News
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UN: CERD address racial discrimination in Greece, Lebanon, Pakistan, Paraguay, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom (August 2016)
At its 90th session from 2nd to 26th August 2016, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will consider the situations of racial discrimination in following 8 countries. Civil society organisations are encouraged to submit information on Greece, Lebanon, Pakistan, Paraguay, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Practical Information Deadline for submission of NGO reports: 11th July 2016 Information Note for NGOs for the submission of reports, accreditation and participation in informal meetings and lunchtime briefings For State parties’ reports, list of themes and other documents , please visit the session page of CERD Use our “ICERD and CERD: Guide for Civil Society Actors” for effective participation in the session Watch discussions live at […]July 18, 2016 -
Sri Lanka: Discrimination against tea plantation Tamils reported to UN
At the 90th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Sri Lanka’s efforts to eradicate racism and racial discrimination will be reviewed after 15 years. On this occasion, IMADR Asia Committee made submission to the CERD with a special focus on the discriminatory situation of Tamils of Indian origin, also known as Up-Country Tamils or plantation Tamils, as well as the oppressive environment for the freedom of religion. The situation of plantation Tamils has not much improved, and they continue to face difficulties to enjoy their civil, political, economic and social rights. This is represented in a higher level of poverty, poor living conditions, low-quality education and health services, lack of access to social and […]July 12, 2016 -
Newsletter E-CONNECT No. 19 is out
On 6th June, 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 Post-Earthquake recovery and rehabilitation support for the most vulnerable people in Nepal From immediately after the Earthquakes, IMADR supported Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) in Nepal to conduct relief and rehabilitation activities for vulnerable communities including Dalits, widows and single women, people living with disabilities and children. FEDO has reached out to thousands of victims in 8 districts to provide material support and empowerment activities. More >> “Confidence has to be built for accountability and good governance in Sri Lanka”, civil […]July 6, 2016 -
Transitional justice challenges in Sri Lanka (HRC32, 2016, OS)
IMADR delivered its oral statement on “Transitional justice challenges in Sri Lanka” at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here. ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Item 2: General Debate (Other High Commissioner’s country reports and oral updates) 29 June 2016 Thank you Mr. President, Together with Rights Now Collective for Democracy, Association for Family Members of the Disappeared (FOD), Right to Life, Campaign for Free & Fair Election (CaFFE) and other networks in Sri Lanka, we appreciate the continuing engagement of the High Commissioner and his office for the implementation of the Human Rights Council resolution 30/1. We […]June 29, 2016 -
Xenophobia against vulnerable groups (HRC32, 2016, OS)
IMADR delivered its oral statement on “Xenophobia against vulnerable groups” at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here. ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Item 9: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance 27 June 2016 Thank you Mr. President, We welcome the Special Rapporteur´s report on the phenomenon of xenophobia and its conceptualization, trends and manifestations. In the current era of high mobility across the world, there is an alarming increase of manifestations of xenophobia. Hate crimes and hate speech, implicit and structural discrimination are too often rooted […]June 27, 2016 -
Human rights in Bangladesh and civil society space of the Human Rights Council (HRC32, 2016, OS)
IMADR delivered its oral statement on “Human rights in Bangladesh and civil society space of the Human Rights Council” at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here. ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Item 4: General Debate 22 June 2016 Thank you Mr. President, We express grave concern regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh, Iran and Egypt as international human rights NGO committed to uphold the principles of non-discrimination and human rights for all. Reports from Bangladesh require the immediate attention and intervention of the Human Rights Council. With the crackdown on the human rights organisation Odhikar, […]June 22, 2016 -
HRC 32 Side Event: Accountability and Good Governance in Sri Lanka (4:30 pm, 24 June)
Together with Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Franciscans International, IMADR is holding a side event on “Accountability and Good Governance in Sri Lanka” at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council from 4:30 pm, Friday 24th June at Room IX in Palais des Nations. For further information, click on the flyer below.June 21, 2016 -
Sri Lanka: NGOs’ open letter on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ oral update at 32nd session of Human Rights Council
IMADR joined other international human rights organisations to call on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to identify progress and shortcoming in the implementation of the resolution “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka (A/HRC/30/1)”, and provide clear benchmarks at his oral update in the final week of the 32nd session of Human Rights Council. Read the statement below or downloaded here. ——— 20 June 2016 To: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Dear High Commissioner, Subject: Open letter on the oral update on Sri Lanka at the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council We write to you ahead of your oral update to the UN Human Rights Council […]June 20, 2016 -
Caste and intersecting forms of discrimination against women and girls (HRC32, 2016, OS)
