Event description
The human rights situation in the Russian Federation has further deteriorated since the previous report of the Special Rapporteur was published at the 54th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC).
In Russia, thousands are persecuted for political reasons by the authorities, including hundreds arbitrarily deprived of their liberty and facing torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, and denial of medical assistance in Russian prisons. Russia’s use of counter-extremism and counter-terrorism legislation to suppress dissent has further escalated. The designation of the “international LGBT movement” as an extremist organisation has led to severe consequences, including the prosecution of individuals for minor expressions of identity and the closure of LGBT organisations. Indigenous rights groups have also been targeted, with several labelled as “extremist” for their advocacy against state and corporate exploitation.
The situation for independent media, human rights defenders, and civil society organisations continues to worsen, with expanded “foreign agent” laws and criminalization of cooperation with international bodies. These measures severely restrict the ability of Russian civil society to seek protection and redress on the global stage.
Given these severe and ongoing violations, this panel event will explore the most pressing human rights challenges in Russia and focus on the following key questions:
What are the emerging and most challenging human rights trends in Russia?
Why should the HRC look to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur during the 57th session?
