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The Draft Addendum makes welcome contributions to recognizing a fuller scope of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), acknowledging that “conflict-related gender violence is no longer confined to acts purely sexual in nature” and includes many forms, including physical, moral, psychological and transgenerational forms of violence.

We the undersigned 115 reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations are dedicated to the protection and realization of human rights for all people, and we are deeply concerned about the United States Government’s decision to withdraw from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, an unprecedented step that signals a worrying retreat from our human rights obligations and the global mechanisms of accountability.

Originally published by International Commission of Jurists The 268 faith-based, non-governmental, and other civil society organizations listed below call on UN Member States to uphold, preserve, strengthen, and celebrate international refugee, human rights, and humanitarian treaties and reject efforts to undo or undermine legal norms. In recognition of the inalienable human dignity of each person, States built a rules-based system to maintain peace and security and to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. Multilateral refugee, humanitarian, and human rights treaties are central to the objectives enshrined in the UN charter, and essential to preventing and deterring conduct that harms people and threatens global stability and peace. Adherence to treaties has saved lives, upheld human dignity, and protected millions of people from persecution, torture and other human rights abuses. Human rights treaties play a vital role in helping people live safely and protected where they are, reducing the conditions that lead to forced migration. The Refugee Convention, its Protocol and other agreements provide a foundation for states to host refugees and provide critical protection, thereby reducing onward displacement. Indeed, the substantial majority—over two-thirds—of refugees are already hosted in neighboring states and nearly three-fourths are hosted in low- and middle-income states. Treaties and norms that protect people from persecution and other human rights abuses are more necessary than ever. Many of us have witnessed, day in and day out, how international treaties and law save lives and protect people from return to persecution, torture, and other serious human rights abuses. Indeed, the Refugee Convention and its Protocol have protected millions of people from persecution. The sad reality is that today’s global crises and mass displacements often stem from, or are exacerbated by, the failure to adhere to international human rights, refugee and humanitarian conventions and law. We call on States to: Sign and/or deposit instruments of ratification or accession to human rights, refugee, and humanitarian treaties, and encourage other states to do so – including by welcoming those that do so during the UNGA Treaty Event and by marking the upcoming 75th Anniversary of the Refugee Convention through acceding to the Refugee Convention and Protocol and encouraging other states to do so. Celebrate and affirm support for such treaties, and explain the ways they benefit people and states. Share steps taken to fulfill and honor commitments under treaties – such as enactment of implementing legislation, celebrating treaty commitments, measures taken in response to treaty body recommendations or UPR, or creating a national human rights institution. With respect to the Refugee Convention and its Protocol, share steps taken to strengthen asylum systems, support rights protection capacities, or increase cooperation through expanded resettlement and/or aid that helps enable other countries to host large numbers of refugees. Should there be any denunciations, withdrawals, or attempts to reject, “reform,” and/or replace such treaties with frameworks that deny people protection from persecution and human rights abuses, we call on states to express strong disagreement, reiterate support for such treaties, explain their benefits to human lives, peace, and stability, emphasize the negative impacts of actions that undermine such treaties, and urge reversal of such efforts. Many people now safely living in countries around the world are the children and grandchildren of people who fled persecution and found refuge in other countries. Conversely, before states came together to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights treaties and the Refugee Convention and