IMADR statement on “Caste and intersecting forms of discrimination against women and girls” with International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here. ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Item 3: Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women 17 June 2016 Together with International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), IMADR welcomes the thematic report of the Working Group, which includes consideration for the health and safety for women affected by caste-based discrimination. The Working Group rightly states that women from caste-affected […]June 20, 2016 -
Freedom of peaceful assembly in Okinawa, Japan (HRC32, 2016, OS)
IMADR statement on “Freedom of peaceful assembly in Okinawa, Japan” at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here. ——— IMADR Oral Statement: 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Item 3: Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 17 June 2016 Thank you Mr. President, We appreciate the joint allegation letter[1] sent from the Special Rapporteur and other mandate holders to the Government of Japan in June 2015 regarding the excessive use of force against and arbitrary arrests of peaceful protestors in Okinawa. Regrettably, the Government of Japan not only denied […]June 17, 2016 -
Argentina: UN Special Rapporteur on racism calls for immediate actions to protect indigenous peoples
UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism urged the Government of Argentina to take urgent measures to protect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples who have been subject to the invisibility, marginalization and systematic exclusion for a long time. The Special Rapporteur conducted his official visit to Argentina from 16th to 23th May. The preliminary conclusion is available at the OHCHR website. IMADR Latin America Base has been supprotng indigenous Mapuche, Toba/ Qom peoples, Afro-descendants and migrant workers to uphold their rights. — Argentina: “Immediate action must be taken to address the critical situation of indigenous persons” BUENOS AIRES / GENEVA (24 May 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on racism, Mutuma […]May 25, 2016 -
CERD adopted concluding observations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Namibia, Oman, Rwanda and Spain (May 2016)
On 13th May at its 89th session, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) adopted concluding observations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Namibia, Oman, Rwanda and Spain. *Recommendations with asterisks [*] are follow-up recommendations Concluding observations, reports of the State parties and other stakeholders are available at the OHCHR website . You can also watch the video archives of the public meetings with the State parties at UN Treaty Body Webcast . _ Azerbaijan The Committee expressed concern on the environment on civil society and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan. The Committee encouraged the State party to incorporate the Convention’s definition of racial discrimination into national law. The Committee was interested whether the justice system including law enforcement officers can address the cases of […]May 17, 2016 -
Nepal: Post-Earthquake recovery and rehabilitation for the most vulnerable
Two earthquakes in Nepal on 25th April and 12th May 2015 caused a significant number of casualties. The death toll amounted about 9,000 people while over 22,000 people were left injured and 860,000 people lost their housing. Immediately after the Earthquakes, IMADR supported Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) in Nepal to conduct relief and rehabilitation activities for vulnerable communities including Dalits, widows and single women, people living with disabilities and children. FEDO reached thousands of victims in 8 districts. Read the FEDO report:“Post-Earthquake Recovery and Rehabilitation (April 2015 – March 2016)” . FEDO provided the following support to affected communities and individuals. Distribution Emergency Relief Support Construction of temporary shelter Dalit Women Group mobilization in Income generating activities. An interaction […]May 9, 2016 -
UN: CERD address racial discrimination in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Namibia, Oman, Rwanda and Spain (April 2016)
At its 89th session from 25th April to 13th May 2016, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will consider the situations of racial discrimination in following 6 countries. Civil society organisations are encouraged to submit information on Azerbaijan, Georgia, Namibia, Oman, Rwanda and Spain. Practical Information Deadline for submission of NGO reports: 4th April 2016 For further information and State parties’ reports, please visit the official CERD website Use our “ICERD and CERD: Guide for Civil Society Actors” for effective participation in the session Watch discussions live! UN Treaty Body Webcast If you are an NGO participating in the forthcoming session and interested in receiving further practical information on CERD, please contact […]April 22, 2016 -
Civil society calls on G7 countries to renew commitment to business and human rights at Ise-Shima Summit
On 15 April 2016, 60 civil society organisations including IMADR sent a letter to G7 countries to urge them to address human rights issues in the business sector. Whole text can be read below or downloaded here . — Civil society calls on G7 countries to renew commitment to business and human rights at Ise-Shima Summit To the countries of the Group of Seven (G7): We, the undersigned representatives of civil society, are concerned that the forthcoming G7 Summit at Ise-Shima, Japan, will fail to adequately address the grave human rights violations and environmental destruction that continue throughout global supply chains. Effective measures are needed urgently to ensure that supply chains deliver shared prosperity for the […]April 22, 2016 -
Japan: UN expert expressed concern on restrictive measures on freedom of expression in Okinawa
UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye, expressed concern on the situation in Okinawa in his preliminary conclusion of the official visit to Japan (12-19 April). “I also shared my concerns about public protest in particular in Okinawa with the Coast Guard. I communicated to the authorities last year my concern regarding allegations of disproportionate restrictions on protest activity taking place in Okinawa. I have heard credible reports of excessive use of force and multiple arrests. I was especially concerned by reports on the use of force against journalists filming the protests. As much as the protection of national security provides for the […]April 21, 2016