---
title: "HRC40: Saudi Arabia faces historic censure, Egypt’s attempt to undermine UN counterterrorism & human rights mechanism thwarted"
slug: "hrc40-saudi-arabia-faces-historic-censure-egypts-attempt-to-undermine-un-counterterrorism-human-rights-mechanism-thwarted"
post_type: "post"
published_at: "2019-06-25T14:51:02+01:00"
modified_at: "2026-04-30T08:32:33+01:00"
author: "CIHRS"
url: "https://cihrs.org/hrc40-saudi-arabia-faces-historic-censure-egypts-attempt-to-undermine-un-counterterrorism-human-rights-mechanism-thwarted/?lang=en"
category:
  - "International Advocacy Program"
  - "United Nations Human Rights Council"
causes_and_rights:
  - "Accountability"
  - "Arbitrary Detention"
  - "Extrajudicial killing"
  - "Protection of Human Rights Defenders"
country:
  - "Egypt"
  - "Gulf Cooperation Council countries"
  - "Libya"
  - "Palestine"
  - "Saudi Arabia"
  - "Syria"
  - "Yemen"
  - "Gulf Cooperation Council countries"
field:
  - "Regional and International Protection and Advocacy"
interest:
  - "Statements and Positions"
protection_and_advocacy:
  - "United Nations Human Rights Council"
---

# HRC40: Saudi Arabia faces historic censure, Egypt’s attempt to undermine UN counterterrorism & human rights mechanism thwarted

# CIHRS at the United Nations Human Rights Council – 40th session 

# Saudi Arabia faces historic censure, Egypt’s attempt to undermine UN counterterrorism & human rights mechanism thwarted 

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) engaged in the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, held from February 25th to March 22nd 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. CIHRS’ advocacy centered on six countries: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Palestine, Libya, Syria, and Yemen. At the HRC, CIHRS focused on countering attempts of repressive governments to exploit international mechanisms to cover up their violations of human rights; on ensuring accountability for violators of human rights; and on advocating for the release of unjustly detained persons.

Significant victories were achieved on Saudi Arabia and Egypt; with Saudi Arabia publicly criticized by UN member states before the HRC for the first time in the council’s history, a significant step towards addressing the “[appalling disparity between Saudi Arabia’s obligation, as a member of the Council, to uphold the highest human rights standards; and the actual practices of Saudi Arabia, a state that systematically and brutally prosecutes any of its citizens who advocate for human rights](https://cihrs.org/saudi-arabia-over-50-human-rights-groups-call-for-immediate-release-of-rights-defenders/?lang=en).”

 Egypt’s attempt to undermine a UN special procedure mechanism was also thwarted after a concerted effort by CIHRS and its partner organizations to enroll other states in preventing Egypt from assuming a leadership role in drafting the resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (SR on CT), which could have resulted in shifting the focus of the procedure away from monitoring and deterring human rights violations in the name of countering terrorism.

CIHRS and its partners [continued to advocate](https://cihrs.org/re-release-of-united-nations-database-of-businesses-engaged-in-activities-related-to-israeli-settlements/?lang=en) for the publication of the UN database of businesses profiting from the Israel’s prolonged occupation and illegal settlement activities. CIHRS also joined organizations from around the world urging member States to adopt a resolution on environmental human rights defenders, a particularly urgent initiative given the unprecedented levels of killings and violent assaults against land and environmental defenders.

---

▸HRC40 | States should defend environmental human rights defenders12.03.2019

**Civil society\* from across the world are calling on all UN Member States to demonstrate their support to environmental human rights defenders.**

At its current 40th session, the Human Rights Council is discussing a draft resolution on environmental human rights defenders. This is a timely and important initiative as UN agencies, human rights organisations and the media have documented unprecedented killings and attacks against people defending land and the environment.

It is important for the Council to adopt a resolution that reflects the gravity and the reality of the situation defenders face every day. Our organisation therefore calls on members of the UN Human Rights Council to ensure that the resolution adopted by the Council clearly:

- Outlines the root causes of the threats against environmental human rights defenders, including development and commercial activities with adverse social and environmental impacts, or those imposed on communities without meaningful consultation and respect for their rights;
- Recognises that environmental human rights defenders confront multiple adverse interests when challenging State and corporate activities, and highlights the collusion between different actors which hinders the work of defenders and aggravates their vulnerable position;
- Clearly names the industries and activities most dangerous to defenders, such as the mining industry, natural resource exploitation, agribusiness and large-scale development projects;
- Acknowledges the wide number of States that have recognised the right to a healthy environment in their internal legal order;
- Recognises that the lack of effective access to information, access to participation and access to justice causes environmental conflicts and leads to violence against defenders;
- Calls for the development of protection mechanisms for environmental human rights defenders in line with best practice identified by the Special Rapporteur;
- Articulates the specific risks women and indigenous human rights defenders face and the need for an intersectional approach in assessing and designing protection measures for defenders;
- Calls on States to ensure that all communities are meaningfully consulted and can participate genuinely in matters that affect their rights and, in particular the use, management and conservation of their land and natural resources;
- Calls on States to guarantee the right to free, prior and informed consent for indigenous peoples;
- Calls on States to adopt legislation that creates due diligence obligations for companies registered in their jurisdictions and those of their subsidiaries;
- Articulates the responsibility of businesses to respect the rights of human rights defenders and highlights measures companies should take to contribute to addressing their insecurity;
- Adequately articulates the responsibility of investors and the obligations of development finance institutions to respect human rights in the context of their investments and to develop and implement effective policies to prevent and address threats; and
- Stresses that an open civic space, including respect for the rights to freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association and movement, as well as the right to participate in the conduct of government and public affairs, is vital to the protection of both a healthy and sustainable environment and environmental human rights defenders.