Protocol, millions were abandoned to suffer horrific fates. Too many continue to suffer due to the failures to uphold human rights and humanitarian norms. At this critical crossroads, we call on states to work together and with civil society to strengthen—and reject efforts to undermine—the treaties and norms that protect people from persecution and other human rights abuses. Signed: 11.11.11Acacia Center for JusticeACT AllianceAct for PeaceAdvocate Sunil Kumar ManchandaAl Otro LadoAlianza AmericasAlliance San DiegoAmerican Civil Liberties UnionAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International AustraliaAmormigrant.orgANARApatride NetworkApoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos, A.C.Arrupe Refugee CenterAsia Pacific Refugee Rights Network [APRRN]Asociación de Nicaragüenses en MéxicoAsociación Pop No’j (Guatemala)ASOCIACIÓN PRO DERECHOS HUMANOS DE ESPAÑAAssociation for Legal Intervention (Stowarzyszenie Interwencji Prawnej), PolandAsyLexAsylum Seeker Resource CentreAustralia Western Sahara AssociationAVAN Immigrant ServicesAVSI Foundation ETSBangladesh Legal Aid and Services TrustBondeko Refugee Livelihoods CenterBorder Network for Human Rights (BNHR)Boston University International Human Rights ClinicBurke PLLCCAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)Canadian Association of Refugee LawyersCanadian Council for RefugeesCanadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)Capital Rainbow RefugeCaritas InternationalisCasa Luz da ColinaCCI OttawaCEDAW RisingCenter for Constitutional RightsCenter for Engagement and Advocacy in the AmericasCenter for Gender & Refugee StudiesCenter for Human Rights and Constitutional LawCenter for Legal Aid Voice in BulgariaCenter for Victims of TortureCenter on Gender and Extreme SentencingCentre for Civil and Political Rights (CCPR-Centre)Centre for Research and Social Development IDEASCentretown Community Health CentreCentro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad-Dejusticia (Colombia)Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)Centro para la Observación Migratoria y el Desarrollo Social en el Caribe (OBMICA)Church World ServiceClimate RefugeesClimate Rights InternationalCoalición por VenezuelaCoalition des Volontaires pour la Paix et le Développement, CVPDCoalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons (CRSP)CODHES COLOMBIAColegio de Médicos y Cirujanos de Puerto RicoComite dominicano de derechos humanosCommunity for Children, OrgCommunity Legal Services of Ottawa (CLSO) | Services juridiques communautaires d’Ottawa (SJCO)COMMUNITY MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTRECommunity World Service AsiaCompanion House Assisting Survivors of Torture and TraumaConselho Indigenista Missionário CIMICOOPI – Cooperazione InternazionaleCouncil for Global EqualityDanish Refugee CouncilDarwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy NetworkDesiree AllianceDisability Justice Network of British Columbia (DJNBC)Disability Justice Network of OntarioDISABILITY PEOPLES FORUM UGANDADrylands Learning And Capacity Building Initiative- DLCIDutch Council for RefugeesEast African Centre for Forced Migration and DisplacementEast Bay Sanctuary CovenantEgyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)Empower Youth TrustEncuentros Servicio Jesuita a MigrantesEquality NowEuropean Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)Fe y Alegría VenezuelaFe y JusticiaFeminist Task ForceFlorence Immigrant & Refugee Rights ProjectForum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and TraumaFoundation for the promotion of rightsFranciscans InternationalFrancophonie Canadienne Plurielle (FRAP)Freedom Network USAFundación Crea Tu EspacioFundación Refugiados UnidosGargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO)Global Birthing Home FoundationGlobal Campaign for Equal Nationality RightsGlobal Detention ProjectGlobal Justice CenterGlobal Justice Clinic, Western New England University School of LawGlobal RefugeGlobal Strategic Litigation CouncilGroupe d’Appui au Développement et à la Démocratie (GRADE)Grupo Articulador de Organizaciones Lideradas por Personas Refugiadas y Desplazadas Forzadas en Latinoámerica y el Caribe (GARLOS)Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USAHawai’i Institute for Human RightsHealing BridgesHelp Himalayan Youth Foundation IncHelpAge InternationalHemispheric Network for Haitian Migrants’ Rights (Rezo Emisferik pou Dwa Migran Ayisyen)HIASHiggins Brothers Surgicenter for HopeHo’opae Pono Peace ProjectHouse of WelcomeHuman Rights Cities AllianceHuman Rights FirstHuman Rights WatchHuman Rights House FoundationILGA WorldImmigrant