25 September 2025 | 16:00-17:00 CEST | Geneva, Palais des Nations, Room Concordia 1 (building A), and online (webex)

Event hosted by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)

With the co-sponsorship of the Permanent Mission of Ireland and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Click here to download the flyer

Civic space is the environment that enables civil society to play a meaningful role and contribution across our communities and societies, offline and online. An open and pluralistic civic space that guarantees freedom of expression and opinion as well as freedom of assembly and association, and a safe and enabling environment for the vital work of human rights defenders, is a prerequisite for realizing rights, and building inclusive and peaceful societies. Today, however, this civic space is under pressure. Repressive laws are spreading, with increased restrictions on freedoms to express, participate, assemble and associate. New technologies have helped civil society networks to grow, but they have also been used to control civil society movements and media freedoms, often under security pretexts. How the online space is regulated will have major implications for civic space and safe online environments and participation. 

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), established in line with the Paris Principles, have a unique mandate to safeguard civic space. Their independence, broad human rights remit, and role as intermediaries between the state and society enable them to monitor and report on violations, advise on laws and policies including the protection of human rights defenders, and provide a platform for marginalized voices to be heard. When effectively resourced and independent, NHRIs can act as early-warning mechanisms, advocates for reform, and trusted partners for civil society and international bodies. However, as other human rights defenders, NHRIs work under increasing pressure. They increasingly face threats, attacks and other acts of intimidation, which can take varying forms including political pressure; smear campaigns; interference in the safeguards for the NHRI’s independence, and budgetary cuts.  

In the Marrakech Declaration adopted in 2018, GANHRI members pledged to take concrete steps to promote and protect human rights defenders and civic space. A key recent development has been the recent adoption of Human Rights Council resolution 59/10 on “civil society space,” which builds upon the previous resolution 53/13, adopted by consensus in 2023.

A recent global survey conducted by GANHRI in collaboration with NHRI regional networks has identified key areas of NHRI interventions in support of civic space, in line with the Marrakech Declaration. The survey also identifies trends and priorities, challenges and needs for protection. 

Informed by the findings from the survey, this side event will showcase how NHRIs work to safeguard civic space in particularly challenging contexts, highlighting both their interventions, impact and challenges they face. The event will also serve as a platform to foster collaboration, cooperation with the United Nations, and strengthen protection frameworks against reprisals. 

Objectives 

• Share experiences from the field, presented by NHRIs across regions, working in restrictive or high-risk contexts and highlight good practices. 

• Discuss the challenges and threats faced by NHRIs, including the various forms of reprisals to which they may be subjected, and underline the need for robust protective frameworks and mechanisms. 

• Explore avenues for strengthened cooperation between States, UN, civil society and NHRIs in addressing civic space challenges and in responding to cases of reprisals.

Details and format

The panel discussion will include representatives from the NHRIs of Colombia (Iris Marin Ortiz, Ombudsperson), Georgia (Tamar Gvaramadze, First Deputy Public Defender), Northern Ireland (Alyson Kilpatrick, Chief Commissioner and GANHRI Secretary)  and Mongolia (Sunjid Dugar, Chief Commissioner). The discussion will be moderated by H.E. Noel White, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. Michael Camilleri, Chief of Branch at OHCHR Civic Space unit will close proceedings.

The side event will be a panel discussion with both in-person and virtual participation. It is open to all interested participants, including NHRIs, NHRI regional networks, Permanent Missions in Geneva, GANHRI members, NGO representatives, and UN partners. Please note that GANHRI is not responsible for issuing badges to access the building.