The draft being negotiated in Geneva contains some of these essential elements, which must be defended, but also offers significant potential for strengthening.

As negotiations enter the final stretch, our organisations urge States to actively support the development of a resolution which clearly recognises the vital contribution of environmental human rights defenders to sustainable development and the effective enjoyment of human rights, and formulates concrete asks of the States, development finance institutions and companies with the power of safeguarding that contribution.

Sincerely, *\*signatures are collected on a rolling basis*

1. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
2. Amnesty International
3. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia)
4. CIVICUS
5. DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)
6. Earth Justice
7. Front Line Defenders
8. Global Witness
9. JASS (Just Associates)
10. IM-Defensoras
11. Christian Development Alternative (CDA)
12. Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association
13. Social Justice Connection
14. Franciscans International
15. Unidad de Protección a Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos - Guatemala (UDEFEGUA)
16. Geneva for Human Rights
17. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
18. Réseau Ouest africain des Défenseurs des Droits Humains/West African Human Rights Defenders' Network
19. Coordination of Associations and People for Freedom of Conscience
20. La'o Hamutuk
21. Karapatan Philippines
22. Human Rights House Foundation
23. HETAVED SKILLS ACADEMY AND NETWORKS
24. International Commission of Jurists
25. Conectas Direitos Humanos
26. World Movement for Democracy
27. Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE)
28. Center for Civil Liberties
29. Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
30. Human Rights Concern - Eritrea (HRCE)
31. International Women's Development Agency (IWDA)
32. Humanitaire Plus (Togo)
33. Coalition Burkinabé des Défenseurs des Droits Humains
34. AMARA
35. Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC)
36. Odhikar
37. Freedom House
38. Red Internacional Unión Latinoamericana de Mujeres - Red ULAM
39. Freedom House
40. Rivers without Boundaries Mongolia
41. Asian Legal Resource Centre
42. OYU TOLGOI WATCH
43. Ligue Burundaise des droits de l’homme Iteka
44. International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)
45. AVIPA association des victimes parents et amis du 28 septembre 2009 Guinée
46. Porgera Red Wara (River) Women's Association Incorporated (PRWWA INC.)
47. KRuHA - people's coalition for the right to water
48. Asia Pacific Network of Environment Defenders (APNED)
49. EMPOWER INDIA
50. EarthRights International
51. Dawei Probono Lawyer Network (DPLN)
52. Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice(ANEEJ)
53. Partnership for Justice, Nigeria
54. Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
55. Huridocs
56. Steps Without Borders NGO
57. Humanists International
58. Coalition Togolaise des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CTDDH)
59. Labour,Health and Human Rights Development Centre
60. Institute for Multi-Resource Development (IMdev)
61. Not1More
62. Patrons of Khuvsgul lake movement
63. Liberia Coalition of Human Rights DefendersHuman Concern, Inc
64. Brot für die Welt
65. ARTICLE 19
66. Peace Brigades International
67. Metro Center Journalists Rights & Advocacy
68. World Uyghur Congress
69. 350.org
70. International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
71. Latinamerikagrupperna
72. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
73. Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
74. SUDIA
75. Synergia - 36/5000 Initiatives for Human Rights
76. Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.
77. Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM)
78. Center for Women's Global Leadership
79. Transformative and Integrative Build Out For All
80. Institute for Strategic & Development Studies
81. Reseau de Femmes du Mlieu Rural Haitien
82. East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
83. FIFCJ
84. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
85. Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID)
86. Zo Indigenous Forum
87. MADRE
88. FOKUS Forum for women and development
89. Bougainville Women's Federation
90. Human Rights Council-Ethiopia
91. Environment Defenders Advocacy
92. Porgera Women's Rights Watch
93. Independent Human Rights Analyst and Strategy Advisor
94. Buliisa Initiative for Rural Development Organisation (BIRUDO)
95. Community Resource Centre Foundation
96. MANUSHYA FOUNDATION
97. Equitable Cambodia
98. Friends with Environment in Development
99. Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB)
100. Association For Promotion Sustainable development
101. WoMin Afrcan Alliance
102. Both ENDS
103. Child Rights Connect
104. CONSEIL REGIONAL DES ORGANISATIONS NON GOUVERNEMENTALES DE DEVELOPPEMENT
105. Enda Lead Afrique Francophone
106. Human Rights Law Centre
107. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
108. World Voices Uganda
109. Africa Center for Policy Facilitation
110. Estonian Forest Aid
111. Community Transformation Foundation Network (COTFONE)
112. Collectif Camerounais des Organisations des Droits de l'Homme et de la Démocratie (COCODHD)
113. Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
114. North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS)
115. Sangsan Anakot Yawachon Development Project
116. Forum Syd Sweden
117. COALITION AGAINST LAND GRABBING (CALG) - PHILIPPINES
118. UNLAD-BLFFA
119. Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC)
120. BankTrack
121. CORE Coalition
122. The Gaia Foundation
123. Labour Behind the Label
124. Bataris Formation Center
125. Salva la Selva
126. Observatoire d'études et d'appui à la responsabilité sociale et environnementale (OEARSE)
127. REd de Género y Medio Ambiente
128. London Mining Network
129. Abibiman Foundation
130. Ecodesarrollo
131. The Kesho Trust
132. Organisation mondiale contre la torture
133. PAPUA NEW GUINEA MINING WATCH GROUP ASSOCIATION INC
134. 11.11.11 - Koepel van de Vlaamse Noord-Zuidbeweging
135. Center for Global Nonkilling
136. Centro salvadoreño de Tecnología Apropiada
137. Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CIDDH)
138. Friends of the Earth NI
139. Forest Peoples Programme
140. Environmental Investigation Agency
141. Fundación para el Desarrollo de Políticas Sustentables (FUNDEPS)
142. Bank Information Center
143. Africa development Interchange Network
144. Voluntariados Intag
145. Mangrove Action Project
146. IUCN NL
147. Community Self Reliance Centre (CSRC)
148. Amazon Watch
149. HRM @Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan@
150. Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
151. Asociación ambiental e cultural Petón do Lobo
152. Asociación galega Cova Crea
153. Amigos e Amigas dos Bosques "O Ouriol do Anllóns"
154. Réseau Camerounais des Organisations des Droits de l'Homme (RECODH)
155. CNCD-11.11.11
156. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
157. Rainforest Foundation Norway
158. Women Working Worldwide
159. Greenpeace
160. AMDH- Maroc
161. In Difesa Di , per i diritti umani e chi li difende
162. Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines
163. The Fund for Global Human Rights
164. People in Need
165. ABColombia
166. Al-Haq
167. Denver Justice and Peace Committee
168. Dominicans for justice and peace
169. End Ecocide on Earth
170. Zenü Network
171. Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-determination and Liberation
172. Jamaa Resource Initiatives
173. National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF)
174. Bretton Woods Project
175. Transparency International
176. Business, Human Rights and the Environment Research Group (BHRE)
177. GTANW
178. Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
179. Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur)
180. Otros Mundos AC/Chiapas, México
181. NGO Forum on ADB
182. consfound
183. Sri Lanka Nature Group
184. Bella Foundation for Child and Maternal Care
185. Accountability Counsel
186. association Green Alternative
187. Jong Groen
188. Denver Justice and Peace Committee
189. Buliisa Initiative for Rural Development Organisation (BIRUDO) - Uganda

