With the conclusion of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC61), held from 23 February to 31 March 2026, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) reflects on the key discussions and outcomes of the session, the side events held, and the resolutions passed.

Under the spotlight

Intensifying efforts to advance accountability for Ukraine
The IBAHRI welcomes the adoption of the resolution extending the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (CoI Ukraine) to which the Institute has substantially contributed. The resolution focuses on the situation of children in occupied territories, forced Russification, indoctrination and militarisation, alongside broader efforts to erase Ukrainian identity. Reference is also made to the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (STCA) in the operational paragraph. The resolution echoes the appalling findings of the CoI Ukraine, which found compelling evidence concerning the deportation and transfer of 1,205 children from five oblasts in Ukraine. The Commission has concluded that these acts amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes of deportation and the forcible transfer of children. The Russian authorities have systematically failed to disclose the whereabouts of the children to parents or legal guardians and have kept them in a coercive environment.

The IBAHRI and the Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA) delivered a joint oral statement during the interactive dialogue with COI Ukraine. The organisations commended the work of the Commission, condemned widespread violations of international human rights and humanitarian law amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity – including arbitrary detention and torture – and expressed grave concern over the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children. The statement urged the UNHRC to support the renewal of the Commission’s mandate, the establishment of the STCA and other accountability mechanisms.

The IBA convened a side event at the UNHRC61 on the push for accountability for Ukraine. The high-level discussion between legal experts, diplomats and policymakers explored synergies between international initiatives to advance and ensure accountability for crimes committed in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Particular focus was given to the full establishment of the STCA. The event was co-organised with the Permanent Missions of Ukraine , the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Moldova and the Council of Europe. The event was co-sponsored by the European Union Delegation and the following states: Albania, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The discussion explored the interaction between these initiatives and the UNHRC. By bringing together experts, legal practitioners and policymakers, the event fostered dialogue on the relationship between fact-finding and judicial mechanisms, identified practical avenues for cooperation, and contributed to strengthening the international community’s collective response to impunity. It also reflected on how interactions between the CoI Ukraine and the STCA, ensuring coherence, efficiency and the preservation of evidentiary integrity in the pursuit of justice for Ukraine.

Opening the event, Vladimir Cuc, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the UN in Geneva, underscored the urgency of coordinated legal action. The panel was moderated by Dr Mark Ellis, IBA Executive Director, and featured leading experts including Irene Suominen, Deputy at the Accountability for Ukraine Unit, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe; Dr Anton Korynevych, Director of the Directorate General for International Law and Legal Counteraction to Aggression at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; Erik Møse, Chair of the Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and Arjen Uijterlinde, Special Envoy for the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The event also featured remarks from Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia.

Advancing states’ cooperation with the International Criminal Court
The IBAHRI, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) delivered a joint statement on the legal obligations of States Parties to the Rome Statute to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The statement emphasised that such cooperation is essential to ensuring accountability for some of the most serious crimes under international law – including executing arrest warrants, supporting investigations and protecting witnesses – and stressed that cooperation enables the ICC to carry out its mandate credibly and independently, while being critical to realising victims’ rights to effective remedy and reparation.

The IBA and Belgium organised a side event to the UNHRC61 titled ‘The Role of the UN Human Rights Council in Reinforcing State Cooperation with the International Criminal Court’, with the co-sponsorship of the Gambia, Mexico and Slovenia. The session examined the role of the UNHRC in reinforcing the legal obligations of States Parties to the Rome Statute to cooperate with the ICC. Discussion centred on promoting accountability for international crimes and highlighted the importance of effective state cooperation with the ICC, as well as with broader UN human rights mechanisms. The event aimed to:

• raise awareness of the ICC’s mandate and the importance of state cooperation, including in the execution of arrest warrants and the provision of other forms of support to the Court’s judicial processes;
• discuss how the UNHRC can support and reinforce the work and mandate of the ICC;
• Explore synergies and strengthen cooperation among stakeholders engaged in accountability efforts within the frameworks of the ICC and the UNHRC; and
• present the recommendations developed by the IBA International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law (ICC & ICL) Programme in the publication Pursuing the Arrest and Surrender of Suspects at Large to the International Criminal Court: A Guide for States Parties to the Rome Statute.

