Phil Lynch
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philalynch.bsky.social
Phil Lynch
@philalynch.bsky.social
120 followers 150 following 29 posts
Director of @ISHR.ch - passionate about promoting human rights and supporting those who defend them. Love family, cycling, coffee & great outdoors!
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Reposted by Phil Lynch
ISHR @ishr.ch · 7d
📰: For years, 🇨🇳 and the 🇺🇸 have been quietly reaping the benefits of their status at the United Nations.

The rest of the world needs a strong, responsive UN, and it must get everyone to fork up the cash, our director
@philalynch.bsky.social wrote for Swissinfo.
China and the US are dining and dashing at the UN: it’s time to stop them
The world needs to get China and the US to pay their part at the UN says Phil Lynch, at the ISHR.
www.swissinfo.ch
Reposted by Phil Lynch
ISHR @ishr.ch · 13d
Exclusive: States are working behind the scenes in New York to defund human rights at the UN 🇺🇳
New ISHR research shows how powerful States like China 🇨🇳 Russia 🇷🇺 and the US 🇺🇲 use UN budget committee to undermine UN’s ability to protect human rights around the world.
Let’s unpack the key findings 👇
Reposted by Phil Lynch
ISHR @ishr.ch · 13d
Today we celebrate the #UNDay ! For 80 years, the UN has been working for everyone, everywhere. But the system is engulfed in a credibility and financial crisis.
Reposted by Phil Lynch
The latest UN HRC session proved wins are possible: it created an independent body to investigate abuses in Afghanistan, renewed vital UN monitoring on Russia, Sri Lanka, Sudan & Cambodia, & adopted an important resolution to address systemic racism.

Read more: https://bit.ly/494Rqdn
UN Rights Council Strengthens Crucial Protections
The latest session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which concluded last week, offers a glimmer of hope in what are dark times for human rights around the world.
www.hrw.org
Very positive outcomes from just concluded session of UN Human Rights Council, including new investigative and accountability mechanism on Afghanistan, as well as renewed mechanisms to address systemic racism and grave violations in Sudan and Russia #HRC60

ishr.ch/latest-updat... @ishr.ch
HRC60: Civil society presents key takeaways from the session
On 12 March 2025, Secretary-General António Guterres launched the UN80 Initiative. This comes at a time of unprecedented erosion of international human rights law and institutions…
ishr.ch
Reposted by Phil Lynch
For the past four years, the Taliban have intensified attacks on women and girls' rights in Afghanistan, amounting to what UN experts have labeled “gender apartheid.”

The UN Human Rights Council should urgently establish an accountability mechanism to address impunity and advance justice.
Reposted by Phil Lynch
ISHR @ishr.ch · Jul 7
✊ We did it! Because we showed up and spoke out, the #IESOGI mandate continues and the voice that fights with and for us at the UN is still here!

🌍 Now and always, we'll continue fighting for each other.
The work isn’t over. Let’s keep going. 💪🌈

#RenewIESOGI
UN renews crucial human rights expert mandate on sexual orientation and gender identity
Following a campaign by 1'259 non-governmental organisations from 157 States and territories, the UN human rights body adopted the resolution by a vote of 29 in favour, with 15 voting against and 3…
ishr.ch
2. Principled respect for international law stands between us and tyranny. States must end their selectivity and double standards.
3. Impunity for atrocity crimes fuels further violations. States should support and not sanction international accountability mechanisms.
Addressed the UN Human Rights Council this week on behalf of @ishr.ch with four key messages:

1. The work of human rights defenders is essential for the realisation of all human rights. They must be supported, protected and free.
Reposted by Phil Lynch
ISHR @ishr.ch · Jun 9
📢 Join us on Monday, 16 June at 1:00 PM CET in Room XXV, Palais des Nations for the side event ‘Defenders’ Voices on Reforming the UN Human Rights System.’ Hear directly from those on the frontline of human rights on why a UN reform is urgent.

➡️ More info: ishr.ch/events/defen...
Reposted by Phil Lynch
ISHR @ishr.ch · Jun 11
#HRDAP25 begins in person! Fourteen dedicated human rights defenders from all over the 🌍 world are now in Geneva to continue their training, strengthen their skills, and build a global community dedicated to advancing human rights.

