Udenrigsudvalget 2020-21
URU Alm.del Bilag 250
Offentligt
Danish Civil Society Inputs to
Danish Government ahead of HRC47
Table of Contents
PANEL DISCUSSIONS...............................................................................................................................
2
ITEM 3
................................................................................................................................................. 2
High-level panel discussion on the multisectoral prevention of and response, including the
global response, to female genital mutilation (HRC res. 44/16)..................................................... 2
INTERACTIVE DIALOGUES
...................................................................................................................... 3
ITEM 2
................................................................................................................................................. 3
ID on the annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (GA res.
48/141)............................................................................................................................................ 3
ITEM 3
................................................................................................................................................. 4
ID on the report of the WG on discrimination against women and girls (HRC res. 41/6) .............. 4
ID on the report of the SR on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
(HRC res. 41/12) .............................................................................................................................. 4
ID on the report of the SR on violence against women, its causes, and consequences (HRC res.
41/17).............................................................................................................................................. 5
ID on the report of the IE on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity (HRC res. 41/18) .......................................................................... 8
ITEM 4
............................................................................................................................................... 11
ID on the report of the SR on the situation of human rights in Belarus (HRC res. 44/19) ............ 11
ITEM 7
............................................................................................................................................... 11
ID on the report of the SR on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories
occupied since 1967 (CHR res. 1993/2 A and HRC res. 5/1) ......................................................... 11
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PANEL DISCUSSIONS
ITEM 3
High-level panel discussion on the multisectoral prevention of and response, including the global
response, to female genital mutilation (HRC res. 44/16)
●
Globally:
According to UNICEF, FGM has been performed on at least 200 million girls and
women in 31 countries across three continents, with more than half of those cut living in
Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia. Each year, over 4 million girls are at risk of undergoing FGM.
Most girls are ut efore the age of 5.
(https://www.unicef.org/protection/female-genital-
mutilation)
Sudan:
It is commendable that FGM was criminalized in Sudan in April 2020. According to
the UN Population Fund, 88% of women and girls aged between 15 and 49 in Sudan have
undergone some form of FGM. The North Kordofan state of Sudan exhibits the highest rate
at 97.7%. (http://opiniojuris.org/2020/05/25/female-genital-mutilation-the-road-to-
eradication/
and
https://www.unfpa.org/data/fgm/SD)
Egypt:
FGM was banned in 2008 through amendments to the Child Act (1996) and the Penal
Code and in September 2016, Law No. 58 was further strengthened, and penalties were
increased. In March 2021, the Egyptian parliament approved further amendment to the
provisions of the Penal Code and increased the penalties for performing FGM. However,
prosecutions are rare and the FGM is still widely practiced and with nearly 100 percent
impunity. According to UNICEF (https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/female-
genital-mutilation/),
87% of women, aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM in Egypt, and about
14% of girls under 14 have been cut.
According to "The National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030. Vision
and Pillars. 2017" it is part of Egypt's goals to prevent FGM in Egypt by:
○
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Continue implementing the National FGM Abandonment Strategy 2016-2020;
Enforce the law that criminalizes FGM;
Raise the so iet ’s a are ess
of the harms of FGM, and the lack of any origin to
such practice in religion;
Increase control over physicians and members of the medical establishment, to
prevent them from performing such procedures.
●
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Lessons learnt from working with FGM in Egypt through the Gender Equality Program in the
Danish Arab Partnership Programme, which KVINFO leads
–
project implemented by
Tadwein and Women Council Denmark:
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FGM is a human rights issue, not an issue of culture or religion.
As FGM is performed by medical staff, training and awareness raising should be
target medical students and integrated into curriculum of medical universities.
A multilayered strategy working on awareness raising, training of medical staff,
ending impunity, strong cooperation between state actors and civil society actors to
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implement national strategies is a way forward.
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Recommendations:
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Urge Egypt and other countries struggling with the problem of FGM to tackle FGM as
a human rights violation.
Strengthen cooperation between civil society and state actors to eradicate FGM.
For Egypt: Reinforce implementation of the national strategy for the Empowerment
of Egyptian Women 2030 and eradicate FGM. Impunity for medical staff performing
FGM must end not only in law, but also in practice. Authorities should ensure that
medical staff are informed that FGM is illegal according to Egyptian law, that they
are obliged to report cases and perpetrators will face legal persecution. Work with
judges and prosecutors to ensure the proper implementation of the law. And ensure
effective implementation of the law through encouraging reporting and creating
reporting mechanisms.
