The ICJ called today on the UN Human Rights Council to establish a UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation and prompted its attention to human rights violations occurring in Eswatini.
The statement reads as follows:
“Mr President,
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) expresses grave concern at the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation and the significantly decreased access to effective international remedies following the State’s departure from the Council of Europe and termination of the jurisdiction the European Court of Human Rights earlier this month.
We therefore welcome the draft resolution proposed by 26 European countries, to establish a UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation of the Russian Federation to provide a needed bridge to civil society and victims of human rights violations in Russia.
The ICJ condemns the ongoing violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, both online and offline, in Eswatini, and calls on the government to revoke measures used to suppress the exercise of freedom of expression, in contravention of international human rights law.
Throughout 2021, Eswatini security forces suppressed pro-democracy protests through unlawful and violent means, while the State maintains its 1973 ban on political parties. Access to the Internet has been repeatedly curtailed . Many protestors, journalists, human rights defenders and political activists have been harassed, arbitrarily detained or unlawfully killed or injured. We draw the Council’s attention to the ongoing arbitrary detention of MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, since their unlawful arrest on 25 July 2021.
Thank you.”
Contact:
Massimo Frigo, ICJ UN Representative, e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org, t: +41797499949