Limited competition in elections for the United Nations Human Rights Council undermines membership standards set for the body by the UN General Assembly, Human Rights Watch, FORUM-ASIA, and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project said today. Although the General Assembly elected 18 countries to the Human Rights Council on November 12, 2012, only three faced challengers in their bids for a seat.
H.E. Alphons J.A.J.M.G. Hennekens, the newly arrived Ambassador of the
Excellencies, We are a diverse group of nongovernmental organisations from all parts of the world who have contributed to the Human Rights Council (the Council) and its work since its establishment. We write to you regarding your candidacies for membership of the Council.
We, the undersigned, are a diverse group of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world. With elections to the United Nations Human Rights Council quickly approaching, and with Ethiopia standing as a candidate, we are writing to urge your government to demonstrate its commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights.
The Government of Somalia should ensure that thorough and impartial
The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network
Honorable Chairperson, commissioners, distinguished delegates, The East and Horn of
October 9, 2012 Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn Federal Democratic Republic
Excellency,
The undersigned organizations are writing to urge your delegation to ensure that serious and widespread human rights violations committed in Sudan are appropriately addressed by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) during its current 21st session. One year after the independence of South Sudan, the human rights and humanitarian situation in Sudan has deteriorated. Recent months have seen a widespread crackdown against dissenting voices, opposition groups and protesters
A number of cases of reprisals against HRDs in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region have been reported by the Secretary-General. The details are available in the Secretary-General’s reports, but in summary these have taken the form of physical attacks, killings, arbitrary and incommunicado detention, torture and ill-treatment, death threats and media smear campaigns against organizations and individuals. Individuals have even been charged with “working with international organizations hostile to [the country]”.
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