Raphael Viana David

New ISHR report reveals how governments work behind the scenes to defund the UN’s human rights work A groundbreaking report published by ISHR today, reveals for the first time how a small group of States led by China and Russia are obstructing and hijacking budget negotiations at the United Nations…

BREAKING: new @ishr.ch report uncovers how China and Russia hijack budget negotiations in New York to defund the UN's human rights work and investigations, while the US has gutted the UN's budget at a time of financial crisis and #UN80 reform.

Read more: ishr.ch/latest-updat...

UN80 Initiative: proposed budget cuts disproportionately hit the human rights pillar Geneva / New York, 18 September 2025 – On 16 September 2025, the UN Secretary-General published its report revising its earlier proposal for the UN’s 2026 budget (known as ‘Revised estimates’ report).

@ishr.ch analysed the Secretary-General's revised UN budget proposal for 2026 released this week, the data is clear: human rights, chronically underfunded, are disproportionately targeted.

States must reverse cuts, adequately fund human rights.

ishr.ch/latest-updat...

@chrdnet.bsky.social proud 2 team up w @rizwangvl.bsky.social @marylawlorhrds.bsky.social @vdraphael.bsky.social @yalkun.bsky.social to talk about #China govt’s widespread, systematic #humanrights abuses, esp scourge of #arbitrarydetention. Goal: ending impunity. Watch online: youtube.com/@CHRDnet

NGOs call out Hong Kong’s escalation of transnational repression against human rights defenders Read the joint letter below: We, the undersigned civil society and human rights organizations, strongly condemn the Hong Kong government’s escalating repression of activists in exile and their family…

@ishr.ch l joins 22 human rights organisations in strongly condemning the #HongKong government’s escalating transnational repression against activists in exile and the targeting of relatives of prominent activist Anna Kwok.

ishr.ch/latest-updat...

@ishr.ch strongly condemns the targeting of relatives of Hong Kong exiled activist Anna Kwok, in severe escalation of repression by Hong Kong authorities.

We urge governments to provide robust public responses.

We stand in full solidarity with Anna Kwok and all victims of transnational repression.

New ISHR report uncovers China’s tactics to block civil society access to the United Nations The Chinese government has made extensive use of its membership of UN human rights bodies and soared the presence of Chinese GONGOs to deter and prevent independent NGOs and human rights defenders…

At a time when multilateralism is challenged, we provide recommendations to make the UN safer for activists and NGOs, free from undue State interference.

Read the full story here: ishr.ch/latest-updat...

"The Chinese government does not want independent voices at the UN and has been trying hard to kick them out from Geneva and New York. This stands in direct contradiction to its self-portrayal as a reliable multilateral leader."

Really pleased to launch this new report: based on extensive data, we expose Beijing's strategy to silence, deter and block NGOs at the UN.

The report was widely covered in today's investigation on China's transnational repression by @icij.org, @theguardian.com, @lemonde.fr, @elpais.com and others.

El Colectivo 46/2 analiza la renovación del mandato del GHREN en la ONU y su impacto en #Nicaragua. YouTube video by Colectivo Nicaragua Nunca Más

Participo de la conferencia de prensa del Colectivo 46/2, incl @ishr.ch, tras victoria aplastante del voto por la renovación de la resolución del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU sobre Nicaragua hace algunos instantes.

Empezando ahora: www.youtube.com/live/aZZyhIU...

Human Rights Council renews investigation on Nicaragua as it turns back on UN Member States of the UN Human Rights Council approved a second two-year renewal of the investigative and accountability mandate of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN)…

BREAKING - 'Authorities in Managua can try and hide, but sooner or later, whether it’s in New York or in Geneva, they will have to explain themselves before the international community.' @ishr.ch

ishr.ch/latest-updat...

BREAKING: Landslide victory for Human Rights Council vote to renew for 2 years mandates of UN Human Rights Office
and Group of Experts (GHREN) investigating Nicaragua's crimes agst humanity.

With Nicaragua leaving HRC, the text crucially mandates GHREN now to also present to UNGA in NYC. @ishr.ch

Earlier today, the UK called at the UN Human Rights Council for the release of #HuangXueqin, #JimmyLai and other arbitrarily detained activists, lawyers, journalists in China and Hong Kong.

@ishr.ch echoes the call for their immediate release, as repeatedly urged by many UN experts over past years.

我们在 @fifdh.bsky.social 与 #青年活动家峰会 共同举办活动的精彩瞬间！

@ishr.ch @vdraphael.bsky.social 分享道：本届电影节正值全球格局迅速变化的关键转折点。作为人权领航员，我们正在经受一场公海上的风暴，看不到尽头。我们必须发挥集体的力量以渡过难关：一起扬帆起航，组织起来，开辟通往正义和变革的新道路。

Between January 1, 2019 & December 31, 2024, authorities sentenced 1,422 PoCs to prison in mainland #China and 123 individuals in #HongKong in violation of their #humanrights. Read the details here in new @chrdnet.bsky.social research: www.nchrd.org/2025/03/in-a...

Two separate #UN bodies have now warned that #China ’s arbitrary detention practices may constitute #CrimesAgainstHumanity. This alarming pattern calls for independent investigations into #Beijing ’s atrocities, says @sophiedrich.bsky.social
Read our full report: www.nchrd.org/2025/03/chin...

