UNGA adopts new resolution on human rights defenders

 

The resolution contains many good elements. One of the paragraphs of the resolution was basically suggested by Lara Aharonian from the Armenian Women’s Resource Centre when she was in New York at the General Assembly on a HRHN advocacy trip, referring to the abuse of information technologies (social media) to intimidate human rights defenders.

 

There are many more elements, including for the first time ever a call for the release of arbitrarily detained human rights defenders.

 

Unlike ever before, the resolution was this time vote on (usually, the UN adopts resolutions on human rights defenders unanimously).

 

China and Russia called for a vote.

 

The resolution was adopted by 117 yes, against 14 no and (including Russia and China), and 37 abstentions (including Azerbaijan and Belarus).