---

---

# Saudi Arabia

---

The 40th session was historic; the first time member states have ever jointly addressed Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses at the UN Human Rights Council. From October 2018 to March 2019, CIHRS worked closely with partners to ensure that states would address the imprisonment and torture of women human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia. In response Iceland demonstrated principled leadership by delivering a [joint declaration by 36 governments](https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-article/2019/03/07/Joint-statement-on-the-human-rights-situation-in-Saudi-Arabia/)[](https://cihrs.org/saudi-arabia-over-50-human-rights-groups-call-for-immediate-release-of-rights-defenders/?lang=en) condemning the “continuing arrests and arbitrary detentions of human rights defenders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including women’s rights activists” and calling for their release.

The joint statement’s demands echoed many of those in a [letter](https://cihrs.org/saudi-arabia-over-50-human-rights-groups-call-for-immediate-release-of-rights-defenders/?lang=en) sent by over 50 human rights groups, including CIHRS, to Ministers of Foreign Affairs from more than 30 states.

The joint statement received substantial media coverage, creating strong visibility on the case of the imprisoned women’s human rights defenders. Saudi Arabia announced the conditional release of some of the WHRDs shortly following the joint statement, yet the charges have not been dropped and their status remains uncertain: necessitating follow up.

---

---

# Egypt

---

CIHRS and its partners achieved an important victory in nullifying Egypt’s attempt to weaken the mandate of the special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, a victory that not only safeguarded international human rights standards in relation to counterterrorism but also ensured that Egypt could not insert language into the resolution renewing the mandate that it could have exploited to justify its own repressive policies.

In a  joint letter، , CIHRS and other organizations warned that allowing Egypt a role in the mandate’s renewal would “only serve to encourage a continuation of its pattern of violations and abuses against civil society” while “significantly \[narrowing\] the already highly restricted space for independent oversight of counterterrorism methods from a human rights perspective within the overall UN system.” This was followed by a  joint oral statement delivered on March 1st during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur.

The mounting pressure compelled the resolution’s main sponsors, Mexico in particular, to refuse the amendments offered by Egypt, causing Egypt to withdraw from the process. The resolution was adopted by consensus without further changes.

▸Joint NGO letter to Members and Observers of the Human Rights Council**Renewal of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism**

22 February 2019

Our organizations are deeply concerned about reported moves to allow Egypt a role in the Human Rights Council resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (SR on CT). We fear that such a move would undermine the integrity and credibility of this vital mandate.

Egypt has an appalling record when it comes to abusing counter-terrorism measures to suppress civil society and dissenting voices. The Special Rapporteur has announced that the theme of her report to the 40th session is the misuse of counterterrorism measures against civil society and human rights defenders, and the session will thus be an important opportunity to shine a spotlight on Egypt’s record in this regard.

