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IMADR delivered its oral statement on “Xenophobia against vulnerable groups” at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here.  ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Item 9: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance 27 June 2016 Thank you Mr. President,  We welcome the Special Rapporteur´s report on the phenomenon of xenophobia and its conceptualization, trends and manifestations. In the current era of high mobility across the world, there is an alarming increase of manifestations of xenophobia. Hate crimes and hate speech, implicit and structural discrimination are too often rooted […]

IMADR delivered its oral statement on “Human rights in Bangladesh and civil society space of the Human Rights Council” at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here.  ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Item 4: General Debate 22 June 2016  Thank you Mr. President,  We express grave concern regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh, Iran and Egypt as international human rights NGO committed to uphold the principles of non-discrimination and human rights for all. Reports from Bangladesh require the immediate attention and intervention of the Human Rights Council. With the crackdown on the human rights organisation Odhikar, […]

Together with Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Franciscans International, IMADR is holding a side event on “Accountability and Good Governance in Sri Lanka” at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council from 4:30 pm, Friday 24th June at Room IX in Palais des Nations. For further information, click on the flyer below.

IMADR joined other international human rights organisations to call on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to identify progress and shortcoming in the implementation of the resolution “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka (A/HRC/30/1)”, and provide clear benchmarks at his oral update in the final week of the 32nd session of Human Rights Council. Read the statement below or downloaded here.  ——— 20 June 2016 To: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Dear High Commissioner, Subject: Open letter on the oral update on Sri Lanka at the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council We write to you ahead of your oral update to the UN Human Rights Council […]

IMADR statement on “Caste and intersecting forms of discrimination against women and girls” with International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here.  ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Item 3: Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women 17 June 2016 Together with International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), IMADR welcomes the thematic report of the Working Group, which includes consideration for the health and safety for women affected by caste-based discrimination. The Working Group rightly states that women from caste-affected […]

IMADR statement on “Freedom of peaceful assembly in Okinawa, Japan” at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here.  ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Item 3: Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 17 June 2016 Thank you Mr. President,  We appreciate the joint allegation letter[1] sent from the Special Rapporteur and other mandate holders to the Government of Japan in June 2015 regarding the excessive use of force against and arbitrary arrests of peaceful protestors in Okinawa. Regrettably, the Government of Japan not only denied […]

UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism urged the Government of Argentina to take urgent measures to protect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples who have been subject to the invisibility, marginalization and systematic exclusion for a long time. The Special Rapporteur conducted his official visit to Argentina from 16th to 23th May. The preliminary conclusion is available at the OHCHR website. IMADR Latin America Base has been supprotng indigenous Mapuche, Toba/ Qom peoples, Afro-descendants and migrant workers to uphold their rights. — Argentina: “Immediate action must be taken to address the critical situation of indigenous persons”  BUENOS AIRES / GENEVA (24 May 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on racism, Mutuma […]

On 13th May at its 89th session, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) adopted concluding observations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Namibia, Oman, Rwanda and Spain. *Recommendations with asterisks [*] are follow-up recommendations Concluding observations, reports of the State parties and other stakeholders are available at the OHCHR website . You can also watch the video archives of the public meetings with the State parties at UN Treaty Body Webcast . _ Azerbaijan The Committee expressed concern on the environment on civil society and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan. The Committee encouraged the State party to incorporate the Convention’s definition of racial discrimination into national law. The Committee was interested whether the justice system including law enforcement officers can address the cases of […]

Two earthquakes in Nepal on 25th April and 12th May 2015 caused a significant number of casualties. The death toll amounted about  9,000 people while over 22,000 people were left injured and 860,000 people lost their housing. Immediately after the Earthquakes, IMADR supported Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) in Nepal to conduct relief and rehabilitation activities for vulnerable communities including Dalits, widows and single women, people living with disabilities and children. FEDO reached thousands of victims in 8 districts. Read the FEDO report:“Post-Earthquake Recovery and Rehabilitation (April 2015 – March 2016)”  . FEDO provided the following support to affected communities and individuals. Distribution Emergency Relief Support Construction of temporary shelter Dalit Women Group mobilization in Income generating activities. An interaction […]

