, and on 8 September, a new UN High Commissioner, Volker Türk, was appointed to take up the position on 17 October 2022.
  • Burundi: Support the ex­tension of the Special Rapporteur’s man­date. Letter dated 19 August 2022, led by the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (Defend Defenders) and signed by 55 international NGOs including LRWC. See the letter in English and French. The Council adopted a resolution A/HRC/51/L.23 extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Burundi.

Oral video statements (in date order)

  • Myanmar: Military abuse of laws and courts to commit atrocity crimes. 12 September 2022. See the statement transcript. See the debate on UN WebTV (LRWC statement at 01:04:37).
  • Sri Lanka and Afghanistan: Economic Collapse and Disregard of Civil Liberties in Sri Lanka; Concern for Women Jurists in Afghanistan: 13 September 2022. See the statement transcript. See the full debate on UN WebTV: part 1; part 2; part 3  (LRWC statement in the last part at 49:57). The Council adopted a resolution on Sri Lanka (see above) as well as a resolution A/HRC/51/L.27 on Afghanistan extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan for another year and requesting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide an update at the 54th session.
  • China, Türkiye: Systematic arbitrary detention of human rights lawyers and defenders. 20 September 2022. LRWC statement co-sponsored by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and Lawyers for Lawyers. See the statement transcript. See the joint statement on UN WebTV at 01:35:13.
  • China and Thailand: Widespread pattern of enforced disappearances including of lawyers and human rights defenders; Thailand: Ratify and implement the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance without further delay. 21 September 2022. LRWC statement co-sponsored by IBAHRI and Lawyers for Lawyers. See the statement transcript. See the joint statement on UN WebTV at 01:51:41.
  • Belarus: Lawyers subjected to politically motivated persecution for performing their professional duties. 23 September 2022: IBAHRI statement co-sponsored by LRWC, the Law Society of England and Wales, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, and Lawyers for Lawyers. See the statement transcript. See the joint statement at UN WebTV at 01:26:36.
  • Ukraine: Russian forces’ attacks against civilians and civilian facilities in Ukraine. 23 September. IBAHRI statement co-sponsored by LRWC. See the statement transcript. See the statement on UN WebTV: part 1; part 2 (joint statement in second segment at 10:04).
  • Russian Federation: Widespread, systematic attacks on lawyers and human rights defenders facilitate the unlawful war in Ukraine. 26 September 2022. LRWC statement co-sponsored by the IBAHRI, International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), and Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L). The joint statement was endorsed by OVD-Info, NGO without consultative status. See the statement transcript. See the statement on UN WebTV (joint statement at 05:03).
  • Myanmar junta’s continued access to resources facilitates impunity for atrocities and destruction of the rule of law. 30 September 2022. LRWC statement co-sponsored by IBAHRI. See the statement transcript. See the statement on UN WebTV at 01:41:50.
  • Israel: Remedy violations of international human rights law and ensure full respect for rights of lawyers and human rights defenders. 30 September 2022. LRWC statement co-sponsored by IBAHRI. See the statement transcript. See the statement on UN WebTV at 02:24:48.
  • Democratic Republic of Congo: Safeguard the independence of lawyers and provide protection against interference with their work. 4-5 October 2022. Lawyers for Lawyers statement co-sponsored by LRWC and IBAHRI. See the statement transcript. See the debate on UN WebTV: 4 Oct 2022, starting at 02:24:05); concluded 5 October 2022 (joint statement at 31:06).
  • South Sudan: Accelerate establishment of transitional justice mechanisms. 5 October 2022. See the statement transcript. See the statement on UN WebTV at 01:09:50.
  • Cambodia: Ensure independent courts and legal profession. 5 October 2022. LRWC statement co-sponsored by the International Commission of Jurists. See the statement transcript. See the debate on UN WebTV: Part 1 and part 2 (which starts at 03:17:10). LRWC statement in the second segment at 04:05:13.
  • Philippines: Accountability for extrajudicial killings. 5 October 2022. IBAHRI statement co-sponsored by LRWC, Law Society of England and Wales, Lawyers for Lawyers, and Karapatan Alliance Philippines. See the statement transcript. See the statement on UN WebTV. IBAHRI joint statement at 01:45:46.
  • Ukraine: Russia must halt attacks on lawyers and defenders in Russian-held areas of Ukraine. 6 October 2022. LRWC statement co-sponsored by IBAHRI. See the statement transcript. See the statement on UN WebTV at 02:46:52.