Remind of the importance of collaborating and engaging with the media to support
ending FGM. There is an urgent need to reframe FGM in the media to highlight and
share stories of communities ending FGM and sharing other solutions. Engaging with
the media enables us to inform attitudes and stereotypes around FGM.
○
INTERACTIVE DIALOGUES
ITEM 2
ID on the annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (GA res.
48/141)
1
●
If Denmark will not refer to the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories
occupied since 1967 under item 7, we recommend that Denmark raises the following
concerns under item 2:
○
To express general support towards the ICC to open an investigation into potential
crimes committed in the occupied territories and work with other European
Governments to support the independence of the court and shield the institution
and its staff from external pressures or threats.
To express concerns with the findings of the latest Human Rights Watch report from
April 27, 2021 that concludes that the action against Palestinians from the Israeli
authorities amount to the crime of apartheid.
To raise issues of a) demolition and forced displacement in OPT and recent
developments in Sheikh Jarrah and Jordan Valleys, b) violating of right of the
Palestinian children to education and demolition of schools in West Bank, c) lifting
blockade imposed on Gaza for more than 13 years, d) fragile health system in
○
○
1
Postponed from HRC46 to HRC47 in accordance with President’s statement PRST OS/14/1.
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Palestine and unfair distribution of vaccine against COVID-19, e) killing of Palestinian
civilians at different occasions, f) preventing the vote of Palestinian Jerusalemites in
Jerusalem and cancel of Palestinian Parliamentary elections and g) the rights to
freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for all citizens in Israel and OPT,
also Palestinians.
ITEM 3
ID on the report of the WG on discrimination against women and girls (HRC res. 41/6)
●
Women are systematically discriminated against in several laws.
According to the UN,
in 18
countries men can legally prevent their wives from working and in 39 countries daughters
and sons do not have equal inheritance rights. Types of laws that are discriminating against
women and girls include:
○
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Women are discriminated in terms of passing nationality to a child or spouse
(Nationality Laws)
Women lack equal rights in marriage and divorce, guardianship and custody of
children and inheritance. (Personal status law and Family laws)
Women are discriminated against in terms of equal pay for equal work of equal
value, gender specific restrictions on
o e ’s
work and lack protection from
dismissals because of pregnancy and maternity leave. (Labour laws)
Women lack protection from underage marriage, FGM, polygamy, sexual
harassment, marital rape, and domestic violence (Penal codes)
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Recommendations:
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Carry out review of legislation and reform laws to align with international human
rights a d o e ’s
rights commitments.
In particular, amend personal status laws, family laws, labour laws and penal codes
to end gender-based discrimination.
Remove reservations to CEDAW and UNCRC.
Urge states to become signatories to the Istanbul Convention.
ID on the report of the SR on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (HRC res.
41/12)
●
We recommend that Denmark raises the following country cases as examples of concern
with the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association:
○
Palestine: Following the recent police crackdowns on Palestinian citizens and
protesters in Jerusalem, Denmark should call on the Israeli government to respect
the right of peaceful assembly for all citizens, also Palestinians.
Colombia: Anti-government protesters have been countered by police using
indiscriminate and dangerous
eapo s a ordi g to Hu a Rights Wat h.
Denmark should call upon the Colombian government to respect the right of
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peaceful assembly for all Colombians. Denmark must also criticize the gender based
and sexual violence committed by police against protesters.
○
Myanmar: UNCHR says that there is no sign of end to the brutal crackdown on,
among others, demonstrations in Myanmar following the military coup. Denmark
must echo their concerns from HRC46 and call upon the military to respect the right
of peaceful assembly for all in Myanmar.
Egypt: Denmark must call on the Egyptian government to withdraw the new NGO-
law and support the right of association for all, including local and international
NGO’s.
The new NGO-law does not respect freedom of association and could at
worst lead to the dismantling of independent civil society.
○
ID on the report of the SR on violence against women, its causes, and consequences (HRC res. 41/17)
●
Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation. Globally, one in three women
experience physical or sexual violence most frequently by an intimate partner. This number
is estimated to have increased by 20 % during COVID 19 lockdown and is called the shadow
pandemic by the UN (https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/in-focus-gender-
equality-in-covid-19-response/violence-against-women-during-covid-19).
