UN Human Rights Council concludes its 17th Session

Conectas took action with civil society actors from Brazil and other countries of the Global South at the UN Human Rights Council’s 17th session in Geneva (Switzerland), which took place between May 30th and June 17th.

Addressing the plenary of the Council about racial quotas for admission to universities, Conectas and the Center for the Study of Labor Relations and Inequalities (CEERT) presented the case for adopting this affirmative action policy in Brazil. The initiative’s goal is to promote access to higher education for afrodecendents, and is currently being challenged in Brazil’s highest court. “We hope that the Supreme Court’s decision will not represent a setback, and that the Brazilian government will respect not only the constitutional principles, but also the commitments it has assumed with regard to the international community on equality and non-discrimination,” emphasized the organizations during the HRC session. Watch the pronouncement here.

At the Council session Conectas, together with Global Justice and the Pará Society for the Defense of Human Rights (SDDH), also raised concerns provoked by the construction of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Dam. The NGOs drew attention to the attitude of the Brazilian government in the face of the precautionary measures requested by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS). Click here to learn more about this initiative.

Another topic in which Conectas involved itself was with Mozambique and Burma’s (Myanmar) adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reports. The organization supported the travel of the human rights activist Salvador Nkamate, of the Mozambican Human Rights League, to make a joint pronouncement with Conectas about the issue. At the session they appeal to the Mozambican government “to implement all recommendations it accepted, especially in regard to torture, summary executions and domestic violence,” stood out amongst others. Regarding Burma, Conectas, together with NGOs working on the issue, also issued a statement.

Conectas also accompanied and sought to contribute to negotiations surrounding the resolution on human rights and health, which was presented by Brazil and adopted by consensus during the session. Additionally, Conectas accompanied other topics, such as the approval of the Principles on Business and Human Rights, presented by the UN Special Rapporteur for the topic, John Ruggie.

It is worth remembering that the session was marked by the historic adoption of a resolution on sexual orientation and gender identity in addition to the approval of the Optional Protocol of the Convention on Children’s Rights, which will allow ratifying countries to file individual complaints about violations of this human rights treaty.