Newsletter E-CONNECT No. 23 is out

On 27 June, we released 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

“Open space for protest must be created in Okinawa”, collective voice to Japan

In April 2016, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression conducted his mission to Japan. On the occasion of his country report’s presentation, a joint side event on “Freedom of Expression in Okinawa, Japan” was held at the UN Human Rights Council. The event welcomed three civil society representatives from Okinawa including Mr. Hiroji Yamashiro, and the UN Special Rapporteur. The event revealed challenges for freedom of expression in Okinawa, and identified the need for an open space for protest in the islands. More >>

Joint Communiqué – States renewed half of the members of the CERD

On June 22nd, States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) voted to renew half of the membership of the Committee. They elected 5 new experts, including for the first time a Roma person, and re-elected 4 members who were already seating in the Committee, among 15 candidates from all regions. More >>

Human rights challenges in the world of growing populism

IMADR Directors, Theo van Boven and Michael O. Sharpe, shared their in-depth analysis on the current increase of populism in Europe and the USA and its impacts on human rights, democracy and rule of law. Read “Populism and Universal Human Rights” and “Gaming the US System: Trump’s Executive Orders on Immigration”

IMADR in the world

Universal Periodic Review must speak up against multiple discrimination against Dalit and Buraku women                                           At the presentation of the first report on multiple forms of discrimination and violence in the context of racial discrimination against women and girls, IMADR urged the Human Rights Council to address the situation of Dalit and Buraku women and girls in the 3rd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review. More >>

IMADR and its concerns

Governments must stop negative portrayal of human rights defenders to combat racial discrimination                                             IMADR encourages the UN Special Rapporteur on racism to address the issue of negative portrayal of civil society organisations in his upcoming report to the UN General Assembly on “challenges to combating racism and xenophobia in the context of countering terrorism”. More >>

IMADR at the UN

CERD to hold 93rd session                                  In August, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will consider the situation of racial discrimination in Canada, Djibouti, Ecuador, Kuwait, New Zealand, Russia, Tajikistan and UAE. The Committee will also adopt the list of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) for Bahrain. More >>

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Publication

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