Domestic violence
has an impact in terms of health, safety and productivity of workers and other persons
concerned, as well as on their capacity to enter, remain and progress in the labour market.
Yet, 49 countries still lack laws protecting women from domestic violence.
(https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/women-and-the-sdgs/sdg-5-gender-
equality)
Sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women occur in public spaces, on
streets, in public transportation, at home and online. Often, online threats are not treated as
serious as threats in the analogue world by law enforcement, yet the consequences on the
part of the offended may be equally severe.
GBV prevents equal participation in cultural, social, political, and economic spheres. Urgent
action needs to be taken to ensure the right for everyone to a world free from violence and
harassment, not only during and after the outbreak of COVID-19, but also to build a
sustainable recovery and better resilience in the face of future crises.
Also, in both development aid and humanitarian interventions, a strong focus must be on
economic and social empowerment of women. Economic and social capital is essential in
terms of ensuring that women get better opportunities to exercise leadership and make
decisions in the family as well as the local community, can influence the political and
normative framework that defines their rights and opportunities, fight against gender-based
violence and have bodily autonomy.
Also, female journalist faces severe risk of violence online and offline. Taking from UNESCO-
ICFJ global survey results on online violence against women journalists 73% of women
journalists reported having experienced online violence in the course of their work, 20%
reported being attacked offline in connection with online violence they had experienced.
Additionally, 17% of women journalist respondents said they self-censor because of online
violence.
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Attacks faced by female journalists are resulting in psychological and physical harm, self-
censorship, or lead them to avoid certain types of reporting, or withdraw from journalism
altogether, which therefore, has an important impact on freedom of speech and diversity in
the media, and can perpetuate inequalities in newsrooms.
Studies have shown that female journalists are targets online significantly more than their
male colleagues are, with the threats they face often highly sexualized and frequently
focused on their physical features, ethnicity, or cultural background rather than on the
content of their work.
Also, the impact of gendered and sexualised disinformation
2
targeting women in public life,
as well as its corresponding impacts on national security and democratic participation, is
largely missing in the discourse and must be addressed.
Online gendered abuse and disinformation is often intersectional in nature, with abusers
often engaging with both sex- and race-based narratives, compounding the threat for e.g.,
women of colour. This has been coined as
malign creativity—the
use of coded language;
iterative, context-based visual and textual memes; and other tactics to avoid detection on
social media platforms.
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Recommendations:
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Enhance state responsibility to uphold human rights and protect women from online
and offline violence.
Urge the 49 countries that do not have any law on prevention and protection from
GBV to pass such legislation.
End impunity for perpetrators by applying existing legislation on prevention of
gender-based violence to online as well as offline sexual harassment and violence.
Hold international tech companies responsible for immediate removal of illegal
harassment, e.g., threats of rape or killing on their platforms.
Raise awareness of frequency, forms, and consequences of sexual harassment and
GBV and install mechanisms of support for those who are attacked.
Urge states to adopt the 2019 ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (ILO C190)
from 2019 which provides a clear roadmap for preventing and addressing violence
and harassment in the world of work. It acknowledges that gender-based violence
and harassment disproportionately affects women and girls. It also recognizes that a
gender-responsive approach, which tackles underlying causes and risk factors,
including gender stereotypes, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and
unequal gender-based power relations, is essential to ending violence and
harassment in the world of work (ILO:
https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/--
-dgreports/---gender/documents/publication/wcms_744782.pdf)
Defi
ed as a su set of o li e ge dered a use that uses false or isleadi g ge der a d se
-based narratives against
women, often with some degree of coordination, aimed at deterring women from participating in the public sphere. It
o i es three defi i g hara teristi s of o li e disi for atio : falsit , alig i te t, a d oordi atio
(IMS).
2
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Women should be recognized as resourceful agents of change. Investments in
women's social, political, and economic empowerment, as well as sexual and
reproductive health and rights, strengthen not only the resilience of women and
girls when the crisis strikes, but society as a whole. Women's and girls' rights and
health should be high on the global humanitarian agenda to ensure that gender
equality and a wide range of rights, including SRHR issues, are prioritized in the
global humanitarian framework. Denmark should work to establish a clear funding
target for gender equality and women's rights.
Financial support for and institutional capacity building of local women's and
feminist organizations should be increased as part of humanitarian aid. This is crucial
in terms of building their long-term capacity and influence, but also in terms of
ensuring sustainability in the efforts, and that they are based to the highest possible
extent on real, local needs.
