At HRC57, HRHF called for the urgent renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Russia, emphasizing the critical role it plays in holding the Russian government accountable for its widespread human rights violations inside Russia. We also brought attention to the growing reprisals against human rights defenders, especially those targeted for their engagement with the Human Rights Council.

Dave Elseroad, Head of Advocacy

Keeping the spotlight on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

On 24 September, HRHF highlighted the situation for 40,000 Ukrainian children that have been taken to Russian re-education camps, according to a 2024 study by the Regional Centre for Human Rights, as well as at least 2,000 Ukrainian children displaced to Belarus, as noted by Zmina. HRHF also raised the case of Maksym Butkevych, as an example of repressive tactics used by Russia against prisoners of war. Butkevych is a renowned Ukrainian human rights defender, captured while serving in the Ukrainian army, and subsequently subjected to an unfair trial and a thirteen-year prison sentence. 

On the same day, the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute delivered a statement on behalf of INGOs including HRHF within the context of widespread human rights violations amid Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. In the statement, the INGOs urged all States to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court. They emphasised, “No one is above the law. We must stand with victims and those who seek justice and we must stand united against impunity.”

Later at HRC57, on 8 October, HRHF urged states to ensure that Russian-occupied Crimea remains a priority on the Council’s agenda. 

Reprisals against human rights defenders

During an Interactive Dialogue on reprisals with the Assistant Secretary General on 27 September, 

HRHF highlighted reprisals against Belarusian civil society including Viasna and trade unions. HRHF repeated its call for the release of Azerbaijani human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who is detained arbitrarily for his human rights work, including at the previous session of the Human Rights Council, warning that his imprisonment poses risks to civil society actors ahead of COP29. Additionally, HRHF highlighted and condemned its own designation as an “undesirable organisation” by Russia as a clear reprisal for its UN-related work.

The work of the Special Rapporteur on Russia is more needed than ever

On 10 October, the Human Rights Council voted to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Russia for a further year. The mandate’s renewal has continued to be a top advocacy priority for HRHF, and it has been a key ask in our statements and side events at this and previous Council sessions.

On 24 September, citing Russia’s ongoing assault on civil society and minority groups, HRHF emphasised that the Special Rapporteur on Russia’s work is more needed than ever and urged the mandate’s renewal. On 9 September, at the start of the Council, HRHF and several international non-governmental organisations urged States to support the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur during HRC57.


The human rights situation in Russia was further examined in an HRHF-hosted side event on 25 September. A panel of Russian civil society actors and the Special Rapporteur explored the most pressing human rights challenges in Russia including the persecution of civil society and minority groups including the LGBT community and Indigenous groups. 

The human rights situation in Belarus

HRHF welcomes the appointment of Nils Muižnieks (Latvia) as the new Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. This is another crucial mandate that HRHF has continued to advocate for since its establishment, and HRHF believes that Mr Muižnieks will continue the crucial work of the mandate in bringing the voices of Belarusian civil society to the Council.  

On 23 September HRHF issued a statement providing an overview of the human rights situation in Belarus and highlighting the important impact of the Council’s Belarus-focused mandates. In the statement, HRHF noted the situation for human rights defenders including Andrei Chapiuk, Marfa Rabkova and Nasta Loika as emblematic of wider repressions against civil society in the country. 

All HRC57 statements and events

With thanks to donors

Human Rights House Foundation’s work would not be possible without the generous support that it receives from its donors. HRHF thanks the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for supporting its advocacy work, including at the UN Human Rights Council.

Contact

Dave Elseroad
Head of Advocacy and Geneva Office
dave.elseroad@humanrightshouse.org
Languages: English
Advocacy, Human Rights House Foundation
advocacy@humanrightshouse.org