IMADR WEB SITE

E-CONNECT

E-CONNECT No.31

We have issued E-CONNECT No.31 on 1 April, 2020.

Feature story

States must support Afro-descendant human rights defenders to fight racism and discrimination

On the occasion of the Human Rights Council debate on the midterm review of the International Decade for People of African Descent, IMADR jointly called on States to support civil society, in particular Afro-descendant human rights defenders, in the efforts to combat racism and discrimination in the statement with Minority Rights Group International and the International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race & Equality). The statement highlighted the critical role of civil society in fighting violence and discrimination against people of African descent at the national, regional and international levels including a variety of work done by the three organisations. More >>

New video for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

To commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March), IMADR released a three-minute video clip. It explains the historical background of the International Day, the Sharpeville massacre by the apartheid regime in South Africa in 1960, and highlights contemporary issues of racism and discrimination such as human rights violations against migrants including refugees and asylum-seekers and racist hate speech by politicians and high-ranking officials. More >>

Multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against women in Japan

To inform a list of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) for Japan prepared by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), IMADR and its partners submitted a joint NGO report on multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against women from Buraku, indigenous Ainu, Zainichi Korean and migrant communities as well as women with disabilities. The report illustrates human rights challenges faced by the women in various areas such as violence, access to justice, hate speech, education and employment, participation in political and public life. CEDAW adopted the LOIPR for Japan in March. More >>

IMADR in the world

Accountability in Sri Lanka
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concerns on a possible reversal of past commitments to reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka in her monitoring report presented to the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council. IMADR delivered a joint NGO statement to call for the establishment of an international accountability mechanism on Sri Lanka. More >>

IMADR and its concerns

COVID-19: Report racist incident
In response to the increasing number of reports on incidents of racism and discrimination related to the COVID-19 pandemic, IMADR compiled a list of national bodies where complaints on such incidents can be brought. More >>

IMADR at the UN

CERD postpones 101st session
UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has postponed its 101st session due to COVID-19. Denmark, Italy, Lebanon, Netherlands, Singapore and Switzerland were scheduled to be reviewed during the 101st session. More >>

Publication

Submission: Role of bots in racist hate speech
In response to the call for submissions for her thematic report to the Human Rights Council on new information technologies, racial equality, and non-discrimination, IMADR submitted the information to the UN Special Rapporteur on racism, focusing on the role of bots in racist hate speech in the online space. More >>

E-CONNECT No.30

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 >>