Welcome to Geneva ❤️
Any chance of coming to Switzerland?!🇨🇭
We deplore US sanctions against judges of #ICC, inc former @ishr.ch Board member Reine Alapini-Gansou. Such sanctions undermine the international rule of law and promote impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Relevant US officials should themselves face sanction for perverting justice.
Reposted by Phil Lynch
Really pleased to launch this new report: based on extensive data, we expose Beijing's strategy to silence, deter and block NGOs at the UN.

The report was widely covered in today's investigation on China's transnational repression by @icij.org, @theguardian.com, @lemonde.fr, @elpais.com and others.
ishr.ch ISHR @ishr.ch · Apr 28
📢 ISHR launches a key report uncovering #China's tactics to block civil society’s access to the #UnitedNations.

Deferrals of NGO accreditation applications, reprisals against activists, growing number of 'government-organised NGOs' - read the full story here: ishr.ch/latest-updat...
New ISHR report uncovers China’s tactics to block civil society access to the United Nations
The Chinese government has made extensive use of its membership of UN human rights bodies and soared the presence of Chinese GONGOs to deter and prevent independent NGOs and human rights defenders…
ishr.ch
Reposted by Phil Lynch
#China govt’s “expanding reach into the #UnitedNations comes…when many…civil society groups that used the #HRC to hold authoritarian governments like China accountable are facing a funding crisis as the U.S. govt & other key donors have shifted funding priorities.”

thediplomat.com/2025/04/how-...
How China Hijacks the International Human Rights System
U.N. systems have played a crucial role in highlighting Beijing’s human rights abuses. Now China’s government is stacking these very bodies with its own mouthpieces.
thediplomat.com
Reposted by Phil Lynch
ISHR @ishr.ch · Apr 28
📢 ISHR launches a key report uncovering #China's tactics to block civil society’s access to the #UnitedNations.

Deferrals of NGO accreditation applications, reprisals against activists, growing number of 'government-organised NGOs' - read the full story here: ishr.ch/latest-updat...
New ISHR report uncovers China’s tactics to block civil society access to the United Nations
The Chinese government has made extensive use of its membership of UN human rights bodies and soared the presence of Chinese GONGOs to deter and prevent independent NGOs and human rights defenders…
ishr.ch
Reposted by Phil Lynch
Dans une chronique de la Tribune de Genève, Gerald Staberock, secrétaire général de l’@omctorg.bsky.social, Santiago Canton, secrétaire général de la CIJ, et @philalynch.bsky.social, directeur exécutif d'ISHR, alertent sur les impacts du manque d'investissement dans les #droitshumains.
Les droits humains, un investissement pour l’avenir
C’est la fin du monde tel que nous le connaissons – la chanson de R.E.M. nous vient à l’esprit en regardant les nouvelles d’alliances et de lois brisées, conçues pour apporter sécurité…
ishr.ch
As I say in this article, the interests of vast majority of peoples and countries are not served by lawlessness and raw power. It’s time for a broad coalition of states to invest in the future and stand up for human rights, multilateral cooperation and the rule of law
www.reuters.com/world/us-lob...
US lobbies UN rights council forsaken by Trump, diplomats say
Two months after President Donald Trump announced a halt to U.S. engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council, Washington is influencing its work by applying pressure publicly and behind the scenes, seven diplomats and rights workers said.
www.reuters.com
Reposted by Phil Lynch
ISHR @ishr.ch · Mar 28
🚨 #HRC58: States should extend human rights investigation in Ukraine
With overwhelming evidence of ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity associated with Russia's war of aggression, States should support the renewal of the mandate of the International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
HRC58: States should extend human rights investigation in Ukraine
Together with 6 other international NGOs, ISHR calls on States from all regions to support the renewal of the mandate of the independent, international Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine at the current…
ishr.ch
Reposted by Phil Lynch
ISHR @ishr.ch · Apr 1
ISHR’s Annual Report is out 🔔!

If 2024 was a year of resisting regress, 2025 must be the year we mount an ambitious human rights counter-offensive. Dive into our report to grasp our vision and discover how we can collectively emerge successful with stronger foundations.

ishr.ch/defenders-to...