Include gender perspective in national safety mechanisms for journalists and
improve legislation that can improve protection and responses for women.
Train security services and other agencies to handle gender specific threats and
responses.
As gendered disinformation is rooted in the overall societal patriarchal structures,
the following four measures suggested should be viewed holistically and intersecting
with different fields (i.e. safety) and segments/level of society (i.e. internet
intermediaries, law and policymakers and employers) in order to be efficient:
1) As safety measures are closely interlinked to the issue of gendered
disinformation, there is a need for internet intermediaries to have incident
reports that allow women to report multiple abusive posts at once to
provide more context and a more holistic view of the abuse they are
experiencing. In the same vein, employers need to develop robust support
policies for those facing online harassment and abuse, including clear
mechanisms to report the abuse faced by the target. National mechanisms
for safety of journalists should consider the gendered disinformation as a
threat.
2) There is a need to improve the automated detection methods and for
internet intermediaries to introduce nudges to discourage users from
posting abusive content. Third-party fact-checkers, those engaging in
crowdsourcing and setting up the datasets used to identify disinformation
need to incorporate a gendered perspective in their training in order to
identify and respond to gendered disinformation.
3) There is a need to monitor and gather data on online gendered
disinformation to better understand its scope, prevalence, and societal
impact and to use this data for advocacy purposes.
4) Gendered perspective should be fully integrated into media and information
literacy efforts. Media literacy plays a significant role in determining
whether gender issues will widely be considered important and legitimate
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social, political, and cultural matters and can help reveal the gendered-
disinformation narratives.
ID on the report of the IE on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity (HRC res. 41/18)
●
Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+) individuals are still globally
suffering from discriminations and violence due to their Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
and Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC). Legislation and social constructs based on
heteronormativity and cisnormativity prevent LGBTIQA+ people from enjoying basic human
rights and civil freedoms, exclude them from social opportunities and even threaten their
physical and psychological security and wellbeing.
69 states
3,4
in total have Penal Codes that still criminalize same-sex sexual activity either
dire tl or i dire tl o the grou d that people o
it pu li i de e
, a ts/ ri es
agai st ature , ha itual pra ti e of de au her a d i
oral a ts . While the ajority
of
the states are in Africa and in Asia given that these laws share a common history of being the
direct product of colonialism, numerous nations are demonstrating globally harmful practices
and inability to offer protection and equal opportunities to LGBTIQ+ communities. The law
prescribes death penalty, imprisonment and/or hard labour and, in many cases, is still
enforced. There have been recent reports for arrests and prosecutions of individuals alleged
to have engaged in same-sex sexual activity in more than 40 states, of which state executions
took place in at least 3.
LGBTIQA+ individuals who are under the jurisdiction of states that do not criminalize same-
sex sexual activity are still subject to discrimination and face a variety of legal, social and
psychological challenges. 42 states have laws and regulations that restrict the right to freedom
of expression in relation to SOGIESC issues. National laws may prescribe explicitly restrictions
related to SOGIESC issues or use pro ies to target su h
issues (e.g., morality, religion and
ter s su h as o
-traditio
al se ual relatio ships . I additio , atio al go er e ts i
more than 10 states, the majority of which are in Europe, attempted to establish laws and
pieces of legislation that prohibited
propaga da of o traditio al se ual relatio s a d the
spread of ge der theor duri g the period
-2020.
Only a minority of states globally have national laws and regulations that progressively protect
LGBTIQA+ individuals and ensure de jure equal treatment. 57 states have laws that provide
for broad protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, of which only 12
provide for constitutional protection. Only 28 states have recognized equal marriage and
family rights to same-sex couples and 6 more states have recognized partial marriage rights
by establishing legislation on civil partnerships.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted how crises are the base for discriminations and
violence reinforcement towards LGBTIQ+ communities. Around the world, many governments
ota l passed LGBTIQ+pho i
easures, su h as the re all of tra sge der people’s
●
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●
3
https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_World_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_report_global_legislation_overview_update_De
cember_2020.pdf
4
https://rainbow-europe.org/sites/default/files/annual-report/Annual-Review-Full-2021.pdf
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administrative recognition rights in Hungary in 2020
5
or the withdrawal of transgender-
inclusive anti-discriminatory health protection in the United States by the Trump
administration
6
. The crisis is also leading to general day-to-day abuse of power by individuals
and institutions against LGBTIQ+ communities, with, for example, the imprisonment of twenty
LGBTIQ+ individuals in Uganda
7
by the local police or the mainstreamed belief that gay
communities could be the cause of the COVID-19 crisis
8
. As a mirror to global systems of power
and discriminations, the most vulnerable communities are the most affected by targeted
oppressive measures, lack of inclusivity in the relief work and lack of general representation,
notably LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum seeker, transgender people in sex worker
communities
9
, and LGBTIQ+ people living with HIV and other chronic diseases.
