A/HRC/10/12
page 18
81. Threats, harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders were referred to during the
interactive dialogue on Brazil, Guatemala, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and the
United Kingdom. Extrajudicial killings of defenders were mentioned in connection with Brazil,
the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Impunity and/or the need for investigation and prosecution into
violations committed against human rights defenders were highlighted with regard to Guatemala,
Pakistan, Romania, and Sri Lanka. Concerns on registration of NGOs came up in connection
with Sri Lanka and Tunisia. The effect of anti-terrorism laws on defenders, and the monitoring of
civil society was reflected in the questions posed and recommendations made with regard to
Pakistan.
82. As for groups of defenders, the situation of women human rights defenders was mentioned
in Zambia; the situation of and problems faced by activists working on lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender rights in Poland and Romania, and on marginalized groups in the Czech Republic
was also mentioned.
(b)
NGO comments: is there enough space?
83. As mentioned above, stakeholders, including representatives of NGOs and human rights
defenders, are not permitted under the provisions of resolution 5/1 to take the floor during the
proceedings of the Working Group, when the interactive dialogue with the State under review
takes place.
84. Stakeholders have the opportunity to intervene in the plenary, before the adoption of the
outcome of the review. At this stage, however, the Working Group has already met and the
report has been published, so the scope for human rights defenders to influence the outcome is
very limited.
85. The Special Rapporteur is of the opinion that the provisions of resolution 5/1 regarding the
participation of NGOs in the UPR process could be greatly enhanced, providing for more space
and visibility for all stakeholders. Such a revision could possibly be undertaken during the
review foreseen for 2011, five years after the adoption of General Assembly resolution 60/251
establishing the Human Rights Council. In the meantime additional efforts should be made in
favour of reflecting the views of civil society by, among other things, organizing training for
human rights defenders at the national level on the submission of information to the UPR process
and by systematically organizing consultations at the national level, including in relation to
follow-up, in which defenders are also included.
5. Report of the Working Group - the outcome of the review
86. The format of the outcome of the review is a report consisting of a summary of the
proceedings of the review process, conclusions and/or recommendations, and the voluntary
commitments of the State concerned.15 The outcome may also include, inter alia, an assessment
undertaken of the human rights situation in the State under review; sharing of best practices; the
provision of technical assistance and capacity-building and voluntary pledges and commitments
15
Ibid., para. 26.
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents