International advocacy is a critical area of work for human/environmental rights defenders and the organisations that support them. The United Nations (UN) in particular has various mechanisms dedicated to hearing and amplifying cases of human rights abuses and in applying pressure on states to respond to cases and implement international commitments.

While UN mechanisms are designed to support and respond to rights defenders, navigating the UN system is not always easy. There are myriad events, offices, calls for inputs, protocols and regional particularities that can be daunting to navigate, particularly when expedience is important. A key question faced by rights defenders looking to raise awareness and/or gain support for their cause is, what is the most effective way to engage with the UN system?

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The workshop will include an introduction by Romchat Wachirarattanakornkul - Human Rights, Climate Change & Environment Regional Focal Point at UN Human Rights – Asia,  to the UN Human Rights mechanisms, how best to engage and their value as platforms for advocacy. There will also be an opportunity for experience-sharing, questions and discussion.  
 

The Zero Tolerance Initiative (ZTI) and the Universal Rights Group (URG), with the support of ALLIED, have developed two important digital tools, which will be launched at this event:

The Phonebook, a directory of support organisations for defenders of the environment, land, territory and the human rights that depend upon these.

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The Microsite for Collective Protection Resources, a library of over 100 reports, videos, guides, and training materials on best practices to effectively protect land and environmental defenders, their communities, and lands.

The impacts of large-scale interests in mining, logging, oil and gas, conservation, agribusiness have wreaked havoc to many communities in Africa. These industries are associated with a plethora of human rights violations, including killing of land and environmental defenders, criminalization of communities’ livelihoods, environmental pollution, land grabbing, and distortion of societal social and governance structures.

Are you a community or organisation based in Africa experiencing human rights violations as a result of global supply chains?

Join us on Zoom to find out what the ZTI is, the benefits of its membership and to meet current ZTI members.

The agribusiness sector has seen a 60% increase in killings of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in the last year, most of them indigenous peoples.

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This webinar is an opportunity for forest communities from Indonesia, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru to share their struggles with a global audience. Activists, civil society organisations and other interested parties are invited to hear from HRDs about the situation on the ground for communities affected by industrial-scale palm oil and soya production. This will be a space for mutual learning on strategies needed to address collective threats to defenders.

Join us to hear from indigenous and local community leaders from Kenya, Russia, Bangladesh and Peru, who will share their key demands for land rights to be recognised as a climate solution.

The event will reflect on how demands from COP26 should be taken into account in relation to implementation of the UNGPs and will explore the underlying drivers of violence against human rights defenders focusing on recognising collective land rights as one critical solution.

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Introductory and concluding words: 

Anita Ramasastry - Member of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights.

During the Global Mobilisation organisations and individuals worldwide will call for an end to the criminalisation of land rights defenders.  We will demand that governments protect Indigenous People and local communities defending their lands, forests, and waters and act to recognise their land rights.