●
Civic spaces are closing in several countries around the world, and discriminated groups such
as LGBTIQ+ groups, are among the first to be affected by that. Therefore, it is crucial to focus
on including and empowering the civil society actors in countries where governments do not
have the will and/or capacity to support the LGBTI+ individuals and organizations. We have
seen severe outbreaks of hate crimes, systematic discrimination, and violence during the
pandemic, and this must be an occasion to improve the support aimed at civil society
organizations even further.
Furthermore, the WPS agenda has an unintended negative effect on LGBTIQ+ people as it
aimed at women and peace in exclusionary terms overlooking the disproportionate security
issues and violence, that LGBTIQ+ people in the affected areas experience and their
experiences as valuable evidence for instructing and shaping the peace processes. A more
SOGIESC sensitive approach might address these shortcomings and recognize LGBTIQ+ people
as agents and activists who are included in the WPS framework and strategic efforts.
Recommendations:
○
COVID-19 relief actions should be inclusive of all populations, including LGBTIQ+
people, people living with HIV, sex workers, and LGBITQ+ refugees and asylum seeker.
A ki d of e lusio i go er e ts’ efforts for relief is regarded as a lear iolatio
of human rights and international conventions.
●
●
https://lgbti-ep.eu/2020/04/15/63-meps-call-on-hungarian-government-to-revoke-article-33-restricting-the-rights-of-
trans-and-intersex-persons/
6
Politi Da iel, Tru p Ad i istratio Ni es Tra sge der Health Prote tio s i Middle of Pride Mo th , Slate, Ju e
,
read the 16/06/2020, available at:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/06/trump-nixes-transgender-health-
protections-pride-month.html
7
Burke, Jaso , Uga da poli e a used of a usi g lo kdo
la s after LGBT arrests , Slate, April
, read the
28/05/2020, available at:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/ugandan-police-accused-of-abusing-lockdown-laws-after-lgbt-arrests
8
6Rang,
Co id- 9 Related Hate a d Ho opho ia Must Stop , Ge eral distri utio , Ope letter, Ma
, read the
19/05/2020, available at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jCe-kd4X12iEy0qZmLYx0u0Z9NJw8rlX/view?usp=sharing
Hu a Rights Wat h, Prote ti g the rights of LGBT people duri g a d after the COVID- 9 pa de i , OHCHR, Ju e
2020, read the 26/07/2020, available at:
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/SexualOrientation/IESOGI-COVID-
19/CSOs/HRW.pdf
9
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States must commit to the protection of civil society organisations in all their
diversities and provide a safe and inclusive civil space for them to function.
States must collaborate with civil society organisations in their efforts for COVID-19
relief actions for an exchange of expertise, resources, and a maximum outreach to all
vulnerable communities on the ground.
States should take i to o sideratio the results of IE SOGI’s latest report
evaluating the situation of human rights in their respective countries.
he
○
○
For states that have taken positive steps towards non-discrimination and equality: civil
society organizations need to strengthen their partnerships with state actors and
transnational institutions (e.g., the EU, Council of Europe, OAS) to expand progressive
legislation. International society should also encourage partnerships between states
in the same region to influence positive changes in the legislation. More states should
e pli itl a
o ersio therap i their atio al legislatio
(only 4 currently do;
ho e er, i
ore tha 5 states
conversion
therapies are a ed i pli itl , for
example national associations of psychologists and psychiatrists do not allow their
e ers perfor su h therapies a d e pa d
constitutional provisions for
protection against discrimination to SOGIESC grounds in order to prevent SOGIESC
rights from being challenged and depending on political opportunism. Civil society
organizations should also work with private organizations, public administration and
cultural institutions to continue raising awareness on SOGIESC issues and ensuring
equal treatment of LGBTIQ+ people in all aspects of life (employment, education,
social benefits etc.)
