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In a joint statement published on 7 September 2022 at the initiative of ProtectDefenders.eu, 50 international civil society organisations including Human Rights House Foundation are calling on all European Union institutions and the EU Member States to return on their political mandate in favor of human rights and human rights defenders, and lead on the implementation of concrete initiatives, good practices, and policy changes to ensure that at-risk human rights defenders can access European Union visas with guarantees, security, and predictability.

We, the undersigned members and supporters of the network of Human Rights Houses, call on the Serbian authorities to support and protect EuroPride 2022 organisers and participants and ensure their safety in the run-up to and implementation of festivities from 12 – 18 September 2022 in Belgrade.

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.