In mid-January 2019, on the launch of its annual World Report, Human Rights Watch stated that:

*“Using counterterrorism as a guise to crush all forms of dissent could be Egypt’s hallmark of 2018... There’s simply not much room left to peacefully challenge the government without being detained and unfairly prosecuted as a ‘terrorist.’”*

The Egyptian authorities' approach to counter-terrorism relies on systematic and widespread use of prolonged arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and torture and ill-treatment including by rape, in addition to scores of possible cases of extrajudicial executions of detainees, and hundreds of unlawful killings of peaceful protesters. Many of these violations may amount to crimes against humanity. In North Sinai, the army has razed thousands of homes and farmlands leading to the forced evictions of tens of thousands of residents, many of whom were offered no compensation or temporary housing. The army may have also been involved in unlawful ground and airstrikes including by using cluster munitions. Further, the government has recently granted impunity to officers through special laws that make it even harder to question security officers involved in abuses.

We furthermore consider it wholly inappropriate for a State recently accused of severe reprisals following the visit of another Special Rapporteur in September/October 2018 to be rewarded with joining the core group on this vital mandate. The severity of these reprisals led in December 2018 to a joint statement from the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and the Special Rapporteur on Right to Housing warning that Egypt is “not ready to host further visits”.

Despite its rhetoric, the Egyptian government’s approach is not primarily to give greater consideration to the human rights of victims of terrorism, which is a topic that had already been addressed in more detail in the previous Mexican thematic resolution and previous reports of the mandate. Rather, it aims to divert attention from the adverse human rights effects of its and other States’ counter-terrorism measures against individuals and the activities of civil society, including by effectively presenting the State itself as a victim.

Any Egyptian involvement in the mandate renewal would be qualitatively different and far more damaging than the role it was accorded in the March 2018 thematic resolution. The March 2018 agreement was said at the time to be entirely without prejudice to the mandate resolution, and this was indeed offered to civil society and others at that time as a reassurance in the face of similar concerns.

Any dilution of the focus of the mandate, in the short or long term would also significantly narrow the already highly restricted space for independent oversight of counter-terrorism measures from a human rights perspective within the overall UN system. The mandate holds a uniquely important role in the UN Counter-Terrorism architecture, participating as the only UN entity with the exclusive mandate to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

Further, allowing Egypt to jointly lead the mandate renewal would only serve to encourage a continuation of its pattern of violations and abuses against civil society and others within Egypt, while shielding it from outside scrutiny.

We therefore urge you to communicate to the Permanent Missions of Mexico and Egypt your opposition to any such developments in relation to the leadership or content of the resolution to renew the Special Rapporteur’s mandate.

Sincerely,

1. Amnesty International
2. Article 19
3. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
4. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
5. FIDH
6. Human Rights Watch
7. International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
8. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
9. Privacy International

---

▸Joint Oral Statement in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism **Human Rights Council, 40th Regular Session 25 February to 22 March 2019 Agenda Item 3**

Joint Oral Statement in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

Delivered by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) on behalf of Amnesty International, Article 19, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, CIVICUS, Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), and Privacy International.

**ABUSE OF COUNTER-TERRORISM MEASURES TO REPRESS HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS**

1 March 2019 Madame Special Rapporteur,

Our organizations welcome your report on the impacts of counter-terrorism and counter- extremism measures against civil society and human rights defenders (A/HRC/40/52).

We strongly concur with your findings regarding the deliberate and targeted abuse of overly broad and vague definitions of terrorism and violent extremism to criminalize and otherwise suppress human rights defenders and other civil society actors. We also appreciate your highlighting the need to prevent indirect impacts on civil society.

Among those States with a particularly appalling record of deliberate and targeted abuse, Egypt, which is mentioned in your report (paras 53 and 56), is a prominent example. As Human Rights Watch recently stated: “Using counterterrorism as a guise to crush all forms of dissent could be Egypt’s hallmark of 2018... There’s simply not much room left to peacefully challenge the government without being detained and unfairly prosecuted as a ‘terrorist’.”1 Other examples from the reports before the Council include Turkey (para 53), Saudi Arabia (A/HRC/40/52/Add.2 paras 21-29), and China particularly as regards Uyghurs and Kazakhs (paras 55 and 57).

We share your concern about the elements lost from the previous Human Rights Council and General Assembly resolutions on “protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism” in their March 2018 merger with the deeply flawed Egyptian-led initiative on “effects of terrorism” (para 29). We reiterate our call from March 2018 for future versions of the resolution to address the relevant issues exclusively and comprehensively from the perspective of the effective protection of human rights. 2 We strongly oppose any attempts to dilute your mandate, including by importing the flawed Egyptian-led approach into the resolution for its renewal, or any sharing of co-leadership of the mandate renewal resolution with States that have such an appalling record in relation to the very issues the mandate is to address.

Madame Rapporteur, beyond the particular cases mentioned in your report (para 53), what are your views on the broader situation within Egypt in terms of abuse of counter-terrorism measures and what can States, the United Nations, civil society, and other stakeholders do to stop such abuses in the name of counter-terrorism in Egypt and other egregious situations?

Thank you.

1 https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/01/17/egypt-new-moves-crush-dissent (17 January 2019). See also among others: Human Rights Watch *World Report 2019*, https://www.hrw.org/world- report/2019/country-chapters/egypt; EuroMed Rights, *Egypt - Finding Scapegoats: Crackdown on Human Rights Defenders and Freedoms in the Name of Counter-terrorism and Security* (Feb 2018) https://euromedrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/EuroMed-Rights-Report-on-Counter- terrorism-and-Human-Rights.pdf; Joint NGO Statement, *Egypt: Civil society faces existential threat* (23 June 2016) https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Egypt-Advocacy- JointNGOStatement-2016.pdf.

