In hisglobal update, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein drew attention to the worsening patterns of human rights violations being committed across the world, and specifically in Eritrea, Sudan, Burundi, and Kenya. In South Sudan, he emphasised that "the appalling violence that the country has suffered has roots in past failures of accountability, and there must now be a clear and determined commitment to hold perpetrators to account.”


During the session, DefendDefenders joined its partners to urge the UNHRC to consider a number of thematic resolutions particularly relevant to the East and Horn of Africa.

In an historic vote, the UNHRC established amandatefor an Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) rights to combat and prevent violence, hatred, and discrimination against sexual minorities. The importance of this decision can hardly be overstated, particularly for the East and Horn of Africa where human rights defenders working on SOGI rights still face frequent threats and harassment.

 

The UNHRC also adopted aresolutionon Internet freedom, reaffirming that people should enjoy the same rights online as offline. The text specifically condemns measures to prevent and disrupt Internet access, such as the February and May 2016 social mediablackoutsin Uganda.

 

With civil society space shrinking across the East and Horn of Africa, and on the brink ofcollapsein some countries, DefendDefenders also welcomed a strongresolutionon the protection of civil society space, emphasising the positive contribution of civil society and human rights defenders, and offering guidelines for its further development.

 

Finally, DefendDefenders delivered statements to call the Council’s attention to urgent situations of concern in Burundi and Ethiopia, highlight the importance of continued monitoring during the Interactive Dialogues on Burundi and South Sudan, and welcome the adoption of Somalia’s Universal Periodic Review.