Defenders Law CenterImmigrant Legal Advocacy ProjectIndependent DiplomatInsan Association- Defending Human RightsInstitute for Justice and Democracy in HaitiInstitute for the Sustainable Development of Lenca Women in Honduras (IDESMULH)Institute for Women in Migration (IMUMI)Instituto Brasileiro de Direitos HumanosInternational Association for Human Rights Advocacy in Geneva (IAHRAG)International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)International Commission of JuristsInternational Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)International Detention Coalition IDCInternational Mayan LeagueInternational Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)International Service for Human RightsIpas USIslamic Relief Kenya OfficeJesuit Refugee ServiceJesuit Social Center (Tokyo)Jewish Activists for Immigration JusticeJFCS East BayJourney Home Community AssociationJust Detention InternationalJustice for Refugees SAJustice in MotionJusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)Kilómetro 0Kinbrace Community SocietyLa Ruta del ClimaLast Mile4DLatin America/Caribbean Committee – Loretto CommunityLawyers for Good GovernmentLutheran World FederationMADREMassachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy CoalitionMatthew House OttawaMigrant Working Group (MWG)Migration Institute of AustraliaMissionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI)Mosaic Multicultural ConnectionsMPower Change Action FundNational Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group AustraliaNationality For All (NFA)New Women ConnectorsNewcomer Legal Clinic – Lakehead UniversityNorwegian Refugee CouncilOasis Legal ServicesOCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving ImmigrantsOpen DoorsOverseas Services to Survivors of Torture and TraumaOxfamPacific Migration PartnersPacificwinPacificPartners In HealthPax Christi InternationalPax Christi USAPeople Serving People FoundationPerkumpulan Suaka Untuk Perlindungan Hak Pengungsi (SUAKA)PersonalPittsburgh Human Rights City AlliancePlatform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants – PICUMPortland Central America Solidarity CommitteePrograma Casa RefugiadosPromotoras de Derechos en la MigraciónPuntland Minority Women Development OrganizationQuaker United Nations OfficeQuixote CenterRainbow RailroadRainbow Refugee SocietyRed Jesuita con Migrantes Latinoamerica y el Caribe (RJM LAC)Refugee 613Refugee Action Campaign CanberraRefugee Advocacy LabRefugee Communities Advocacy Network NSWRefugee Communities Association of Australia IncRefugee CongressRefugee Consortium of KenyaRefugee Council of AustraliaRefugee Council USARefugee LegalRefugee Solidarity NetworkRefugees as Survivors NZRefugees in LibyaRefugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT)RefugePointResilient40Robert F. Kennedy Human RightsRohingya Youth Union-RYURohingya Youths Support Network (RYSN)Rose Lokissim AssociationR-SEATRural Australians for RefugeesRural Australians for Refugees Southern HighlandsSafe Passage InternationalSAISIA – Saskatchewan Association of Immigrants Settlement and Integration AgenciesSame SkiesSanta Clara Law – International Human Rights ClinicSave the Children InternationalSCALES Community Legal CentreSecours Islamique France (SIF)Secretariat of the Civil Society Action CommitteeSettlement Services International (SSI)Sin Fronteras IAPSocial Change InstituteSociety of Jesus in BelizeSomali Diaspora in Deutschland (SOMDID) e.V.South Asian Legal Clinic of OntarioSTARTTSStichting VluchtelingSurvivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation ServiceSydney Multicultural Community ServicesSynergies MigrationsSynergy for JusticeTable de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantesTahirih Justice CenterThailand Migration Reform Consortium (TMR)The Alliance for Diplomacy and JusticeThe Global Centre for Social Justice and Advocacy LeadershipThe GOOD GroupThe Legal Resources CentreThe Tasmania OpportunityThe Workers CircleU.S. Campaign for BurmaU.S. Committee for Refugees and ImmigrantsUganda Eyenkya Development Project GroupUniāo Social dos Imigrantes Haitianos (USIH)Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)US CitizenVECINAVOICEVoices in DialogueWashington Brazil OfficeWashington Office on Latin America (WOLA)Western States CenterWind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource CenterWomen in Migration Network (WIMN)Women’s All Points Bulletin WAPBWomen’s Link WorldwideWomen’s National Housing and Homelessness NetworkWomen’s Refugee CommissionWorld’s Youth for Climate JusticeZambian Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU)Zamzam Foundation