2 Joint NGO end-of-session statement (23 March 2018) https://www.icj.org/hrc37-endofsession/.

In a speech before the Human Rights Council on March 8th, CIHRS brought attention to the  case of 33-year-old Egyptian musician Rami Sidky, imprisoned since May 2018 without charges or direct access to a lawyer. CIHRS called on all Member States to “use all diplomatic channels to urge Egypt to release Rami and all others who are arbitrarily detained in the country.”

---

▸Oral Intervention: Egyptian musician Rami Sidky- Human Rights Council: 40th Session
- Oral Intervention: Item 3 – GD
- Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
- 8 March, 2019

Delivered by: Mona Sabella

Not only have human rights defenders and non-violent government critics been targeted for arrest in the recent crackdown on peaceful dissent in Egypt, apolitical artists have also been targeted. Rami Sidky, a 33-year old Egyptian musician, was arrested at Cairo International Airport in May 2018 after returning from Beirut, where he was performing with his band.

His alleged crime was contributing to a song critical of the Egyptian president- a song that he had no involvement in at all.

Despite the authorities’ informal assurances to Rami that he would be released soon since there is no link between him and the song, he is still being detained without clear charges and without direct access to his lawyer. His detention is extended continuously, sometimes without even seeing a judge.

Rami’s greatest passion has always been music. He co-founded an art space in Egypt for young musicians to channel their creativity, yet due to his detention it has had to shut down.

Rami’s case demonstrates the complete arbitrary use of the Egyptian judiciary to detain individuals, without any evidence for the alleged crimes they have committed.

Rami is neither a political activist nor a government critic, yet he shares the same fate of the tens of thousands of Egyptians who remain unjustly behind bars.

We call on the Egyptian authorities to immediately release Rami Sidky and terminate the case against him. We support the right to freedom of expression for all artists in Egypt. No one should be jailed for the expression of non-violent ideas or opinions. We call on all States to use all diplomatic channels to urge Egypt to release Rami and all others who are arbitrarily detained in the country. c

---

![Image](https://cihrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Egypt-The-Price-of-Silence.jpg)

CIHRS led a campaign exposing reprisals against persons who engaged with the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing during her recent visit to Egypt. The Special Rapporteur forcefully addressed these attacks when delivering the report on her visit to Egypt at the HRC, and when speaking from the floor at an event organized by CIHRS at the session. In the run up to Egypt’s UPR review later this year the government had invited six UN special rapporteurs to carry out visits to Egypt in an apparent attempt to blunt criticism of its widespread human rights violations and failure to cooperate with the UN human rights system. After these reprisals came to light United Nations other human rights experts have indefinitely postponed their visits to Egypt.

---

# Palestine

---

 On March 18th, during the general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied territories, CIHRS and partner organizations continued to  call for the full publication of the UN Database on companies involved in Israel's illegal settlements. CIHRS have worked closely with organizations from around the world to ensure the release of the database. A database of companies complicit in illegal settlement activity in the OPT was mandated three years ago, yet there is still no publicly available database.

▸Re: Release of United Nations Database of Businesses Engaged in Activities Related to Israeli SettlementsMs. Michelle Bachelet

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Palais Wilson – United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Geneva, Switzerland

Date 28 February 2019

Re: Release of United Nations Database of Businesses Engaged in Activities Related to Israeli Settlements

Dear Madam High Commissioner,

The undersigned Palestinian non-governmental human rights organisations, networks, coalitions, trade unions, and movements[\[1\]](#_ftn1), based in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), urge you to publicly release the United Nations (UN) Database of businesses engaged in activities detailed in paragraph 96 of the UN Fact-Finding Mission report on illegal Israeli settlements, and in line with Human Rights Council resolution 31/36 (2016), during the 40th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2019.

We warn that further delays in the publication of the UN Database and continued lack of transparency between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and affected communities will only serve to undermine both the Office and the establishment of the UN Database. It would also foster an already- existing culture of impunity for human rights abuses and internationally recognised crimes in the OPT, committed by both State and non-State actors, including business enterprises.

Over the past three years, Palestinian, regional, and international civil society organisations have stressed the importance of the UN Database as an initiative to facilitate the regulation of business activities in the OPT in a transparent manner, warn businesses of potential legal and other risks as a result of their operations and relationships, and to ensure accountability for adverse human rights impacts. The principles on which the UN Database is premised are reflected in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, among other strands of international law. Civil society organisations from Palestine and around the world have already expressed their disappointment and grave concern that the results of the process have not yet been communicated publicly, with the necessary transparency, three years since the establishment of the UN Database mandate.[\[2\]](#_ftn2)

Israel’s prolonged occupation, including de jure and de facto annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, stands in violation of international law, whereby Palestinians are systematically denied their right to self-determination and permanent sovereignty over natural resources, among other basic rights. Palestinians are consequently left with few resources to develop an independent and viable economy,[\[3\]](#_ftn3) contributing to high unemployment rates among Palestinians in the OPT. In OHCHR’s first report on the UN Database, the section on “Preliminary observations of responses of business enterprises” notes the obstruction of the Palestinian economy and appropriation of Palestinian natural resources by Israel, as Occupying Power, which has also served as the primary driver of Palestinians to seek work in settlements.[\[4\]](#_ftn4) In addition, OHCHR has explicitly stated that the presence of Palestinian workers in settlements “does not exempt businesses of their responsibilities under the Guiding Principles.”[\[5\]](#_ftn5)

