EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive Dialogue with UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Ms Andrea Bolaños Vargas

Thank you Chair,

On behalf of the EU and its Member States, we welcome Special Rapporteur Bolaños Vargas’ report and thank her for her work.

The meaningful participation of human rights defenders and civil society is essential. They bring evidence, expertise, and lived experience to our work, often at great personal risk. 

Yet, as your report highlights, many who cooperate with the United Nations face widespread, persistent, and increasingly sophisticated acts of intimidation and reprisal by both State and non-State actors. 

The criminalisation of civil society activities, intimidation, harassment, and continued misuse of counterterrorism laws as well as in many cases living in exile deter individuals and organisations from engaging with our work. You report about a growing ‘environment of fear and self-censorship’ with regards to working with the UN. We agree that is a substantive loss to us all. 

We are especially concerned at the reported rise in transnational repression growing in scale and sophistication, including forms of surveillance and harassment facilitated by digital technology. Reported cases of in-absentia trials, online and offline surveillance, digital harassment, confiscation of passports, and movement restrictions have drastic impacts on individuals concerned, as well as their families and associates in countries of origin. 

We further note with concern the continued targeting of independent mandate holders and experts, as well as the disproportionate impact of reprisals on women human rights defenders, Indigenous Peoples and young people. 

Special Rapporteur, we fully support your notion that, the primary responsibility for preventing and addressing intimidation and reprisals against cooperation with the UN lies with its Member States. 

With that in mind, what additional measures should States prioritise to protect the participation of civil society and human rights defenders? 

And what further measures should States take to tackle the growing threats posed by transnational repression?

Thank you.