At its 89th session from 25th April to 13th May 2016, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will consider the situations of racial discrimination in following 6 countries. Civil society organisations are encouraged to submit information on Azerbaijan, Georgia, Namibia, Oman, Rwanda and Spain.   Practical Information Deadline for submission of NGO reports: 4th April 2016 For further information and State parties’ reports, please visit the official CERD website  Use our “ICERD and CERD: Guide for Civil Society Actors” for effective participation in the session Watch discussions live! UN Treaty Body Webcast  If you are an NGO participating in the forthcoming session and interested in receiving further practical information on CERD, please contact […]

On 15 April 2016, 60 civil society organisations including IMADR sent a letter to G7 countries to urge them to address human rights issues in the business sector. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here . — Civil society calls on G7 countries to renew commitment to business and human rights at Ise-Shima Summit To the countries of the Group of Seven (G7): We, the undersigned representatives of civil society, are concerned that the forthcoming G7 Summit at Ise-Shima, Japan, will fail to adequately address the grave human rights violations and environmental destruction that continue throughout global supply chains. Effective measures are needed urgently to ensure that supply chains deliver shared prosperity for the […]

UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye, expressed concern on the situation in Okinawa in his preliminary conclusion of the official visit to Japan (12-19 April). “I also shared my concerns about public protest in particular in Okinawa with the Coast Guard. I communicated to the authorities last year my concern regarding allegations of disproportionate restrictions on protest activity taking place in Okinawa. I have heard credible reports of excessive use of force and multiple arrests. I was especially concerned by reports on the use of force against journalists filming the protests. As much as the protection of national security provides for the […]

On 2nd April, we have issued our new issue of E-CONNECT. If you have not subscribed to our newsletter, you ca do it from here! Back number is also available. Feature story “Challenges of Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka”, UN Human Rights Council must stay engaged  On 17th of March, jointly with Franciscans International and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), IMADR held a side event at the Human Rights Council to share civil society perspectives on the ongoing process to address past crimes and violations. The event called for continuing engagement of the international community. More >> UN asks Japan to protect and promote the rights of indigenous and […]

On Thursday 17th March, jointly with Franciscans International and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), IMADR held a side event on “Challenges of Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka”. Mr. J. David WHALEY opened the discussion with his appreciation and congratulations to the civil society of Sri Lanka including Tamil diaspora for the series of three resolutions on Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council (HRC) during the difficult period. He reminded that it started from the disappointment in 2009 after the end of conflict. He then shared the infographic “Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka”  created by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA). Following the introductory remark, civil society representatives from […]

IMADR delivered its oral statement on “ICERD and the incompatibility between democracy and racism” at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here.  ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 31st session of the Human Rights Council Panel discussion on the incompatibility between democracy and racism 18 March 2016  Thank you Mr. President,  We welcome this opportunity to address the incompatibility between democracy and racism at the critical time. Unfortunately, today we are witnessing growing racism and xenophobia in many parts of the world. Too often, political platforms have been used to rouse racism and xenophobia by ultra nationalist and fascist political leaders. These platforms have used hate […]

With International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) , Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO)  and Nepal National Dalit Social Welfare Organization (NNDSWO) , IMADR delivered its oral statement on “UPR of Nepal and Human Rights of Dalits” at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here.  ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 31st session of the Human Rights Council Item 6: UPR Outcome Adoption for Nepal 16 March 2016 Thank you Mr. President, We voice concern on the human rights of Dalits in Nepal, raised from International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN), Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) and Nepal National Dalit Social Welfare Organization (NNDSWO). Though the Government of Nepal accepted the recommendations related […]