Newsletter E-CONNECT No. 22 is out

On 3 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

“Minority women’s voices should be heard for transitional justice”, joint message to Sri Lanka

At the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council, IMADR held a joint side event which invited three Sri Lankan women from different ethnic and religious communities, and Ms. Anastasia Crickley from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and Ms. Rita Izsák-Ndiaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues. From the perspectives of minority women’s human rights, the event identified key challenges and essential steps to ensure a fully inclusive transitional justice process in Sri Lanka. More >>

Joint report on Japan: “Silencing the voices of Okinawans”

Following the official country visit to Japan in April 2016 by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye, IMADR and the All Okinawa Council for Human Rights published a joint report on the situation of the freedom of expression in Ryukyu/Okinawa. The report revealed the systematic discrimination and oppression against the people of Ryukyu/Okinawa in their enjoyment of human rights, in particular the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. More >>

“Truth must be revealed and acknowledged by the State”, a key demand for transitional justice in Sri Lanka

In January 2016, the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTF) was set up by the Sri Lankan government which was mandated to facilitate nation-wide consultations to propose transitional justice mechanisms. While this initiative was a positive step, the President and the Prime Minister failed to meet the CTF on 5th January 2017 when the final report was handed in. IMADR organised a joint side event to present the CTF report to the international community during the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council. More >>

IMADR in the world

Human Rights Council discussed issues of racial profiling and hate speech                        In commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March), the international community convened the debate on racial profiling and incitement to hatred, including in the context of migration. At the discussion, IMADR raised concerns on the lack of measures on hate speech against non-citizens in the political discourse. More >>

IMADR and its concerns

International NGOs condemned arbitrary measures against human rights defender of Ryukyu/ Okinawa                                              At the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council, a group of NGOs condemned the Japanese government for arbitrary arrests and prolonged detention of Mr. Hiroji Yamashiro, a prominent human rights defender of Ryukyu/ Okinawa. More >>

IMADR at the UN

CERD holds 92nd session                                  In April, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will examine the periodic reports of Armenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Kenya and Republic of Moldova. More >>

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Publication

Template for Civil Society Actors: Follow-up Information on the CERD recommendations More >>