The 58th session of the Human Rights Council took place from February 24 to April 4, 2025. This session was held amid attacks on multilateralism and civil society and the withdrawal of three members from the Council: the United States, Israel, and Nicaragua. Right Livelihood engaged in this session to raise issues affecting our Laureates. Below are the highlights from our engagement and the session.
During the opening session on the 24th of February, Jürg Lauberg, President of the Human Rights Council, and Philemon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly, highlighted their concern over the sharp decline in Human Rights and how the urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. As well as the fact that human rights are universal, indivisible, and interdependent. They referenced the Beijing+30 anniversary and how gender equality must remain at the center of the discussion. The Secretary General to the UN, Antonio Gutierrez, reflected on how human rights are the oxygen to humanity, and they are currently being suffocated. He referenced the crises in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Haiti, Ukraine, and Palestine. Furthermore, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed that now it’s time for justice and accountability and emphasized the need to protect refugees, migrants, and marginalized groups. He stressed that human rights are about “facts, law, and compassion” and paid tribute to all the human rights defenders worldwide who play a crucial role in defending justice and democratic institutions.
The high-level segment featured the active participation of 70 dignitaries and officials. The three-day event focused strongly on strengthening the Human Rights Council’s role in promoting and protecting human rights. Concerns over the situations in Ukraine and Palestine dominated the discussions. Specific issues such as peacebuilding, the protection of human rights defenders, gender equality, migration, and humanitarian crises were also prominently addressed. Additionally, member states discussed the mandates and purpose of the Human Rights Council and reaffirmed their commitment to its principles. Peace and security, along with international cooperation and multilateralism, were acknowledged as essential approaches to safeguarding human rights and maintaining global stability. The discussions also highlighted the Council’s prioritization of responding to crises, armed conflicts, and escalating environmental challenges.
Later on, the High Commissioner for Human Rights delivered the global update on the state of human rights. Mr.Türk stated that the world is going through a period of turbulence and uncertainty, and the current situation strikes at the very core of the international order. He emphasized that civilians are being deliberately targeted, and that sexual violence and famine are being used as weapons of war. While humanitarian access is denied, weapons continue to flow across borders, evading sanctions. War has become a reality for millions, and, as Mr. Türk noted, the lack of accountability undermines the prospects for peace. He highlighted ongoing humanitarian catastrophes in Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Haiti, and Yemen, and stressed the need for accountability. He also expressed concern over the global backlash against women’s rights, denouncing Afghanistan’s gender apartheid and Iran’s discriminatory laws. Furthermore, he condemned the shrinking of civic space and repression of dissent in countries such as Russia, Belarus, Nicaragua, and China. Finally, he raised alarms about big tech’s growing, unchecked power and how such unregulated influence can contribute to oppression.
The Council then proceeded with the general debate on the High Commissioner’s update, which was preceded by an oral update on the human rights situation in Nicaragua. The oral update expressed concerns over the recently adopted constitutional reform that eliminated the separation of powers and provision of torture from the constitution. It also highlighted the repression of critical voices and the growing food insecurity, as well as the worrying isolation of Nicaragua from the international community and its regrettable withdrawal from the Human Rights Council. During the debate, speakers mainly reacted to the High Commissioner’s update on the situation in Ukraine and Gaza, which was most referred to as a concern for states. As well as voicing concern for humanitarian crises in Yemen, Sudan, and Myanmar.
Furthermore, during the Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Group of Experts concerning the promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua, we delivered a statement urging the renewal of the Group of Experts’ mandate. In our statement, we highlighted that, by enabling illegal activities such as cattle breeding, logging, and mining on Indigenous lands, the Nicaraguan government is complicit in grave human rights violations. We condemned the government’s continued repression of human rights defenders and its systematic efforts to strip Indigenous communities of land rights and autonomy. We called on the Council to renew and strengthen the mandate of the Group of Experts, with increased attention to Indigenous Peoples and to ensure they are provided with adequate resources to fulfill their role.
As part of our advocacy work during this session, we co-sponsored a side event on the Human Rights situation in Guatemala. The side event was titled “Defending the Rule of Law from Exile.” It featured testimonies from exiled justice operators and human rights defenders, shedding light on the institutional consequences of criminalization and political prosecution.
Moreover, under General Debate of Item 4, this is the item on Human Rights situations that require the Council’s attention, we delivered an oral statement regarding the 5 environmental activists imprisoned from Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC, Right Livelihood Laureate 2023). In July 2024, they were sentenced between 6 and 8 years for “insulting the king” and “plotting against the government.” In the statement, we emphasised that the verdict was reached through irregular proceedings and lacked credible evidence. We urged the Council to address Cambodia’s deteriorating human rights situation under Item 4 and called for the immediate release of the Mother Nature Cambodia activists.
During the UPR( Universal Periodic Review), Nicaragua was among the members due to present its report on actions taken to the Council during this session. This was not possible due to the disengagement of Nicaragua from the HRC and all its linked activities. The president of the Human Rights Council will urge cooperation, and its UPR has been postponed until the 59th or 60th session if the Nicaraguan state considers re-engaging.
During the general debate on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, several key concerns were raised. The exponential expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the systematic increase in settler violence were highlighted as part of a broader, institutionalized illegal regime. Delegates expressed strong condemnation of the failed ceasefire efforts and emphasized the need to support the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion. The ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza was also a central concern. Many states reiterated their support for the two-state solution, stressing it as the only viable path toward lasting peace.
At the end of the session, the Council adopted 32 texts, 20 were adopted by consensus and 12 by vote. Among the 7 extended mandates on country situations under Item 4 was the 2-year renewal of the mandate of the Group of Human Rights Experts (GHREN) on Nicaragua. We welcome the Council decision to take the situation of Nicaragua under Item 4, given the deteriorating human rights situation and the continued isolation of the country from the multilateral system. Also, under Item 4, we welcome the new resolution on the human rights situation in Belarus. Furthermore, on the thematic resolutions, we welcome the adoption by consensus of the “Human right defenders and new emerging technologies: protecting human right defenders, including women human right defenders in the digital age” this resolution considers the needs expressed by human rights defenders during consultative process and covers new grounds on states’ obligation. We also welcome the resolution “The human right to a clean and healthy environment: the ocean and human rights” as it reaffirms the crucial role of the ocean and its preservation for fostering human rights. Nonetheless, we remain concerned about the funding restrictions that have affected the work and participation of human rights defenders at the Council, as well as the continuing financial crisis at the United Nations, not to mention the attacks on multilateral organisations such as the UN during this session.