Israeli settlements are manifestly illegal, constituting a grave breach of international law and a war crime. For this reason, States are under an obligation not to recognise them as lawful, nor to provide aid or assistance to maintain their presence. The UN, including the Security Council, General Assembly, and Human Rights Council, has repeatedly reiterated the illegality of Israeli settlements, and the need to distinguish in dealings between the State of Israel and occupied territory. In light of this, we urge OHCHR to consider the release of the UN Database alongside recent developments and efforts in this regard stemming from Member States, such as Chile and Ireland, to distinguish in their dealings between Israel and the OPT and to prohibit settlement goods, in line with international law and their obligations as third State parties.

Within the context of Israel’s escalating settlement construction and expansion, annexationist policies and measures, persistent disregard for Palestinians’ right to life, dignity, and their right to self-determination, it is of paramount importance that the UN Database is considered by your Office as a vital practical and effective tool to ensure that States and corporations do not continue to benefit from a situation of prolonged occupation and injustice. This will also contribute towards the genuine realisation of the Palestinian right to self-determination and permanent sovereignty over natural resources, among other rights, and to achieving justice for the Palestinian people through international law mechanisms.

In line with the aforementioned, Palestinian civil society urge that your Office stands in the face of political adversity on this issue and insist on making the UN Database a public document and process to demonstrate the gravity of the Office’s mandates and to ensure respect for and implementation of international law, including in the OPT and in respect of the rights of the protected Palestinian population therein. Accordingly, we urge you to release the UN Database and the names of companies listed therein during the 40th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2019.

For further information, please consult the two joint letters attached, which were communicated to your Office by Palestinian, regional and international civil society organisations in this regard in February and November 2018.

Yours sincerely,

Signatories:

 Members of the Palestinian Human Rights Organisations Council (PHROC):

1. Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Association 2. Al Dameer Association for Human Rights
2. Al-Haq
3. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
4. Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
5. Defence for Children International Palestine Section
6. Hurryat – Centre for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights
7. Jerusalem Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights (JLAC)
8. Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies 10. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)

Members of the Palestinian Coalition for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights“Adaleh”:

11. Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA)
12. Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
13. Yabos Charity Society (YCS), Women’s Technical Affairs Committee (WATC)
14. Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC)
15. Union of Social Workers, Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)
16. TPFS Palestine
17. The Palestinian Women’s Society for Developments (PWWSD)
18. The Palestinian Businesswomen’s Association – Asala
19. The Freedom Theatre – Jenin
20. The Cultural Forum
21. The Arab Forum for Sexuality, Education, and Reproductive Health
22. Teacher Creativity Center (TCC)
23. Tanweer Forum
24. Students’ Forum Institute
25. Stars of Hope Association
26. Social and Development Society
27. Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
28. Qader for Community Development
29. Progressive Labor Bloc
30. Private Health Sector Workers Union
31. Popular Art Center
32. Pharmaceutical Industry Workers Union
33. Partnership Youth Forum
34. Pal-Think for Strategic Studies
35. Palestinian Performing Arts Network
36. Palestinian Non-Governmental Organization against Domestic Violence Against Women (Al-Muntada)
37. Palestinian National Institute for NGO
38. Palestinian Medical Relief Society
39. Palestinian Hydrology group for Water and Environmental Resources

Development

40. Palestinian Consultative Staff for Developing NGOs (PCS)
41. New Labour Union Federation
42. National Beverages Company (NBC) Workers Union
43. Mothers’ School Society
44. Mental Development Association
45. Jerusalem Water Undertaking Workers Union
46. Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO) Workers Union
47. Independent Union Federation
48. Health Workers Union
49. Halhul Sports Club
50. Future Youth Arms Forum
51. Fuad Nassar Society
52. Financial Sector Workers Union
53. 5 Filistiniyat
54. Community Media Center-Gaza
55. Comités pour la Développement et le patrimoine
56. Burj Alluqluq Social Center Society
57. Birzeit University Workers Union
58. Bethlehem University Workers Union
59. Association of Women Committees for Social Work (AWCSW)
60. Association Najdeh
61. Al-Mada Association for Arts – Based Community Development
62. Al-Awda Center for Childhood and the Youth
63. Al Hadaf Cultural Center
64. Youth and Environment Association
65. The National Society for Democracy and Law
66. Cooperation for Community Development Association
67. The Society of Women Graduates
68. Bunyan Association for Community Development
69. The Center for Defense of Libterties and Civil Rights “Hurryat”
70. Shaikh Hasan Foundation for Culture and Science

The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO): a coalition of 145 Palestinian NGOs in the OPT.

Endorsed by:

1. The Rights Forum
2. The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO)
3. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
4. Trócaire
5. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
6. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
7. Conectas Direitos Humanos
8. EuroMed Rights

[\[1\]](#_ftnref1) 1 This letter has been also endorsed by: The Rights Forum, The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), Trócaire, International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Conectas Direitos Humanos and EuroMed Rights.

