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At the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) raised concern over emblematic reprisals against civil society for engaging with the Council, highlighting the politically motivated detention of Azerbaijani human rights defender Anar Mammadli and the designation of HRHF as an “undesirable organisation” in Russia.

On the sidelines of HRC60, Human Rights House Foundation urged the UN Human Rights Council to maintain scrutiny on Georgia, arguing that continued reporting from the High Commissioner is essential, alongside robust engagement with authorities to repeal repressive laws, end politically-motivated prosecutions, and ensure accountability for violations.

Human Rights House Foundation strongly urged the renewal of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia at HRC60, calling the mandate indispensable. Outlining the situation for human rights in the country, HRHF raised “foreign agent” legislation and its destructive impact on civil society, as well over 1000 political prisoners as recognised by Memorial.

At the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation highlighted documentation from Ukrainian partners ZMINA detailing the suppression of civilians and the extension of Russia’s legal system into the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. HRHF also highlighted reports of atrocities by Russia’s armed forces including the deliberate and systematic use of sexual violence.

In an interactive dialogue with the Belarus Group of Independent Experts during HRC60, Human Rights House Foundation welcomed the Expert’s conference room paper, as well as highlighted the situation for over 1000 political prisoners in the country, including Ales Bialiatski, Uladzimir Labkovich, Valiantsin Stefanovic, Marfa Rabkova and Nasta Loika.

On 17 September 2020, human rights defender and Viasna member Marfa Rabkova was arbitrarily detained for her legitimate human rights work. On the fifth anniversary of her detention, Human Rights House Foundation joins 30 human rights organisations, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, in renewing the call for her immediate and unconditional release.

Since 2023, Azerbaijan has been conducting its most comprehensive crackdown against civil society in its post-independence history. With the majority of human rights defenders, journalists, and lawyers in exile or behind bars, the few that remain are unable to operate in a civic space that defenders describe as transitioning from “shrinking” to “closing”. In 2025, Human Rights House Foundation discussed the situation with representatives of Azerbaijani civil society in exile, as well as those who remain despite severe and increasing risks.

In August 2025, Belarusian human rights defenders gathered in Geneva to advocate ahead of the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Belarus. This two-day programme of meetings with diplomats and participation in the UPR pre-session was the culmination of a nine-month capacity-building journey led by Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) aimed at preparing Belarusian civil society partners, including members of the Network of Human Rights Houses, to engage effectively in the UPR process and to support them in making formal submissions within the process.

Human Rights House Foundation and several international human rights organisations express profound concerns regarding the Georgian government’s all-out assault on human rights and civil society organisations in the country and call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally end all persecution of civil society and media groups for their peaceful and legitimate work. The European Union, its member states and the broader international community should take urgent and coordinated measures to respond to and end this crackdown.