The panel featured Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC, and Osvaldo Zavala Giler, Registrar of the ICC, who shared perspectives from the Court on the central role of state cooperation in advancing its mandate. Beatriz Balbín Chamorro, Chief of the Human Rights Inquiries Branch at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, addressed the role of UN human rights mechanisms in supporting accountability efforts. Dr Ellis also contributed reflections on the role of the legal community and international stakeholders in strengthening cooperation with the Court. The discussion was moderated by Ambassador Christophe Payot,, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva. Opening remarks were delivered by IBA President Claudio Visco, who highlighted the importance of strengthening international cooperation in support of accountability for international crimes.

UNHRC61 country-specific takeaways (in alphabetical order)

Afghanistan – Taliban penal code codifies repression

Belarus – attacks against lawyers and transnational repression

During the interactive dialogue with the Group of Independent Experts on Belarus, the IBAHRI and the ICJ delivered a joint oral statement highlighting the situation of lawyers in Belarus and in exile, including concerns regarding transnational repression. The statement underscored the subordination of the judiciary to the executive, arbitrary interference by the Ministry of Justice in lawyers’ licensing and disciplinary proceedings, and the Belarusian Republican Bar Association’s failure to protect its members. Since 2020, nearly 600 lawyers have been forced out of the profession, many of whom are now living in exile without access to effective remedies. The statement also condemned the State Security Committee’s designation of the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers – founded by exiled lawyers to promote human rights and the rule of law – as an ‘extremist formation’, and denounced the broader repression of Belarusians abroad, including trials in absentia and the denial of consular services, which has exposed many to the risk of statelessness.

During the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Belarus, Lawyers for Lawyers, the Law Society of England and Wales, the IBAHRI and LRWC delivered a joint statement condemning the state’s limited commitment to human rights, with few recommendations accepted and many marked as ‘already implemented’ despite contrary evidence. Concerns persist over the crackdown on lawyers, who face persecution for performing their professional duties. Belarus rejected recommendations to strengthen lawyer independence, ensure fair trial guarantees and release political prisoners.

China / Hong Kong – targeting of activists in-country and abroad

During the general debate, a coalition of prominent NGOs raised urgent concerns over Hong Kong’s deteriorating human rights situation. The statement denounced the use of the national security law to silence independent media and target human rights defenders, calling out the imprisonment of journalists like Jimmy Lai and the transnational repression of activists and their families. The NGOs urged states worldwide to take concrete action to secure the release of Hong Kong human rights defenders and to actively prevent and investigate all acts of transnational repression. The coalition included ARTICLE 19, FORUM-ASIA, Committee to Protect Journalists, Fortify Rights, IBAHRI, International Federation for Human Rights, International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) – with support from Campaign for Uyghurs, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, Human Rights in China, Index on Censorship and Students for a Free Tibet.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – gender-based violence and discrimination<

Guatemala – a country at a crossroads: rule of law and democracy at stake

Iran – people facing dual threats

The IBAHRI emphasises that people in Iran face a dual threat: violence from authorities – who have cut off internet and communications and threatened further massacres against anyone speaking out – and attacks on civilians by United States and Israeli forces, including at a school in Minab.

Malawi – torture and forced confessions

Myanmar – the forgotten war and ongoing crackdown on civil society

Sri Lanka – lack of accountability

Sudan – atrocities and dismantling of Sudan’s justice system

Syria – accountability

Tunisia – counterterrorism law to prosecute opposition

United States – crackdown on the rule of law

During the general debate on the UPR, LRWC and the IBAHRI delivered a joint statement deeply regretting the continued erosion of human rights in the US and the lack of cooperation with the UPR. The US has consistently violated its international human rights obligations, undermining the rule of law by disrespecting constitutional and statutory constraints on executive power, seeking to restrict voting rights, attacking judges who seek to uphold the rule of law and undermining the independence of the legal profession. The IBAHRI and LRWC urged the Council to document these violations through the UPR and called for them to ensure monitoring of human rights violations by the US Administration.