[\[2\]](#_ftnref2) Al-Haq, ‘100 Palestinian, Regional and International Organisations Call on High Commissioner for Human Rights to Publish UN Database on Business Enterprises with Activities Related to Israeli Settlements in the OPT’, 27 November 2018, available at: http://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/targets/united- nations/1328-100-palestinian-regional-and-international-organisations-call-on-high-commissioner-for- human-rights-to-publish-the-un-database-on-business-enterprises-with-activities-related-to-israeli- settlements-in-the-opt; Al-Haq, ‘Palestinian Organisations Support Release of UN Database Report and Call for Third State Action to End Corporate Complicity in Occupation’, 25 January 2018, available at: http://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/targets/united-nations/1178-palestinian-organizations-support-release-of- un-database-report-and-call-for-third-state-action-to-end-corporate-complicity-in-occupation; Al-Haq, ‘Joint NGO Statement in Support of the UN Human Rights Database on Business Activities related to Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’, 12 January 2017, available at: http://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/targets/united-nations/1154-joint-ngo-statement-in-support-of-the-un- human-rights-database-on-business-activities-related-to-settlements-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory

[\[3\]](#_ftnref3) 3 “The complex system of restrictions on movement and access imposed by Israel is the most significant impediment to Palestinian private sector growth.” See the World Bank, Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy, 2013, p. 3-4, available at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/137111468329419171/West-Bank-and-Gaza-Area-C-and-the- future-of-the-Palestinian-economy

[\[4\]](#_ftnref4) Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘Database of all business enterprises involved in the activities detailed in paragraph 96 of the report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem’, 1 February 2018, A/HRC/37/39, paras. 52-57.

[\[5\]](#_ftnref5) Ibid. “OHCHR notes that the employment of Palestinians, even on favourable terms, does not exempt businesses of their responsibilities under the Guiding Principles concerning their overall engagement in or with the settlements. The Guiding Principles make clear that, while business enterprises may undertake certain commitments or activities to support and promote human rights, these “do not offset a failure to respect human rights throughout their operations.””

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▸Re: Release of the UN database on business activities in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory in the current Human Rights Council session**UN High Commissioner Must Release Database Into Business Activities in Settlements**

**More than 90 organizations call for action**

March 18, 2019
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson – United Nations
Geneva, Switzerland

Re: Release of the UN database on business activities in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory in the current Human Rights Council session

Dear Ms. Bachelet,

The undersigned organizations are writing to express deep concern at the recent letter you wrote to the President of the Human Rights Council ('the Council') seeking further delay in fulfillment of the UN Human Rights Council mandate in resolution 31/36 to “produce a database of all business enterprises involved” in Israeli settlements.

We note that Council resolution 31/36, which established the mandate for your Office to produce the database, requested that it “be updated annually, and \[for your Office\] to transmit the data therein in the form of a report to the Council at its thirty-fourth session.” Continued delay in releasing the database would inhibit the Council’s ability to provide transparency to the Palestinian people, all member-states, as well as investors that require authoritative sources of data on which to make sound investment decisions.

Additional delay also does a great disservice to the work of the Council’s independent fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the human rights of the Palestinian people. The findings of the fact-finding mission were the foundation of resolution 31/36, and the Council’s request to your Office to produce the database. We recall that the fact-finding mission’s report found that “the existence of the settlements has had a heavy toll on the rights of the Palestinians. Their rights to freedom of self-determination, non-discrimination, freedom of movement, equality, due process, fair trial, not to be arbitrarily detained, liberty and security of person, freedom of expression, freedom of access to places of worship, education, water, housing, adequate standard of living, property, access to natural resources and effective remedy are being violated consistently and on a daily basis.” Furthermore, and particularly pertinent in the context of the database, the international fact-finding mission also highlighted that “some private entities have enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction and growth of the settlements, either directly or indirectly.”

For your office to now further delay release of the database would severely undermine the coming to fruition of long-awaited measure of transparency regarding business activities – activities that the Council has already established help maintain and perpetuate illegal settlements. In addition to serving as a practical tool to end business support for illegal settlements, the database will also constitute an important example of a measure for advancing normative clarity around the responsibilities of businesses operating in other areas under occupation.

Your role as High Commissioner is pivotal in realizing human rights, even in the most challenging of situations and locations. We urge you now to exercise your notable experience in diplomacy and political leadership to ensure that there is no further delay in releasing the database. In doing so, you will be working to support the long-standing efforts to end the ongoing human rights violations that Palestinians experience every day.