For policy makers: advocate and plan for inclusive measures targeting the specific
needs of the more vulnerable communities in all spheres of the political, legal, health
and social life. These measures should for example ensure the security and rights of
LGBTIQ+ displaced populations, by guaranteeing a global and continuous right to seek
and enjoy asylum and advocating against imprisonment of LGBTIQ+ persons in
detention centers. It is necessary to identify the more vulnerable communities among
LGBTIQ+ populations and to work with community-led organisations to ensure
sufficient fund for these organisations, spaces for communities to voice their needs in
all decision-making spheres and a good understanding of non-specialized public and
private stakeholders in mitigation of risks and inclusion of vulnerable communities in
sectorial measure.
For all stakeholders active in providing or guiding COVID-19 relief: ensure the inclusion
and consideration of LGBTIQ+ populations and of the most vulnerable LGBTIQ+
communities in all COVID-19 related measures. This aims both to ensure that specific
measures are being set to meet the specific needs of communities during the crisis
(economic, basic necessity items, hygiene and covid protection equal distribution),
and to ensure that no measure is specifically harming communities (access to health
specific services, notably for PLHIV and transgender communities, SOGIESC-sensitive
COVID-
9 restri tio s…
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○
For all institutions, organisations and state actors: to bring SOGIESC diversity and
norm-critical approaches in all spheres of the public talk in order to encourage its
mainstreaming among stakeholders and global populations. This includes speaking up
against hate speech, harmful political decisions, and general violence, and ensuring
good, community-led information is being shared and used at all levels.
Remind of the need to work closely with the media and to connect actors from
different sectors and train the media on how to report on sexual orientation and
gender identity. There is a need to connect media with faith networks, activist circles,
and LGBTQI+ communities and to work with editorial guidelines, train media and
improve media self-regulation in order to improve reporting to be inclusive and
accurate when reporting on LGBTQI+ issues.
○
ITEM 4
ID on the report of the SR on the situation of human rights in Belarus (HRC res. 44/19)
●
The crackdown of Belarusian media and human rights defenders classify as gender-based
violence. Gender-based violence against media workers and human rights defenders should
be understood in the context of broader gendered societal norms. Whilst women have been
at the forefront of protests they 1) continue to face sexual violence or threats of rapes,
especially in detention center. There is limited evidence of the authorities to launch
investigations on these issues. 2) There is systematic repression of female opposition leaders
and biased, sexist news coverage of women leaders. 3) Continued trend of threatening
women or depriving them of their custodial rights as a way of silencing women protesters.
Recommendations:
○
○
○
Launch investigations on the sexual violence and threats of rapes faced by women in
detention centers and more broadly.
Engage in systemic dialogue with civil society in Belarus by using secure
communication channels.
When it is possible, provide financial support to independent media and civil society.
Support training and capacity development activities for the Belarusian civil society
to benefit fully from the UN HRC instruments -- WGAD for example.
●
ITEM 7
ID on the report of the SR on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territories occupied
since 1967 (CHR res. 1993/2 A and HRC res. 5/1)
10
Note: If Denmark do not intend to refer to the points under item 7, we recommend that Denmark
raises the concerns and recommendations stated below under either ID item 2 or ID item 4.
10
One-time postponement from HRC46 to HRC47.
11
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●
We are concerned about the findings of the report released last month by Human Rights
Wat h A Threshold Crossed
- Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and
Perse utio , April 7,
, o ludi g:
Hu a Rights Wat h fou d that the Israeli go er e t has pursued a i te t to
maintain the domination of Jewish Israelis over Palestinians throughout the territory it
controls. In the OPT, including East Jerusalem, that intent has been coupled with
systematic oppression of Palestinians and inhumane acts committed against them.
When these three elements occur together, they amount to the crime of apartheid.
Israeli authorities are also committing the crime against humanity of persecution based
on the discri
i ator i te t ehi d Israel’s treat e t of Palesti ia s a d the gra e
a uses it has arried out i the OPT p. 5
Recommendations
○
○
To take note of the findings of the latest Human Rights Watch report.
To access the content of relevant resolutions and raise issues accordingly
independent of whether these are tabled under Item 7, item 2, or Item 4. If
Denmark is not planning to raise any issues under Item 7, DK is recommended to
raise issues of human rights violations in the Palestinian Territories under Item 2
or Item 4.