Chinese feminists continue to resist amidst repression 30 years after Beijing Conference on Women The statement was delivered in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark framework for achieving gender equality adopted at the Fourth World…

Ahead of Intl Women's Day #IWD2025, @ishr.ch partnered with Chinese feminist activists in a statement to the UN Human Rights Council to pay tribute to their work, 30 years after the Beijing Conference on Women and 10 years after China's crackdown on the 'Feminist Five.'

ishr.ch/latest-updat...

HRC58: UN Genocide Prevention Office urged to act upon UN committee ruling on Uyghurs The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) held yesterday a panel discussion with UN and civil society panelists on the role of early warning in preventing genocide and other atrocity crimes. Virginia Gamba…

In 2022, the UN committee on racial discrimination issued a key decision on the plight of Uyghurs, referring for the first time ever the situation to the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and R2P (UNOSAPG).

Two+ years after, we need substantive action by UNOSAPG. @ishr.ch

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UN bodies slam incoming Human Rights Council member Thailand for Uyghur deportations to China On 27 February 2025, Thai authorities forcibly deported 40 Uyghur individuals – who had attempted to transit through then seek asylum in Thailand – to China in a secretive overnight operation.

It is ludicrous that on the heels of taking its seat as a Human Rights Council member, Thailand chose to ignore compelling UN evidence and instead pointed to Beijing ‘reassurances’ that no harm would be done to the deported Uyghurs. @ishr.ch

ishr.ch/latest-updat...

Joint civil society statement on the fifth anniversary of the ‘Xiamen gathering’ crackdown Read the full statement in English, Chinese and Spanish. Thursday 26 December 2024 marked the fifth anniversary of the crackdown on the 'Xiamen gathering', a private gathering attended by some 20…

@ishr.ch &30+ human rights groups from Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, stand in solidarity with human rights defenders in China five years after the 'Xiamen Gathering' crackdown.

Full statement in English, Chinese, Spanish.

#FreeXuZhiyong #FreeDingJiaxi

ishr.ch/latest-updat...

The UN experts state that:
- 'treatment of the Uyghur minority in China is well-documented,
- they're 'concerned they are at risk of suffering irreparable harm, in violation of the international prohibition on refoulement to torture.'

The UN experts are clear: “It is our view that these 48 Uyghur individuals should not be returned to China. Instead, they must be provided with access to asylum procedures and other humanitarian assistance, including medical and psycho-social support in Thailand.”

URGENT: UN experts urge Thailand to immediately stop deporation of 48 Uyghurs to China, warning that the group was at real risk of torture or ill-treatment if they are returned.

@ishr.ch @uyghurcongress.bsky.social @uyghurproject.bsky.social

This is a horrifying prospect. The deportation of Uyghurs in Thailand to the PRC is such a flagrant breach of the principle of non-refoulement.

今天是 #彭立发 51岁生日，祝他生日快乐。

彭立发在让全社会噤声的重压中挺身而出，于2022年10月13日在 #北京 四通桥上悬挂横幅，要求结束 #动态清零，反对独裁统治并要求政治体制改革，而遭 #强迫失踪 至今。

此事是自 #八九六四 以来北京街头重现少见的抗议运动：

👉1个月后 #白纸运动 席卷中国
👉2个月后中国放弃清零政策

🔔呼吁国际社会持续发声 #寻找彭立发，敦促 #中国 释放 #彭立发。

🇻🇪 Carlos Correa, a human rights defender in Venezuela, was arbitrarily detained on Jan 7, 2025. His whereabouts are unknown.

✊ Take action: Write an appeal for his release!
amnesty.org/en/documents...

#WhereIsCarlosCorrea #FreeCarlosCorrea #HumanRights #Venezuela

As many celebrate Christmas/end-of-year, inspiring activists #DingJiaxi and #XuZhiyong remain in jail 5 years after the Chinese government's egregious 'Xiamen Crackdown' on 26 December 2019.

@ishrglobal.bsky.social stands in solidarity with them & will continue fighting for their prompt release.

🇨🇳 Friday has been 100 days since Chinese journalist #ZhangZhan was rearrested, a mere months after completion an earlier four-year arbitrary prison sentence for her independent reporting. Now she faces up to 5 more years in prison for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” #FreeZhangZhan!

Today marks 100 days of detention of #ZhangZhan, Chinese journalist who has been rearrested after spending 4 years in jail for her coverage of the Covid 19 & almost died in jail while on hunger strike. She now faces 5 years in prison under bogus charges. #FreeZhangZhan

rsf.org/en/freezhang...

HRDAP 2025: Apply now for ISHR’s hybrid training for human rights defenders! After a successful edition in 2024, ISHR is pleased to launch the call for applications for the 2025 Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme (HRDAP25), which will take place both remotely and in…

⏰The clock is ticking!⏰ Keen to better leverage #UN and international advocacy spaces to advance your human rights work & achieve change? Apply now for ISHR’s hybrid Human Rights Defender Advocacy Programme #HRDAP25👇
ishr.ch/latest-updat...

🚨 crucial context to understand dynamics & prospects at🇺🇳 #COP29: policing of free speech & retaliation against civil society have been particularly severe this year, both in lead up to and during COP
🧵 A detailed thread to provide context, references to key docs and updates⬇️