By Adeline G11

Human rights defenders (HRDs) are a crucial part of the world today. They promote and protect human rights, and include anyone from news reporters, to protestors, to peacekeepers, to people working with NGOs, and ultimately make the world a better place by helping to ensure that people in need are advocated for. The United Nations Human Rights Council is alarmed that journalists have been killed due to terrorist groups and national security forces, specifically in the Middle East. The UN has addressed this topic before, in the 2018 Human Rights Defenders World Summit and the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, as well as recognizing the importance of establishment and protection of international human rights for all, as is in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights. 

However, threats suffered by human rights defenders have escalated recently, largely as a result of the increased use of social media and the internet, and in places with internal conflicts or who oppose the work that HRDs are doing. Impunity for human rights violations against HRDs perpetuates the issue and promotes that this is acceptable in the international community, and change is necessary to create a more peaceful environment for HRDs to work in.

After the delegation of the United States presented their stance on this issue, the delegation of South Korea proposed an unfriendly amendment to the resolution to strike clause ten. This clause outlined the creation of a system in which the UN and a panel of countries with few incidents of abuse to HRDs monitor the implementation of and compliance with the resolution. Countries can apply to be a part of the panel based on the validity of the nation’s status and stability. The delegation asserted that past actions shouldn’t be held up against countries, and that this clause would most likely result in rich western nations being on the panel due to favoritism and personal interest. They also claimed that the clause is not specific enough, as there is no criteria or specification as to what makes a country valid to join.

The delegations of China and the United States spoke in favor of the amendment, voicing their support for the delegation of South Korea’s statements, and voting procedure began. Interestingly, the amendment was passed unanimously, despite the likelihood of many western nations being opposed.