Newsletter E-CONNECT No.31 is out

On the 1st of April, we released our new issue of E-CONNECT. If you have not subscribed to our newsletter, you can do it from here! Back number is also available.

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 to 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 >>