CCPR Centre Annual Report 2023
Published on 26 Jul 2024, 01:01 PM
It is our privilege to share the Centre for Civil and Political Rights' Annual Report 2023.
The year 2023 posed significant challenges for the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). From the Sahel to Central America, and in various Asian nations, we observed a consistent rise in various alarming trends, such as governments reducing civic space, harassing journalists and activists, and trampling on fundamental freedoms.
These trends have had a significant impact on human rights defenders, pushing many to operate in secrecy or exile. The Centre's Annual Report 2023 reflects on these challenges and describe our efforts to overcome them and help human rights defenders to promote the respect of civil and political rights worldwide.
A troubling rate of State disengagement
This rejection of human rights and democratic values extended to interactions with the UN Human Rights Committee (the Committee) and other Treaty Bodies. Throughout the year, we witnessed a troubling rate of state disengagement and a lack of cooperation during the reporting process. Several states, including Sri Lanka, Somalia, and Haiti failed to attend scheduled reviews by the Committee, often cancelling last-minute. We are also increasingly concerned by the increase in hostility toward the Committee’s mandate. In a notable act of defiance, Burundi withdrew from the Committee’s review because Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) were present in the session. Similarly, dialogue during the review of Venezuela was frustrated and tense, marked by a lack of substantive responses, repeated political rhetoric, and criticism directed at Committee members.
“There’s a trend and it’s becoming a real problem. Before, states were convinced this was important, but there’s been a recent degradation in cooperation with the UN Treaty Bodies.”
Patrick Mutzenberg, Director of the Centre for Civil and Political Rights
Developing new ways to support HRDs while ensuring their safety at every step of the process
In light of the above-mentioned challenges, for us at the Centre, it is thus now more crucial than ever to continue supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) in their efforts to counter dangerous narratives and spotlight urgent issues while at the same time esnuring their safety. To achieve this, we’ve ramped up the delivery of training on digital security and established safe channels for CSOs to engage with Committee members and other Treaty Bodies. Where necessary, we’ve also kept CSOs reports confidential and even stepped in to present findings on their behalf where security concerns prevented them from doing so themselves.
In 2023, we organized training and capacity building sessions for more than 200 HRDs in 12 countries in order to equip them with the tools, resources, and knowledge needed to engage with the Committee effectively and advocate for meaningful change on the ground. The modalities of each activity were tailored to the unique context and security settings relevant to the country of intervention. Positive examples of impact include the cases of Somalia and Lesotho where no national CSOs report or country visit would have been possible without the support of the Centre and inclusive consultations in Zambia engaging CSOs and commmunity-base organisations from eight out of the 10 national provinces. In 2023, the Center also organized 24 informal briefings for civil society, allowing 334 defenders to interact directly with Committee members, either virtually or in person.
The way forward: developing the Centre’s new Strategic Plan 2024-2027
As the above-mentioned challenges persist, establishing a comprehensive strategic plan to guide our action for the upcoming four years (2024-2027) is crucial. This entails a meticulous assessment of emerging global challenges and their impact on both the work of HDRs and on the Committee’s mission. Exploring innovative methods to engage with CSOs, particularly those less visible within the United Nations system and fostering stronger connections between HRDs and UN human rights protection mechanisms is paramount. Deploying cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, will play a crucial role in ensuring that victims’ voices are not only heard but are at the centre of the Committee’s work. This approach will also enhance the dissemination of findings made by UN human rights mechanisms to a broader range of in-country stakeholders.
None of this will be possible without the unwavering support of our donors, enabling us to continue empowering CSOs and other key stakeholders in their daily efforts to promote and safeguard civil and political rights worldwide. This support is more crucial now than ever before.
