Many HRDs are struggling to secure human rights progress at the national level, where they also face threats and reprisals. Despite the pressures on the international human rights system, they are increasingly turning here to deliver justice and to garner solidarity for their causes. They are looking for a system that is accessible, safe, protective, legitimate, and impactful.
The UN human rights system has high barriers that HRDs must overcome before they are able to access and engage with it. The first is securing a visa, ensuring that they can enter relevant countries: UN host countries such as Switzerland (for Geneva) or the United States (for New York), have a special role and responsibility in this regard. The second is accreditation: the ECOSOC NGO Committee has been used to block critical voices from accessing the system, and despite attempts at reform it remains a major obstacle for many organisations and individuals, while many government-organised NGOs, or GONGOs, are given access. The third is physical access within the UN estate, with Room XX in the Palais des Nations (the main chamber of the UN Human Rights Council) off-limits to many temporary passholders – although the hybrid access introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly widened the possibilities for participation. The fourth is the high level of technical expertise needed to navigate the system, which is not easy for newcomers to acquire. These challenges are compounded by the threat of reprisals for HRDs who speak out.
Beyond the UN, securing a seat at the table is also a challenge in discussions about conflict, where human rights are often excluded. Yet here, as in discussions on other topics such as climate and the environment, there is much that a human rights analysis could contribute.
The issue of access also raises important questions about diversity and ensuring that there is fair representation and participation in any discussions about human rights: who is in the room, who decides this, and who has a meaningful say? The diversity of the conversation matters profoundly for its own integrity and its ability to yield meaningful outcomes
Proposals for action:
- States should continue to pursue and support reform of the ECOSOC accreditation system for NGOs. They should also consider alternative pathways to enable HRDs to access the UN human rights mechanisms, including through HRC resolutions or being invited to speak independently.