Yours sincerely,

1. ADDAMEER Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
2. African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA)
3. Al Haq
4. Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights
5. Aldameer Association for Human Rights
6. Al-Nakba Awareness Project
7. ALTSEAN-Burma
8. American Friends Service Committee
9. Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights
10. Amigos de la Tierra América Latina y Caribe
11. Amnesty International USA
12. Arab American Association of Central Virginia
13. Atlanta Jewish Voice for Peace
14. Azzad Asset Management
15. BADIL Resource Center For Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
16. BDS-LA for Justce in Plaestinf
17. Biosocial Research Foundation
18. Broederlijk Delen
19. Buliisa Initiative for Rural Development Organisation (BIRUDO)
20. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
21. CCFD - Terre Solidaire
22. Center for Constitutional Rights
23. Centre de Recherche sur l'Environnement, la Démocratie et des Droits de l'Homme
24. Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa
25. Chico Palestine Action Group
26. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
27. CIDSE
28. Comité Ambiental en Defensa de la Vida
29. Committee for Palestinian Rights (Howard County, Maryland)
30. Corporate Accountability Lab
31. Corvallis Palestine Solidarity
32. DCI - Defense for Children International - Palestine
33. Delawareans for Palestinian human Rights (DelPHR)
34. Dynamique des Femmes des Mines
35. Endorois Welfare Council
36. Episcopal Peace Fellowship Palestine Israel Netowrk
37. Freedom Forward
38. Friends of Palestine WI
39. Friends of the Earth International
40. Green Mountain Solidarity With Palestine
41. Hurryyat - Center for Defense of Liberties and Human Rights
42. International Federation for Human Rights- FIDH
43. Israel Palestine Mission Network Presbyterian Church PC(USA)
44. Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center
45. Jewish Voice for Peace - Bay Area
46. Jewish Voice for Peace Boston
47. Jewish Voice for Peace KC
48. Jewish Voice for Peace, member of Bay Area chapter
49. Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
50. Keep Hope Alive Bay Area
51. LA Jews for Peace
52. Labor for Palestine
53. Madison-Rafah Sister City Project
54. Maine Voices for Palestilnian Rights
55. Middle East Children's Alliance
56. MN Break the Bonds
57. Mutinta Hadunka
58. N.H. Veterans for Peace
59. National Students for Justice in Palestine
60. Observatoire d'etudes et d'appui a la responsabilite sociale et environnementale ( OEARSE )
61. Observatorio Ciudadano
62. Otros Mundos AC
63. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
64. Palestinian American Community Center
65. Palestinian Center for Human Rights
66. Palestinian Rights Committee of Upper Hudson Peace Action
67. Pax Christi International
68. People for Palestinian - Israeli Justice
69. Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine - Platfom of French NGO's for Palestine
70. Project on Organizing, Development, Education, and Research (PODER)
71. Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice
72. Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
73. REDES-Amigos de la Tierra (FoE) Uruguay
74. Richmonders for Peace in Israel-Palestine
75. Sacramento Area Peace Action
76. Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights
77. Santa feans for justice in Palestine
78. Society for International Development (SID)
79. Spokane Veterans For Peace Chapter #035
80. Students for Justice in Palestine at UTSA
81. The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO)
82. The Independent Commission for Human Rights (Ombudsman Office)
83. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights
84. Trócaire
85. U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)
86. United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network
87. United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Nitwotk
88. United Methodist Upper NY AC Task Force on Peace with Justice in Palestine/Israel
89. United Methodists for Kairos Response
90. United Methodists' Holy Land Task Force
91. University United Methodist Church
92. USA Palestine Mental Health Network
93. WESPAC Foundation, Inc
94. Women Against Military Madness
95. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
96. WoMin African Alliance

Moreover, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Israel’s killing of protesters during the “Great March of Return” delivered the results of its investigation and concluded that Israel’s killing of protestors constituted a grave breach of international law and those responsible should be held to account. Palestinian organization Al Mezan and CIHRS worked together closely over the last year to provide evidence and information to the Commission.. CIHRS, also in partnership with Al Mezan,  co-sponsored an event entitled “Ending Impunity: The Case for the Right to Health in Gaza.”

![Image](https://cihrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Al-Mezan-MAP-Protect-Flyer-1.jpg)

![Image](https://cihrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Al-Mezan-MAP-Protect-Flyer-2.jpg)

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# Libya

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During the session, CIHRS held an event and conducted advocacy on Libya’s human rights situation. CIHRS and the Libya Platform advocated for the Council to immediately adopt a resolution creating an independent investigatory mechanism, such as a Special Rapporteur, to collect information on ongoing widespread human rights violations.

While no new investigatory mechanism materialized, CIHRS helped strengthen a resolution put forward by Libya at the HRC through the preservation of reporting by the OHCHR on the human rights situation, strong language on individual criminal responsibility, and the reestablishment of an interactive dialogue with the OHCHR on the situation in Libya at the HRC.

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![Image](https://cihrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/العنف-والتطرف-في-ليبيا-الحاجة-إلى-تعزيز-المساءلة-الدولية.jpg)

CIHRS and the Libya Platform held a side event entitled , Violence and Radicalization in Libya: The Need to Strengthen International Accountability highlighting the human rights violations perpetrated by armed groups including extrajudicial executions, indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas, and the targeting of civilians, infrastructure and hospitals during continuing armed conflict within the country. The event further underscored the systematic use of torture, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and arbitrary arrests in formal and informal detention facilities, and the need for international accountability mechanisms to address these violations.

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# Syria

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The Human Rights Council also renewed the mandate of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, ensuring continued investigations into war crimes by the UN in Syria – an issue that CIHRS has been closely engaged on since the creation of the COI.

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# Yemen

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![Image](https://cihrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/FIDH-GCHR_Yemen_side-event_HRC40.jpg)

Finally, CIHRS "co-sponsored an event entitled “Yemen: Strong measures needed to advance accountability” on 14 March. The event focused on the need for the Human Rights Council to renew and strengthen the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen (GEE)- a body established by the Council two years ago which is mandated to investigate and report on violations of international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed in Yemen. The resolution establishing the GEE will once again be up for consideration by the Council and its member states in September of 2019.

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