The 34th Human Rights Council Session just adopted unanimously Resolution L. 20 titled “Human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The resolution “urges States to acknowledge the important contribution of civil society and human rights defenders to the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and to ensure a safe and enabling environment for their work“. The resolution reaffirmed that democracy is defined by people’s freedom of choice regarding their own political, economic, social and cultural system. It stressed the importance on the interdependence and mutual reinforcement of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It further emphasises the necessity of transparent and accountable legislative bodies and the importance of their role in promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The resolution decided that the second session of the Forum on Human Rights will be “Parliaments as promoters of human rights, democracy and the rule of law”. However, this resolution was met with an amendment tabled by China, Russia and Pakistan, that aimed to further diminish the role of civil societies at the Council and other UN Human Rights platforms. This amendment includes, under operating paragraph 4, that relevant UN bodies, stakeholders including civil society should “respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States”. Despite the support of GCC countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates the amendment was rejected by majority countries like the Netherlands, Brazil, and Botswana, voting “no”.

Here is the full text of the resolution: G1706988