We, the undersigned Afghan and international civil society organisations, write to you, once again, to share our grave concerns regarding the deepening human rights and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. We also reiterate the urgent need for the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to establish an independent international accountability mechanism for Afghanistan (hereafter accountability mechanism) to support accountability for gross and systematic human rights violations and abuses and crimes under international law, including those that were committed in the past and those that continue to be committed across Afghanistan.

In September 2024, UN Women and Global Justice Center issued a report detailing challenges and offering legal guidance to improve the documentation of reproductive violence in crisis and conflict by UN international investigations. These investigations play a key role in guiding international responses, so omitting documentation of reproductive violence can have devastating ripple effects. This Q&A draws from the report to provide information on what reproductive violence is, why its documentation in conflict and crisis situations matters, and how this documentation can be done more effectively.

See full statement and signatories at ILGA World In every region of the world, widespread, grave, and systematic violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity persist. These include: killings and extrajudicial executions; criminalisation; stigmatisation; hate speech; denial of self-defined gender identity; disinformation campaigns; repression of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, religion or belief; attacks and restrictions on human rights defenders and discrimination in all spheres of life — including in employment, healthcare, housing, education and cultural traditions. In 2016, the United Nations’ Human Rights Council took definitive action to systematically address these abuses, creating an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Since then, mandate holders have extensively documented discrimination and violence based on SOGI; they also sent over 171 communications documenting allegations of violations, and carried out 10 country visits. The mandate has welcomed progress and identified best practices from all regions, while engaging in constructive dialogue and assisting States to implement international human rights standards, as well as collaborating with UN mechanisms. In 2022, the renewal of this mandate was supported by more than 56 States from all regions of the globe and by 1,256 non-governmental organisations from 149 States and territories. This growing support is evidence of the critical importance of this mandate and its work to persons of diverse sexual orientations and/or gender identities, and those who defend their rights, both at international human rights fora and at the grassroots level. Despite these advances, over 64 countries still criminalise consensual same-sex sexual acts and more than 10 criminalise diverse gender expressions and identities. Furthermore, at least 5,000 trans people were reported murdered between 2008 and 2024. This is unfolding amid a growing global anti-gender movement that weaponises trans, gender diverse, broader LGBTQI, and feminist communities and issues. This movement spreads disinformation and distorts concepts such as gender and human rights to advance broader agendas aimed at gaining power and reinstating antidemocratic political systems. A decision by Council members to renew this mandate would send a clear message that violence and discrimination against people of diverse sexual orientations and/or gender identities cannot be tolerated. It would reaffirm that specific, sustained and systematic attention continues to be crucial to address these human rights violations and ensure that LGBT people are in fact free and equal in dignity and rights. We, the 1,200 NGOs from 167 States and territories around the world, urge this Council to ensure we continue building a world where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination. To allow this important and unfinished work to continue, we urge you to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Our coalition recently developed a joint submission to the UN Human Rights Council before the USA’s upcoming 4th Universal Periodic Review. This submission focused on the significant deterioration of sexual and reproductive rights and justice across the country since the elimination of a federal right to abortion and amid a broader undermining of rights in the USA.

The remit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls’ mandate is to consider the human rights implications of violence against all individuals involved in surrogacy arrangements: gamete donors and surrogates, intending parent(s), and children, once born, from this process...The practice of surrogacy is not inherently coercive or exploitative and does not amount to a human rights violation. Attempts to criminalize surrogacy fall short of the duty of governments to help realize the enjoyment of human rights for all.

Around 80 countries expressly allow healthcare providers to refuse to provide abortion care based on their conscience, religion, or belief. This practice is referred to as ‘conscientious objection’. Conscientious objection is often unregulated or insufficiently regulated, which can create a significant barrier to care. Inadequate regulatory regimes violate international human rights law and standards, endanger the health and wellbeing of persons seeking care, overburden healthcare providers and systems, and reinforce harmful stereotypes that stigmatize patients and professionals who provide abortion services. Because conscientious objection has become a significant barrier to abortion care, the United Nations Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls (WGDAWG) has issued new guidance on the obligation of governments that permit conscientious objection to ensure it does not create barriers to the realization of women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights.