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On September 6, Minsk City Court will pronounce the verdict in the politically motivated and harrowing case of human rights defenders Maria (Marfa) Rabkova and Andrey Chapiuk, in a climate of sweeping repression of civil society in Belarus. The signatory organisations call for their immediate and unconditional release, as well as for the release of all other human rights defenders arbitrarily detained in the country.

We, the undersigned Belarusian and international human rights organisations, condemn recent steps taken by the Belarusian authorities to withdraw from the First Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and remove an important avenue for redress for victims of human rights violations committed by Belarusian authorities. The move would also set a dangerous precedent for states seeking to negate their international human rights obligations to avoid unwanted scrutiny.

We, the undersigned human rights defenders and organisations from the Russian Federation, urge EU member states to lead a core group of states at the 51st Session of the UN Human Rights Council to establish a mandate of a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Russian Federation. 

Six months after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Human Rights House Foundation repeats its condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine and ensuing human rights crisis. HRHF also renews its call on UN Human Rights Council member states to establish a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Russia.

In a joint letter, Human Rights House Foundation and several international civil society organisations call on the European Union to lead a process to establish a Special Rapporteur on Russia at the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

HRHF and several organisations led by ISHR share reflections on the key outcomes of the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council, as well as the missed opportunities to address key issues and situations. A shortened version was delivered at the Council.

On 5 July 2022, at the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) highlighted the human rights situation in Crimea in the context of the Russian occupation and aggression against Ukraine. HRHF called on the Council to continue to express solidarity with Crimeans, to address opportunities to provide support to victims of political reprisals in Crimea and to provide assistance to investigations into serious human rights violations and international crimes occurring in Crimea as well as the rest of Ukraine.

On 28 June 2022, Human Rights House Foundation urged states to ensure that responses to the spread of disinformation comply with international human rights law, to refrain from conducting or sponsoring disinformation campaigns, and to seek to strengthen the resilience of societies against the negative impact of disinformation. This statement was delivered at the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

On 28 June 2022, Human Rights House Foundation called on the Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus during the 50th session of the Council.