On Tuesday, 8 July 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) concluded its 59th session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The world’s primary multilateral institution for the protection and promotion of human rights convened amidst the relentless build-up of political and financial roadblocks to its critical work, and an overall bleak global environment for the human rights movement.
As the genocide in Gaza and human rights crises in such places as Sudan or Myanmar rage on, the UN system seems ill-prepared to carry out planned processes of transformation and modernization on the occasion of its 80th anniversary. Rather, it is suffocating in the midst of massive financial cuts to its budget and international aid more generally.
The global regression has dealt a body blow to the operations of multilateral institutions to address the overwhelming challenges facing humanity, including democracy, the rule of law, and respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Major Human Rights Challenges
Against this dismal backdrop, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) focused its engagement at this session on addressing the attacks on the independence of judges and lawyers both domestically and internationally. In its oral statement during the interactive dialogue on the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the ICJ’s Secretary General, Santiago Canton, echoed the denunciations expressed by the High Commissioner regarding unconscionable sanctions by the United States against the International Criminal Court (ICC), its personnel, and those who cooperate with it. The ICJ stressed the attacks on the ICC were part of a global pattern that saw independent justice actors and institutions under attack around the world.
The ICJ highlighted the importance of maintaining international scrutiny and accountability over atrocity crimes through independent monitoring and investigative mandates, especially in countries where political repression and instability, and the lack of effective and independent judicial institutions, do not allow for the delivery of justice to victims and survivors.
For instance, in Libya, the ICJ has called for the creation of a new investigative and accountability mechanism following the closure of the HRC-mandated independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya in 2023. The ICJ, together with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and Libyan civil society, convened a side-event on “Unearthing the Truth: Mass Graves, Extrajudicial Killings, and the Case for Justice in Libya.” There, participants underscored that HRC action should not be reduced to technical cooperation for domestic justice mechanisms, but rather, a properly mandated and resourced accountability mechanism is needed for the victims and survivors of gross human rights abuses and violations.
As the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers reported to the HRC on the fragile state of independent judiciaries around the world, the ICJ drew the attention of the HRC specifically to attacks on independent judges and lawyers in Tunisia and Guatemala, as well as in India and Eswatini. The ICJ also pointed to retrogression in the United States and Europe, which saw a rise in executive interference in the work of independent courts and incidents of disregard of judicial decisions. These trends were highlighted during a high-level side-event led by the ICJ on 27 June 2025 that was supported by Amnesty International, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, DefendDefenders, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, FIDH, FORUM-ASIA, Gulf Centre for Human Rights, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights Watch, International Bar Association, Judges for Judges, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, Ordre des Avocats de Genève, REDRESS, TRIAL International, Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice; and supported by Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica, Estonia, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Sri Lanka, Slovenia and Sweden. The Ambassadors of Belgium and of Colombia, the ICC President, Justice Akane, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers participated in the panel.
The ICJ also joined IBAHRI and HRW to denounce the US sanctions against the ICC in a statement made during the dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and Lawyers.
The adverse consequences of radical cuts by the United States and others to international aid and cooperation were manifest in the dramatic reduction of the UN budget and resources available including to the work of the HRC, where decisions suspending entire areas of previously mandated work were on the table.
Achievements at the session
Despite these strong headwinds, the HRC continued to adopt important resolutions, mandating a continuity to its critical work. A majority of States remained prepared to seriously engage in multilateral efforts to build bridges to preserve decades of human rights progress, including in the area of gender equality or the protection of human rights defenders and civil society space.
Regarding the rights of women and girls, the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons and gender equality, the ICJ welcomes the adoption of the resolution renewing the contested mandate of the independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, by a larger majority than three years ago, the last time the mandate was up for renewal.
Achievements at the session
Despite these strong headwinds, the HRC continued to adopt important resolutions, mandating a continuity to its critical work. A majority of States remained prepared to seriously engage in multilateral efforts to build bridges to preserve decades of human rights progress, including in the area of gender equality or the protection of human rights defenders and civil society space.
Regarding the rights of women and girls, the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons and gender equality, the ICJ welcomes the adoption of the resolution renewing the contested mandate of the independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, by a larger majority than three years ago, the last time the mandate was up for renewal.
The ICJ further welcomes the adoption by consensus of:
– A resolution renewing the mandate of the UN working group on discrimination against women and girls, a body that has provided important guidance to States towards a better protection of the rights of women and girls for 15 years;
– A resolution led by the African Group aimed at eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and focusing on the role of digital technology and focusing on underlying causes of FGM, such as gender stereotypes;
– A resolution aiming empowering women and girls in and through sport and
– A resolution accelerating efforts to achieve women’s economic empowerment led by a cross-regional group.
On the other hand, the resolution on accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls: prevention through the fulfillment of economic, social, and cultural rights, while ultimately adopted by consensus, was met with hostility by several States. The debates showed the continued polarization at the Council on gender and the failure of certain States to affirm the universality of human rights and equal protection of all. In particular, the resolution was subject to attempts to insert hostile amendments, especially from the Group of Arab States, which effectively questioned the existence of rights to sexual and reproductive health and to bodily autonomy, and to comprehensive sexual education.
