Regional Consultations : developing sub- themes and concept of the workshop

1. Regional Consultations : developing sub- themes and concept of the workshop By Liza Sekaggya; Focal Point for Cooperation with RHRMs ; OHCHR

2. THE PROCESS ? • HRC Resolution30/3: Workshop on cooperation between RHRM and civil society and human rights defenders • Significant topic: need for in depthregional discussion • Need to consult civil society in regions- to identifysubthemes for October workshop • Identifiedexistingevents,or meetings withregional organisations/civil society • Consulted OHCHR and RHRMs network of focal points for cooperation

3. Americas • Coopration with the Inter American Commission and Court on human rights • Context: IACHR 157th session , Washington April 2016 • Key participants: Civil society actors (approx 80 organisations of HRDs),OHCHR, IACHR Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders • .

4. Key participants. -: http://goo.gl/O8snt • r • Member, UN Working Group on Enforced, • UN SR on Independence of judges and lawyers • UN SR on Torture , SR VAW • IACHR Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression • Vice President of the Inter American Court on Human Rights NGOsincluded: Centro Pro, México,AIDA, Regional CONECTAS, COFAVIC Venezuela

5. Americas Regional and UN human rights mechanisms and participation of human rights defenders and civil society: opportunities and challenges. PANEL 2 - Using Public spaces: rights and challenges in the hemisphere; Legal and administrative spheres PANEL 3 - Development, natural resources and civil society. Utilisation of the criminal justice system to penalize human rights defenders work Working groups: conclusions and identifying priority themes for Workshop on Regional Arrangements Geneva, October2016)

6. Americas: Key Issue • Challenges faced by women human rights defenders, opportunities and challenges • Enforced disappearances and how UN and RHRMs cooperate: eg. joint statements , press releases etc • NGO concerns: many death threats and tragic deaths, have occurred; • states need to respect measures of protection imposed by RHRMs • CSOs to encourage visits of UNSRs, and put pressure on governments to allow the visits • Severe Anti terrorismlaws

7. Africa : Regional consultations • OHCHR and the African Union Commission on Women, Gender and Development Directorate and the AU Department of Citizens and Diaspora Organizations • Context : African Union (AU) High Level panel on Gender , equality and women’s empowerment (9-10 July 2016), preceeding the AU heads of States Summit in Kigali Rwanda • Key participants: OHCHR; UN Experts, including the SR on Slavery; • regional and sub-regional African human rights mechanisms including: the AU Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders; the ECOWAS Court, The East African Court of Justice ; NHRIs; African Ministers, Members of Parliament; and civil society organizations

8. Africa : Key Issues • Plight of refugee and asylum seekers Addis Ababa framework –– common initiatives; joint missions; communication and reporting to HRC and UN GA -Addressing HR obligations of non-state actors (Business, Terrorists) -Great lakes – Impact of terrorism and women -Challenges – resource challenges ; individual activist and CSOs serve as early warning mechanisms

9. Africa • Women’s rights organizations and NHRIs encouraged to use the UN and regional mechanisms e.gbringing cases ; amicus briefs to regional courts and mechanisms. • Cooperation between all mechanisms in follow up of recommendations was discussedostate parties was also a key area of discussion

10. Asia Regional Consultation • 29  August 2016, OHCHR and Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR),regional non-profit organization in Indonesia  and Bridges Across Borders South East Asia Community Legal Education Initiative (BABSEACLE) • Context :the 5th Asia Pro Bono Conference; • a  workshop focused on current and pressing human rights issues in the Asia region and steps to improve the existing human rights situation. 

11. Key Participants ? • OHCHR-Geneva Office • UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,  • Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, • Member of the UN CEDAW • anlaw schools, bar associations, NGOs, policy makers • approx 200 participants

12. OHCHR

13. Asia Key issues: • Key Themes: addressing mass human rights violations in contexts of transitions to democracy , gender based violence; transitional justice and stolen children • lawyers were encouraged to inform clients on the UN HR system. • Lawyers pursuing strategic litigation, and providing reports and information to the mechanisms. • HRDs work to support women trafficked and abused • Working with RHRMs and UN to deal with stolen children and human rights issues • Relatives of victims

14. Europe • OHCHR and Council of Europe –co-organised • Context :OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting- side event 21 September 2016 • Key participants: : OSCE, ODHIR, CoE Commissioner for human Rights • NGOs

15. Key issues: • Overall theme: “the deteriorating situation of human rights defenders in Europe” :. • Shrinking space for HRD: regressive legislation, • legal and admin hurdles for funding, • smear campaigns in the media , reprisals, • Violent attacks • Trials and imprisonment on trumped charges • HRDs stressed the states responsility to create enabling environment for CSOs- • Need for more advocacy for vulnerable groups

16. Themes of todays workshop More • Reflect the regionalhumanrights issues/challenges faced by CSOs and HRDs • Key global issues/cross cutting areas related to cooperation between UN , RHRMs, and CSOs. • Top issues include: women,minorities, children, SOGI • Issues discussed in all regions: reprisals, threats to life, regressivelawsaffectingCSOs, Terrorismslaws; other issues related to womenhumanrights defenders.

17. Thank You! • http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/NHRI/Pages/Cooperation.aspxD: Questions?