Supporting high-level human rights processes in Honduras and Brazil
Two UNDEF projects in Honduras and Brazil working to protect and strengthen human rights monitoring mechanisms had the opportunity to support the review of human rights records in their countries at the 50th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Civil society organizations ProgettoMondo from Honduras and the Institute for Development and Human Rights (IDDH) from Brazil recently traveled to Geneva and presented under the Universal Periodic Review, a unique mechanism of the UN which provides an opportunity for Member States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights.
Audley Vizney Gutierrez Vasquez, a young representative from the Lenca indigenous tribe in Honduras and a champion of human rights, presented on the work she conducted through the UNDEF project with ProgettoMondo Mlal that worked to protect women’s rights and reduce gender-based violence through addressing weaknesses in laws and policies to protect women and improve access to justice for victims of violence. While in Geneva, Audley presented a report on economic, social and cultural rights of Honduras.
UNDEF project partner IDDH supported 15 Human Rights Defenders from Brazil to accompany the IDDH delegation to Geneva where they met with UN, Member States and other members from civil society to present the human rights situation in the country and advocate for solutions.
