United Nations Human Rights Council
35th Regular Session, 6 to 23 June 2017
Joint Oral Statement – Agenda Item 3
Civil Society Space and the Human Rights Council
13 June 2017
Mr President,
This is a joint statement on behalf of a number of NGOs.
We thank States for their commitment to address the shrinking space for civil society.
We draw the Council’s attention to the fact that since 2013, the number of desks reserved for NGOs in room XX for Human Rights Council sessions has been reduced from 24 to 2, leaving only the two speaking seats we are now sitting in.
This has been drawn to the attention of successive Presidents of the Council but the space has continued to shrink.
We invite all delegations to reflect on the impression this gives to civil society, not to mention States and other international actors, about the Council’s commitment to addressing shrinking civil society space.
I thank you Mr President.
Statement delivered by: Matthew Pollard, International Commission of Jurists
Signed:
Article 19
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Bahá’Ă International Community
CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation
DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)
FIAN International
Franciscans International
International Bar Association
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
International Federation for Human Rights Leagues (FIDH)
International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)
International Movement against All forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
International Platform Against Impunity
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
Minority Rights Group International
Peace Brigades International (PBI)
Universal Rights Group (URG)
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
For a PDF version of this statement, click here.
