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E-CONNECT

E-CONNECT NO.23

We have issued E-CONNECT No.23 on 27 June, 2017.

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 the 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 >>

E-CONNECT NO.22

We have issued E-CONNECT No.22 on 3 April, 2017

Feature story

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

HRC34 _(c) Sunanda Deshapriya 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”

In Line_RyuFilms 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

25th death anniversary of Richard de Zoysa_(c) Groundviews 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 >>