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“This year’s Václav Havel Prize must signal the Council of Europe to turn praise of courage into action against autocrats, even within its own ranks,” argues Emin Abbasov (Independent Lawyers Network), Maria Dahle (Human Rights House Foundation), and Natallia Satsunkevich (Human Rights Centre Viasna) in International Politics and Society.

In a statement at the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation and Human Rights House Yerevan urged the Armenian authorities to investigate attacks against civil society and tackle disproportionate use of force at assemblies, and to address the growing threat of SLAPPs (Strategic lawsuits against public participation).

Since the Human Rights Council established the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation in 2022, the human rights situation inside Russia has rapidly deteriorated.

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.