Independent of the specific issue on Israel-Palestine, but related to the recent
decision of the ICC to open an investigation into potential crimes committed in
the occupied territories:
To express general support for international justice mechanisms including the
international criminal court and work with other European Governments to
support the independence of the court and shield the institution and its staff
from external pressures or threats.
If the issues cannot be raised under item 7, we would like to encourage that the
items are raised under item 2 or item 4.
To raise issues of demolition and forced displacement in OPT and recent
developments in Sheikh Jarrah and Jordan Valleys
To raise issues of violating of right of the Palestinian children to education and
demolition of schools in West Bank
To raise issue of lifting blockade imposed on Gaza for more than 13 years.
Highlight issue of fragile health system in Palestine and unfair distribution of
Vaccine against COVID-19
Highlighting Killing of Palestinian civilians at different occasions.
Raise issue of preventing the vote of Palestinian Jerusalemites in Jerusalem and
cancel of Palestinian Parliamentary elections
●
●
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
○
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Additional inputs from Danish civil society ahead of HRC47
4 June 2021
Civic Space resolution
We encourage to highlight the positive role that civil society plays in a crisis (more broadly) and has played
in the pandemic, with an emphasis on the importance of protecting civil society.
Based on dialogue with CIVICUS, we concretely suggest language along the lines of:
A robust and vibrant civil society is able to respond to the needs of the community and play a pivotal role in
fighting disinformation, providing much needed services and supporting government and at times playing a
watchdog role when government falls short. As we have seen, this critical role can be drastically
undermined during crises by State overreach in emergency power. It is therefore crucial to support civil
society by creating, maintaining and ensuring an enabling environment, including both practical measures
of support and through mainstreaming Council response to restrictions on civic space.
In terms of such practical support we would also like to highlight the crucial issue of access to resources
–
which has even more relevance in the context of crises
–
why we recommend that the resolution requests
SRs to look into potentially drafting guidelines on access to resources for States to implement.
Colombia: Freedom of assembly, expression and violence against women:
Peaceful demonstrations by Colombian citizens started on 28 April 2021 in various cities and municipalities
across the country. The demonstrations were met by disproportionate actions og the police and security
forces (called ESMAD). As a result, between April 28 and June 2:
▪
76 individuals have been killed, of these 34 were allegedly committed by the security forces, the
others were carried out by unidentified "civilians" during peaceful social protest
▪
988 people have been injured by the National Police and in particular by the security forces
(ESMAD). In recent days, cases of eye injuries have increased to 74 and 87 cases of people injured
by firearms.
▪
151 human rights defenders have been attacked as part of their work to accompany the social
protest, performing their role as CVI Verification and Intervention Commissions. Various types of
attacks have occurred; such as threats, beatings, arbitrary arrests, accusations, harassment,
stigmatization and attacks by unidentified armed persons.
▪
At least 87 sexual assaults against women committed by the police and security forces have so far
been registered
We ask the Danish government to recommend that the Colombian State urgently adopts measures to
protect life, personal integrity, personal freedom, due process, freedom of expression, freedom of
association, the right to assembly, the right to participation and other rights and fundamental principles
recognised in the American Convention on Human Rights and the Colombian constitution.
The OHCHR, IACHR and the EU have expressed deep concerns over the situation. According to the
state e t EEAS Ma 6 : The e essive use of for e i repressi g su h protests, the es alatio of
viole e a d a further disproportio ate use of for e the se urit for es ust stop.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/eeas-statement-of-6-may-2021-on-violence/product-
details/20210506DPU29768
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In a statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet, she called for an end to
all forms of violence, including vandalism, and said that only dialogue can resolve the demands of different
groups involved in the current national strike.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/05/1093062
Statement by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (May 28):
http://www.oas.org/en/IACHR/jsForm/?File=/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2021/137.asp
Guatemala: Freedom of assembly (see letter addressed to the EU below)
International and Guatemalan NGO networks are concerned about the alarming setback to democracy and
the rule of law in Guatemala, in particular towards the imminent entry into force of the controversial
reform of the NGO Law (Decree 4-2020) (see attached NGO letter to the EU)).
On 12 May, Guatemala's recently sworn-in Constitutional Court definitively annulled the constitutional
challenges to the reform.
As the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and its Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression
pointed out on 19 May, this new legislation will restrict civic space, putting at risk the rights to freedom of
association and freedom of expression, hindering citizen participation and the defense of human rights.
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