HRC55 JOINT CIVIL SOCIETY SIDE EVENT
THE ROLE OF DEFENDERS
IN FOSTERING ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR ATROCITY CRIMES
Wednesday 6 March
13:00 – 14:00 pm (CET)
Room XXV, Palais des Nations – Geneva
Language: English / Arabic
At a time of increasing conflicts, the root causes of which include repression and human rights abuses, respect for human rights and accountability for violations is essential to address and resolve these crises.
Amongst other things, this requires that States support and protect the work of human rights defenders, both at the national and international levels. Defenders prevent rights violations, provide essential services, document abuses, promote accountability, and propose solutions that are grounded in community priorities and needs.
Resolving conflicts and crises also requires that States treat human rights as paramount and apply human rights laws and standards in a principled, consistent way. The selective and inconsistent application of international law undermines the integrity of the global human rights system and the responses to urgent situations where gross violations amounting to atrocity crimes may be committed.
UN human rights experts and mechanisms have a crucial role to play in ringing alarm bells and ensuring States take action in a systematic manner – as do human rights defenders.
During this event, we will discuss the powerful role defenders play in mobilising key actors, including the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, to ensure effective measures are taken by multilateral bodies and UN Member States to put an end to impunity and ensure accountability.
Speakers
- Sudanese woman defender Tahani Abbas, Nora Center for Combating Sexual Violence
- Palestinian defender Ahmed Abofoul, International Lawyer, Legal Researcher and Advocacy Officer at Al-Haq
- Uyghur woman defender Zumretay Arkin, Chair of the Women’s Committee at the World Uyghur Congress (WUC)
- Rohingya woman defender Yasmin Ullah, Founder and Executive Director of Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network
- Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing
- Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food (video statement)
- Moderator: Nada Awad, ISHR
