Official Statements

Showing 687 results for Official Letters and Statements

Oman: judicial and administrative harassment against human rights defender Awad Al-Sawafi since 2011 (joint communication)

Official Letters and Statements
This is the summary of a joint communication sent to the Government of Oman about the judicial and administrative harassment against human rights defender Awad Al-Sawafi, in the form of repeated arrests and arbitrary detention since 2011 as well as his job demotion in 2024 on the basis of unknown security reasons.
• 25th Mar 2026
The flag of Malawi blowing in the wind under a blue sky with white clouds. Photo by Nchenga via Flickr.

Malawi: death threats against a human rights defender (joint communication)

Official Letters and Statements
This is the summary of a joint communication sent to the Government of Malawi about the death threats targeting a human rights defender, which appear to be directly linked to his legitimate work.
• 18th Mar 2026
A collage of the Venezuelan and Colombian flags flying in the wind

Venezuela: intento de asesinato contra el defensor de derechos humanos Yendri Omar Velásquez Rodriguez en Bogotá (comunicación conjunta)

Official Letters and Statements
Lo que sigue se basa en una comunicación conjunta enviada a los gobiernos de Venezuela y Colombia sobre el intento de asesinato contra el defensor de derechos humanos venezolano, el Sr. Yendri Omar Velásquez Rodriguez, ocurrido el 13 de octubre de 2025 en Bogotá.
• 13th Mar 2026
The flag of Mozambique flying in the wind

Mozambique: acts of intimidation and threats against human rights defender Sismo Eduardo (joint communication)

Official Letters and Statements
This is the summary of a joint communication sent to the Government of Mozambique about the threats against and the risks to the safety of human rights defender Sismo Eduardo.
• 12th Mar 2026
Yemeni human rights lawyer Abdulmajeed Sabra standing outdoors with palm trees in the background. He is wearing a light blue shirt and navy blue suit, and looking straight at the camera with a serious demeanor.

Yemen: arbitrary arrest and detention in an unknown location of lawyer and HRD Abdulmajeed Sabra (joint communication)

Official Letters and Statements
This is the summary of a joint communication sent to the Ansar Allah movement, or Houthi movement, about the arbitrary arrest of lawyer and human rights defender Abdulmajeed Sabra and his detention in an unknown location.
• 11th Mar 2026
The flag of South Africa is flying in the wind. Behind it is the blue sky with a white cloud.

South Africa: legal harassment, intimidation and surveillance of whistleblower Patricia Mashale (joint communication)

Official Letters and Statements
This is the summary of a joint communication sent to the Government of South Africa about the alleged legal harassment, intimidation and surveillance of whistleblower Ms. Patricia Mashale by members of the South African Police Service.
• 10th Mar 2026
The flag of Sweden flying in the wind under a bright blue sky

Sweden: UN expert warns of gradual erosion of rights of human rights defenders (Press Release)

Official Letters and Statements
Press Release: Human rights defenders in Sweden are experiencing a slow, gradual erosion of their human rights.
• 6th Mar 2026
The flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo blowing in the wind.

République Démocratique du Congo : détention arbitraire, intimidations et menaces contre le DDH et journaliste Christophe Yoka Nkumu (communication conjointe)

Official Letters and Statements
Ce qui suit est basé sur une communication conjointe envoyée au Gouvernement de la RDC à propos des allégations de détention arbitraire, d’intimidations et de menaces contre le défenseur des droits humains et journaliste Christophe Yoka Nkumu, en lien apparent avec sa dénonciation de faits de mauvaise gouvernance impliquant des responsables locaux.
• 4th Mar 2026
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Mary Lawlor speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva during its 61st session, on 3 March 2026.

Opening remarks before the UN Human Rights Council (61st session)

Official Letters and Statements
On 3 March 2026, I gave my opening remarks before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. I was presenting my latest report: “Defending dignity and claiming rights: human rights defenders hold firm to universal values as others desert them”, as well as my country visit report on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• 3rd Mar 2026
The flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina flying from the top of a pole against a blue sky background.

Country Visit Report: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Official Letters and Statements
In June 2025, I carried out an official country visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina at the invitation of the Government. What follows is my official visit report, presented on 3 March 2026 at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. 
• 3rd Mar 2026
Chinese woman human rights defender Zhang Zhan sits indoors facing the camera, wearing round glasses and a red patterned blouse. She has shoulder-length dark hair and a calm but serious expression. Behind her is a wooden door with a small sign in Chinese, a television screen, and a desk with household items.

China: sentencing to four additional years of imprisonment of journalist and WHRD Zhang Zhan (joint communication)

Official Letters and Statements
This is the summary of a joint communication sent to the Government of China about the recent detention and sentencing to four additional years of imprisonment of Chinese journalist and woman human rights defender Zhang Zhan, who has reportedly been held incommunicado with no information available regarding her place of detention or current health condition.
• 27th Feb 2026
The flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo blowing in the wind.

République Démocratique du Congo : des experts de l’ONU mettent en garde contre les violences extrêmes commises par le M23 à l’encontre des défenseurs des droits humains (communiqué de presse)

Official Letters and Statements
[Français / English] Communiqué de presse : Des experts des Nations Unies condamnent les violences extrêmes commises à l’encontre des défenseurs des droits humains par le groupe armé Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) dans les provinces du Nord et du Sud-Kivu, dans l’est de la RDC.
• 26th Feb 2026