Resources and Tools

This civil society statement was delivered during an interactive dialogue at the Human Rights Council, and highlights cases of reprisals against human rights defenders in countries which are members of the Human Rights Council.

This resource provides guidance and a checklist on how to prepare and deliver an oral statement at the Human Rights Council. ISHR Tips & Tricks are a series of guides aimed to support human rights defenders in their advocacy with international and regional human rights mechanisms.

This document suggests elements for voluntary pledges and commitments by candidate member States for election to the Human Rights Council.

This guide explores ways in which advocates can make effective use of the UN special procedures. It shares successful examples and offers recommendations for how to increase the effectiveness of domestic advocacy efforts.

To mark the seventieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur examines the cultural rights approach to the universality of human rights, and the close interrelationship between universality and cultural diversity. She enumerates current threats to universality, calling for foundational renewal and vigorous defence of this principle.

In this report, the Special Rapporteur reviews the situation of women human rights defenders, focusing on the additional gendered risks women human rights defenders face, and recognizes their important role in the promotion of human rights. The report contains recommendations and examples of good practices to support the building of diverse, inclusive and strong movements of women human rights defenders, and to ensure that women defenders are supported and strengthened to promote and protect human rights.

In this report, the Special Rapporteur observes that the policies of the Government: do not duly respect the rights to self-determination and effective participation; contribute to the failure to deliver in the areas of health, education and employment; and fuel the escalating incarceration and child removal rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. He recommends revision of policies, and acknowledgement and addressal of the consequences and prevalence of intergenerational trauma and racism.

A joint statement of Special Procedures, focusing on six individuals facing imminent execution as a result of the criminalization of the exercise of fundamental rights exercised when they were under the age of 18.

A press release by the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing after her visit to the United States, which resulted in a report probing deplorable living conditions and assessing compliance with international human rights law. The press release includes her remarks on the situation faced by many homeless people, as well as the words of the individuals involved.

This report summarizes the Special Rapporteur's visit to Mexico, where he focused on evaluating the basic elements of a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders, including: a conducive legal and institutional framework; access to justice; an independent and strong national human rights institution; effective protection policies and mechanisms targeting groups at risk and applying a gender-sensitive approach; non-State actors who respect and support the work of human rights defenders; and a strong and dynamic community of human rights defenders.