HRC57: The work of the Special Rapporteur on Russia is more needed than ever

Human Rights House Foundation statement

HRC57 – Item 4 – Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur – Russia

23 September 2024

Check against delivery.

Thank you.

We have heard today from Russia’s allies about this Council being a place for genuine dialogue and cooperation on human rights. But let’s be very clear: the Russian authorities are not seeking opportunities for dialogue and cooperation. The Council established the Special Rapporteur’s mandate in 2022 after the Russian authorities repeatedly ignored Treaty Body review obligations, disengaged with Special Procedures, and committed acts of reprisal against human rights defenders for engaging with the UN.

Since that time the situation in the Russian Federation has only deteriorated and it is clear that the authorities are seeking any and all opportunities to shut down independent voices and isolate their embattled civil society from the international community. The Special Rapporteur’s report highlights many of the steps taken just in the last 12 months: criminalisation of any work to support the LGBT community; designation of more than 50 Indigenous rights groups as extremist organisations; wave after wave of arrest and arbitrary detention of journalists, human rights defenders, and dissenting and opposition voices.

Despite these challenges – indeed, because of these challenges – the work of the Special Rapporteur is more important than ever and we applaud the mandate holder for her tireless efforts to seek out and engage independent civil society and human rights defenders. Their attendance here today is testament to the importance of this mandate, for which we strongly call for its renewal.

President.

We ask the Special Rapporteur: what more can States do to engage independent civil society in Russia, especially individuals and organisations supporting LGBT and indigenous rights?