This session has witnessed heated polarization amongst member States around the participation of NGOs, in particular those based at the national and grassroots levels.
The very States that routinely allege that international NGOs lack legitimacy have endeavored to prevent NGOs from the global South or those giving a voice to grassroots and most vulnerable victims (including ethnic, religious and sexual minorities, as well as women) from taking part in the Council. Other States have shown indifference towards attempts to silence the latter’s representatives by abstaining on procedural motions raised. [1] “Failing to fight attempts to stifle critical voices in international arenas only emboldens repressive governments to suppress human rights activism at home. If this cannot be addressed at the UN Human Rights Council, then where?”, said Debbie Stothard, Secretary-General of FIDH.
"This issue should not be considered procedural by the Human Rights Council but should also be dealt with as a matter of principle and read within the wider trend to narrow space for independent action. It should unequivocally reaffirm its support to NGOs by reframing the debate in terms of ethics and free expression", said Sheila Muwanga, Vice-President of FIDH. “It is unacceptable that some States have started challenging the rules and established practice of the Council, whose work and legitimacy are dependent on NGO participation", concluded Karim Lahidji, President of FIDH.
Background:
On 20 March, during the adoption of the report on its Universal Periodic Review (UPR), China interrupted a moment of silence observed by NGOs in memory of Cao Shunli, an activist who had been prevented from leaving Beijing to attend a UNHRC session and died in detention after being denied adequate medical care. China also unsuccessfully attempted to prevent FIDH from mentioning its member organizations Human Rights in China (HRIC) and the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) in its oral statement, on grounds that they are not in consultative status with the UN ECOSOC.
Today, the UNHRC adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders after rejecting hostile amendments tabled by Russia and supported by a group of States [2].