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ISHR
@ishr.ch
Committed to #HumanRights, we support defenders in their work for freedom, dignity, equality, justice, and other fundamental values. Follow us for insights on human rights systems and mechanisms.

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The #EndReprisals campaign highlights Burundian lawyers who engaged with the #UN and faced reprisals 🇧🇮 🌍

In 2025, the 🇺🇳 confirmed Burundi violated the Convention against Torture by retaliating against them ✊

Take action in solidarity: https://ow.ly/3S5T50ZjnUg
September 17, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Our @pooja-ishr.bsky.social will speak at this #HRC63 side event on Friday:
'Protecting Civil Society Space: 10 Years of Best Practices and Challenges'
🗓️ Friday 18 September
🕰️ 13:00-14:00 CEST
🏡 Room III Palais des Nations and online
September 16, 2026 at 1:55 PM
TODAY: #HRC63 side event on #Venezuela, co-sponsored by ISHR:
'The Urgent Need to Renew the Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela'
📅 Wednesday 16 September 2026
⏰ 13:00-14:00 CEST
🏛️Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 16, 2026 at 7:10 AM
#China: Ahead of the expected release of journalist and #MeToo activist #HuangXueqin on 18 September, ISHR and 59 #NGOs urge Chinese authorities to ensure her release and guarantee that she can exercise her human rights without surveillance, harassment, retaliation or other arbitrary restrictions.
China: NGOs call for Sophia Huang Xueqin’s release and full freedom - ISHR
Sophia Huang Xueqin has spent nearly five years behind bars for her journalism, feminist advocacy and peaceful exercise of fundamental freedoms. She was
ishr.ch
September 15, 2026 at 3:18 PM
On #DemocracyDay, we recall our event where defenders examined how systemic discrimination & democratic backsliding are intertwined. We celebrate defenders like Jeremias who work so that all people have a seat at the table.
https://ishr.ch/latest-updates/defending-rights-in-unequal-democracies/
September 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM
❓Missed our Human Rights Council Elections Pledging event earlier this month?
👉 The recording is now available here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0y0Ww5e-R8&t=119s

#HRCelections2026

September 15, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Coming up tomorrow: #HRC63 side event on 'Freedom of religion or belief in Egypt':
Wednesday 16 September
12pm-1pm
Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 15, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Thirteen years ago today, China arrested and disappeared #CaoShunli for trying to fly to Geneva to attend a Human Rights Council event.

Cao died after six months in detention, enduring torture and ill-treatment. We echo UN calls to investigate her death.
https://ow.ly/fgmn50ZNrjj
China: UN experts renew calls for accountability for Cao Shunli’s death
GENEVA (14 March 2024) – A decade after the death in custody of human rights defender Cao Shunli, UN experts* today condemned the continued failure of Chinese authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death and bring those responsible to justice.“We regret that no action appears to have been taken over the last five years, since the last call for an independent, impartial and comprehensive investigation into Ms. Shunli’s death,” the UN experts said.
ow.ly
September 14, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Coming up this week: #HRC63 side event on #Venezuela, co-sponsored by ISHR:
'The Urgent Need to Renew the Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela'
📅 Wednesday 16 September 2026
⏰ 13:00-14:00 CEST
🏛️Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 14, 2026 at 8:05 AM
The #EndReprisals campaign highlights Basma’s case: after exposing torture in Egypt, she was forced into exile 🇪🇬 🌍 From abroad, she continues her human rights work but faces surveillance and threats. Transnational repression must end ✊

🔗 https://ow.ly/j2rE50ZjnRE
September 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Coming up next week: #HRC63 side event on #Venezuela, co-sponsored by ISHR:
'The Urgent Need to Renew the Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela'
📅 Wednesday 16 September 2026
⏰ 13:00-14:00 CEST
🏛️Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 11, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Today, #TiananmenSquareVigil organisers received jail sentences:
#ChowHangTung 7 yrs 3 mos
#LeeCheukYan 7 yrs
#AlbertHo 5 yrs 2 mos
The Alliance: HK$1.5 million fine

#UN expert reiterated her call for their immediate release prior to the sentencing.
The Guardian (@theguardian.com)
Tiananmen Square vigil organisers jailed for seven years in Hong Kong https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/11/chow-hang-tung-lee-cheuk-yan-tiananmen-square-activists-jailed-hong-kong?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&CMP=bsky_gu
bsky.app
September 11, 2026 at 9:40 AM
TODAY: #HRC63 side event on women journalists, co-sponsored by ISHR:
'Targeted by Law: Women Journalists and the Rise of Lawfare'
📅 Friday 11 September 2026
⏰ 13:00-14:00 CEST
🏛️Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 11, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Coming up tomorrow: #HRC63 side event on women journalists, co-sponsored by ISHR:
'Targeted by Law: Women Journalists and the Rise of Lawfare'
📅 Friday 11 September 2026
⏰ 13:00-14:00 CEST
🏛️Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 10, 2026 at 8:35 AM
TODAY: #HRC63 side event on #WesternSahara co-sponsored by ISHR:
'Arbitrary detention, fair trial guarantees and the protection of human rights defenders in occupied Western Sahara'
📅 Wednesday 9 September 2026
⏰ 12:00-13:00 CEST
🏛️Room Concordia 1, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 9, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Coming up tomorrow: #HRC63 side event on #WesternSahara co-sponsored by ISHR:
'Arbitrary detention, fair trial guarantees and the protection of human rights defenders in occupied Western Sahara'
📅 Wednesday 9 September 2026
⏰ 12:00-13:00 CEST
🏛️Room Concordia 1, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 8, 2026 at 2:15 PM
TODAY: #HRC63 side event on #Sudan co-sponsored by ISHR:
'The UN’s next steps to advance atrocity prevention and accountability'
📅 Tuesday 8 September 2026
⏰ 13:00-14:00 CEST
🏛️Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 8, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Coming up tomorrow: #HRC63 side event on #Sudan co-sponsored by ISHR:
'The UN’s next steps to advance atrocity prevention and accountability'
📅 Tuesday 8 September 2026
⏰ 13:00-14:00 CEST
🏛️Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva
September 7, 2026 at 7:49 AM
#HRCelections2026: 9 State candidates to the Human Rights Council presented their pledges and responded to questions on their human rights records, while elaborating on their vision to improve the work of the Council at ISHR’s and Amnesty International’s 16th annual event.

https://ow.ly/ekyG50ZJsi3
September 4, 2026 at 2:17 PM
🗣️ Human rights defenders make justice possible. Yet too many face reprisals for speaking to the #UN. Your voice matters. ✊ Join the #EndReprisals campaign and take action to support defenders: https://ow.ly/LYZR50ZjJuy
September 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Join us tomorrow for the #HRCelections2026 pledging event 🌐

Let’s hold candidate States to the standards expected of Human Rights Council members 🗳️

Register here 🔗 https://ow.ly/Qzps50ZEqph

UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
September 2, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Check out this wonderful piece by our colleagues at the @globalr2p.org 👀
September 2, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Just 2 days left ⚠️

Join ISHR and Amnesty International on 3 September 2026 for the #HRCelections2026 pledging event 🗳️

This is your chance to engage with candidate States and hear directly about their human rights commitments 🌐

🔗 https://ow.ly/Nxt150ZEq4U

UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
September 1, 2026 at 9:25 AM
❓Wondering what's on the agenda of the Human Rights Council this month?

Our briefing highlights ISHR’s key priorities at #HRC63:

https://ow.ly/2tw750ZHjlJ
August 31, 2026 at 1:58 PM