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At the 2025 Warsaw Human Dimension Conference (WHDC), Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) advocated alongside partners for concrete action by OSCE participating States to address rising authoritarianism and increasing human rights violations across the OSCE region. HRHF worked to ensure that both international attention and policy responses were informed directly by civil society actors from across the OSCE region.

At the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) continued its work to amplify the voices of civil society partners from the Network of Human Rights Houses. HRHF addressed issues ranging from reprisals against human rights defenders to crackdowns on civic space, while pushing for accountability for serious human rights violations.

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.

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.

Human Rights House Foundation and several international NGOs call on UN Human Rights Council member and observer states to support the renewal of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation during the Council’s 60th session.

At the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation condemned Russia’s systematic human rights abuses in occupied Crimea, citing documentation from Human Rights House Crimea member organisations including repression of journalists, lawyers, and civic freedoms; forced conscription and indoctrination of children; and property confiscation. HRHF reiterated calls for the release of political prisoners held by the Russian Federation.

At the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation condemned state-backed disinformation, legal harassment, and physical attacks targeting journalists and election observers in countries like Belarus, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Serbia. Citing the imprisonment of Anar Mammadli and widespread abuse of “national security” laws, HRHF called for clear benchmarks to hold states accountable during election cycles.

At HRC58, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) continued to amplify the voices of civil society and human rights defenders facing increased repression across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Balkans. In particular, HRHF worked alongside partners to highlight ongoing human rights violations in Belarus, Georgia, and in the context of continued Russian military aggression against Ukraine.