We have issued E-CONNECT No.30 on 24 October, 2019.

Feature story

Global civil society proposes stronger UN treaty body system

In the lead up to the UN General Assembly’s review of the human rights treaty body system in 2020, civil society organisations from different parts of the world made joint proposals to strengthen the system. The proposals illustrate a model of the reporting procedures with the introduction of a fixed calender which are accessible to rights holders, responsive to victims of human rights violations, and ensure that all governments uphold their treaty obligations. TB-Net (NGO Network on UN Treaty Bodies), which IMADR is a member, held a series of consultations with civil society organisations from the national, regional and international levels to lead the development of the proposals. More >>

UN experts urge Peru to protect indigenous peoples and their lands

UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concerns to Peru about the recent adoption of a new regulation that would affect indigenous peoples in the Santa Clara de Uchnya territory. The new regulation was reportedlly adopted without adequate consultation and free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples. The Committee also urged Peru to protect the members of the indigenous community from intimidation, harassment, threats and attacks by groups of land-traffickers. Under the Early-Warning Measures and Urgent Procedures, the Committee issued letters to Canada, France, India, Latvia, Peru and Thailand. More >>

Unfulfilled promises for truth, justice and accountability in Sri Lanka

In September, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances submitted its follow-up report on Sri Lanka to the UN Human Rights Council. During the interactive dialogue with the Working Group, IMADR and Franciscans International highlited the two years anniversary of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and expressed concerns on the security sector’s lack of cooperation with the Office. More than one year has passed since Sri Lanka failed to submit its first report to the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED). The Working Group and the Human Rights Council was alerted for possible retrogression in the transitional justice process by the upcoming Presidential election in November 2019. More >>

IMADR in the world

Call for inputs: New information technologies, racial equality, and non-discrimination                                                UN Special Rapporteur on racism, E. Tendayi Achiume, invites submission for her next thematic report to the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Deadline: 13 December 2019. More >>

IMADR and its concerns

“Hostage justice” in Japan                                UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued the opinion No. 55/2018 which they declared the detention of Hiroji Yamashiro, a prominent human rights defender from Okinawa, to be arbitrary and directly connected to his exercise of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly against the constructions of new U.S. military facilities. More >>

IMADR at the UN

CERD to hold 100th session                         Between November and December, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will consider the situation of racial discrimination in Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Ireland, Israel and Uzbekistan. More >>

  Publication

Article: EMRIP and the right to language for indigenous peoples (Alexey Tsykarev) To celebrate the International Year of Indigenous Languages, IMADR held a human rights seminar on 12 September in Tokyo, focusing on Ainu and Ryukyu languages. Alexey Tsykarev, a former member of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), gave a keynote speech on the importance of protecting and promoting indigenous languages and the role of the UN. More >>

We have issued E-CONNECT No.29 on 17 July, 2019.

Feature story

2019 CERD election set a milestone for gender parity

On 21st June, around 180 governments, which have ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), voted to renew half of the membership of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). With the election/re-election of 6 women, half of the Committee’s seats will be held by women from next year. It was the first time in the history of CERD that the election led to equal representation of men and women in the Committee. Towards this event, IMADR led a joint NGO initiative to promote a merit-based and transparent CERD election process. More >>

Conversation with Dalit women and UN expert to end intersectional discrimination

At the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council, IMADR hosted a joint side event on Dalit women and gender justice with 6 other international NGOs. The event was supported by the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN). The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Dubravka Simonovic, joined the panel with Dalit women human rights defenders from Nepal and India to discuss practical means to end gender and caste discrimination. During the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur which she presented her country visit report on Nepal, IMADR delivered the oral statement to highlight the human rights situation of Dalit women in the country. More >>

IMADR Comments on CERD Draft General Recommendation No. 36 on racial profiling

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) initiated the drafting process of new General Recommendation No. 36 on preventing and combatting racial profiling during its 98th session (April – May 2019). In response to the call for contributions to the draft General Recommendation, IMADR provided comments based on international and regional human rights standards on racial profiling against discriminated groups and individuals such as indigenous peoples, minorities and migrants. More >>

IMADR in the world

Extractivism and indigenous people in West Papua                                                The UN Special Rapporteur on racism released a new report on global extractivism and racial equality at the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council. IMADR and Franciscans International drew her attention to the worrying situation of indigenous people in West Papua, Indonesia, due to British Petroleum (BP)’s mining and other extractive activities. More >>

IMADR and its concerns

Racist hate speech against minority protesters in Hong Kong                                At the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council, IMADR raised concerns on reports that protesters from minority backgrounds in Hong Kong have been subject to racist hate speech, in particular in the internet, for their participation in protests against an extradition bill. More >>

IMADR at the UN

CERD to hold 99th session                         In August, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will consider the situation of racial discrimination in the Czech Republic, El Salvador, Iceland, Mexico, Mongolia, Poland and the State of Palestine. More >>

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Publication

Summary Report – TB-Net Event on Treaty Body Elections More >>

We have issued E-CONNECT No.28 on 27 March, 2019.

Feature story

Civil society calls on United Nations to continue monitoring Sri Lanka

At the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) presented its report on the Government of Sri Lanka’s implementation of resolution on “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka” (A/HRC/30/1).  Prior to the presentation, IMADR and eight other organisations sent a letter to the international community to call for strengthening measures for the full implementation of resolution 30/1 including a time-bound plan. Joint side event was held at the 40th session to highlight steps needed in the transitional justice process in Sri Lanka. More >>

Assessing Japan’s progress in promoting and protecting freedom of expression

Two years after the presentation of his country visit report to Japan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, will present his follow-up report on Japan at the 41st session of the Human Rights Council which studies the Government of Japan’s implementation of his recommendations. In response to the call for information, IMADR and All Okinawa Council for Human Rights (AOCHR) submitted a joint NGO report which focused on: the adoption of a broad anti-discrimination law; the enjoyment of the right to freedom of assembly; and the case of Mr. Hiroji Yamashiro. More >>

NGOs call for an inclusive review process on treaty body strengthening

As a member organisation of TB-Net – NGO Network on UN Treaty Bodies, IMADR joined the call to UN Member States for an inclusive review process on treaty body strengthening. National, regional and international NGOs play a critical role in the work of the treaty bodies through monitoring the implementation of the treaties at the national level, providing information to the treaty bodies, and encouraging States to give effect to the treaty bodies’recommendations. Together with rights holders, NGOs are well placed to bring in-depth knowledge, expertise and proposals on strengthening the system. More >>

IMADR in the world

Empowerment of Dalit women in achieving SDGs                                            At the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council, a Dalit human rights defender called on the international community to ensure the inclusion and participation of Dalit women in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More >>

IMADR and its concerns

UN must counter hatred and promote inclusion                                                       At the panel discussion to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March), IMADR raised an alert over the discriminatory statements against migrants delivered by the Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade at the UN Human Rights Council. More >>

IMADR at the UN

CERD to hold 98th session                            Between April and May, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will consider the situation of racial discrimination in Andorra, Guatemala, Hungary, Lithuania, and Zambia. More >>

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Publication

Summary Report – TB-Net Event on Treaty Body Elections More >>