On the issue of climate change, very active last-minute diplomatic efforts allowed to adopt the resolution without a vote. The discord showed that some States were keen on protecting the interests of oil producers, major greenhouse gas emitters, against the interests of the States that suffer most immediately from the consequences of climate change. An amendment proposed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands, including a call to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, was ultimately watered down but led to some useful additional provisions in the final text.
The resolution on access to medicine, vaccines and other health products in the context of the right to health, referring to the Pandemic treaty adopted recently under the auspices of the WHO, reflected the tensions deeply aggravated around the COVID -9 pandemic between the global north and south around technology transfer, trade and intellectual property rights, and the grave inequalities in access to medicine and vaccines. While the resolution was eventually adopted by a comfortable majority of 32 votes in favour and 15 abstentions, the ICJ regrets that the resolution that was adopted by consensus in the past had to go to a vote.
The ever-widening pattern of transnational repression adversely affects the rights and work of civil society actors, human rights defenders, and journalists. In this regard, the ICJ welcomes the adoption of the resolution on civil society space, which urges States to take measures against such repression and the actors responsible. The resolution addresses the role of malign strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and the responsibility of businesses.
A second resolution on the safety of journalists adopted by the Council contains complementary provisions. Given the terrible death toll of independent journalists and media workers, including those deliberately targeted by Israel in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the ICJ welcomes the resolution and its strong focus on the protection of journalists and media workers in situations of conflict.
Country situations
The 59th session saw a restricted number of country-specific negotiations and resolutions. The ICJ welcomes the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, given the atrocious human rights situation prevailing in the country. Eritrea attempted to end this mandate that monitors and documents human rights abuses and instead proposed a resolution entitled “Discontinuation of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea,” which was fortunately defeated by a large majority of 25 to 4, with 18 abstaining.
In Myanmar, the ICJ welcomes the addition of important new language in the resolution on the rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities. Nevertheless, the ICJ joins a number of States in denouncing the failure to include the imperative of ending arms transfer to Myanmar, but including language effectively aimed at putting pressure on Rohingya people to return to Myanmar from their refuge in Bangladesh and elsewhere. The ICJ joined others in denouncing the atrocity crimes committed by the military and the fact that the judiciary has been completely subsumed by them, and independent lawyers are facing severe restrictions and threats.
The ICJ continued to advocate for a full accountability mechanism to address systematic and widespread human rights violations and abuses committed in Afghanistan. The ICJ addressed the situation in Belarus, where the repression against lawyers and the erosion of judicial independence persist. The ICJ also called attention to the situation in Venezuela, where widespread and systematic human rights violations are prevalent and attacks are increasing against civil society, while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has just been declared persona non grata by the Venezuelan authorities.
The ICJ (co) sponsored side events
- Unearthing the Truth: Mass Graves, Extrajudicial Killings, and the Case for Justice in Libya
17 June 2025, 13:00–14:00 CEST
Organized by: Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (main organizer)
Co-sponsored by: Libya Crimes Watch, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Libyan Platform for Human Rights
- From Posts to Protests: Shrinking Civic Space and Digital Authoritarianism in Asia
20 June 2025, 15:00–16:00 CEST
Organized by: Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (main organizer)
Co-sponsored by: International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), CIVICUS, Franciscans International
- Artful Families: A Human Rights-Based Approach to Surrogacy
24 June 2025, 15:00–16:00 CEST
Organized by: Center for Reproductive Rights (main organizer)
Co-sponsored by: Amnesty International, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Grupo de Información en Reproducción Elegida (GIRE)
- Beyond Conflation: A Rights-Based Approach to Trafficking and Sex Work
25 June 2025, 13:00–14:00 CEST
Organized by: Action Canada for Population and Development (main organizer)
CASW, NSWP, Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI), GAATW, Tiyane Vavassate, FIZ, European Sex Workers Rights Alliance
Co-sponsored by: Urgent Action Fund, SWAN (Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network), APC, CREA, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), AWID, ILGA, IPPF, La Strada International, GATE (Global Action for Trans* Equality), Women Deliver, Akãhatã, Just Futures Collaborative, Amnesty International, WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform, Our Voices Our Future
- Protecting Lawyers to Ensure Access to Justice: The New Council of Europe Convention
27 June 2025, 13:00–14:00 CEST
Organized by: the International Bar Association, Council of Europe, Permanent Representation of Luxembourg and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
Co-sponsored by: International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Lawyers for Lawyers, Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), LAWASIA, American Bar Association (ABA), Inter-American Bar Association
Supporting States: Andorra, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Czechia, Estonia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Moldova
- Attacks Against the International Criminal Court and Judiciaries Around the World: Firewalls Against Impunity
27 June 2025, 14:00–15:00 CEST
Organized by : the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) (main organizer)
Co-sponsored by: Amnesty International, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, DefendDefenders, ECCHR – European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, FIDH, FORUM-ASIA, Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights Watch, International Bar Association, Judges for Judges, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, Ordre des Avocats de Genève, REDRESS, TRIAL International, Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice
Supporting States: Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica, Estonia, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Sri Lanka, Slovenia, Sweden
