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On 9 September 2024, HRHF and several INGOs wrote to member and observer states of the UN Human Rights Council urging their support for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation during HRC57.

Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) implemented the 3.5 year STRONG Civil Society (July 2020 – January 2024) working to strengthen the role that civil society plays in the democratisation processes in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. STRONG Civil Society was co-funded by the European Union and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the 56th UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) worked alongside civil society partners to highlight the situation for human rights in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Balkans.

On the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation underlined several concerns related to freedom of expression in Serbia including Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), the misuse of the Law on the Prevention of Money-Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism to target civil society organisations, and inadequate protection mechanisms for journalists and the persistent impunity for crimes against them.

On the sidelines of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation argued that Anar Mammadli’s detention should be understood as a direct reprisal for his legitimate election observation efforts and human rights work, and comes in the context of a dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.

On 10 July 2024, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, welcoming the release of Nariman Dzhelal, repeating calls for the release of Server Mustafayev, and raising concerns about the situation for forced transfers of Ukrainian civilians within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and to the Russian Federation.

On 28 May 2024, the Georgian Parliament adopted the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, inspired by the Russian authoritarian-style “foreign agent” legislation. HRHF and partners from Human Rights House Tbilisi have developed this briefer underlining the main concerns regarding the practical effect of the foreign influence law on the Georgian civil society organisations and lays out recommendations for Georgia’s human rights and democracy partners internationally.

On 3 July 2024, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, raising the situation for continued attacks on freedom of association, as well as attacks on Belarusians forced into exile.

On 28 May 2024, the Georgian government adopted the so-called “foreign agent” law. Human Rights House Foundation recently spoke to Georgian human rights defender Baia Pataria about these critical developments and what they mean for civil society.