The IBAHRI urges increased monitoring, reporting and scrutiny of the US via HRC special procedures and the High Commissioner.

Other relevant thematic issues addressed during the UNHRC

Over 70 states reaffirm commitment to human rights multilateralism at the UN

The IBAHRI welcomes that more than 70 countries have issued a joint declaration at the UNHRC reaffirming their commitment to defending human rights and strengthening multilateral cooperation at a time of growing global conflict and declining respect for international law. The cross-regional initiative, delivered by Albania’s ambassador and co-led by Chile, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan and the Netherlands, underscores the importance of a rules-based international order centred on the UN. The statement highlights that peaceful coexistence among nations and the full realisation of universal human rights can only be achieved through strong multilateral institutions and respect for international law. The declaration calls for renewed political will, vision and ambition to strengthen the UN human rights system. Signatory states pledged their unwavering commitment to a multilateral human rights framework grounded in the UN Charter and international human rights law. The declaration also reaffirms the universality and indivisibility of all human rights and commits states to their promotion, protection and fulfilment as essential foundations for global peace, security and sustainable development.

Human rights defenders and freedom of expression
The IBAHRI warmly welcomes the decision to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders for another three years. This mandate remains a cornerstone of global efforts to protect and recognise the vital work of human rights defenders. The IBAHRI appreciates that the resolution acknowledges the growing challenges confronting the human rights defender ecosystem – including reprisals against UN mandate holders, the impact of armed conflict and occupation, and severe funding cuts that have created a series of shocks for those working to protect fundamental rights. However, the Institute regrets the decision to remove one of the Special Rapporteur’s reports to the General Assembly. In the current context marked by escalating attacks on human rights defenders, sustained monitoring and reporting are more important than ever. The IBAHRI also welcomes the resolution to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression.

Strengthened efforts to protect children affected by armed conflicts
The IBAHRI welcomes the adoption of the new resolution on the rights of the child, which reinforces efforts to prevent and address grave violations against children affected by armed conflict, with an emphasis on accountability, protection and child-centred recovery. The resolution recognises the profound and lasting impact of conflict on children’s rights – including education, health and protection – and calls for comprehensive, gender-responsive support and reintegration. It also highlights the heightened risks faced by girls, such as conflict-related sexual violence, underage and forced marriage, and obstacles to education and healthcare, urging targeted action to address these harms and enable children’s recovery and meaningful participation.

Decriminalisation of poverty
The IBAHRI co-sponsored a side event to the UNHRC61 hosted by the ICJ spotlighting the urgent need to decriminalise poverty. The event showcased a new practitioners’ guide developed by the ICJ, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The guide outlines a human rights-based approach to criminal law, calling for the decriminalisation of conduct linked to poverty, homelessness and social status. To tackle the worrying global trend of wrongful overcriminalisation of such conduct, speakers highlighted how this new approach – grounded in the core principles of criminal justice and international human rights standards – can help reverse this pattern. Crucially, the conversation underscored the far-reaching harm caused by such criminalisation, from deepening inequality to undermining health and other fundamental rights.

Safeguarding the key role of civil society at the UN
The IBAHRI was pleased to co-sponsor a side event of the UNHRC61 on safeguarding civil society space at the UN, organised by the ICJ and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation. At a time when multilateralism, the rule of law and the global human rights movement face unprecedented pressure, the discussion could not have been timelier. Against a challenging geopolitical backdrop – and amid the major reform process marking the UN’s 80th anniversary – the Council’s human rights system is navigating significant uncertainty. Civil society organisations have long been a driving force behind the protection and advancement of human rights. They bring critical expertise, credible evidence and the voices of communities directly affected by violations into the UN system. Just as importantly, they help ensure that international human rights mechanisms remain accessible and meaningful for rights-holders, victims and survivors, bridging the gap between global institutions and people on the ground. Safeguarding civil society space is therefore not only about protecting participation; it is about preserving the effectiveness, legitimacy and impact of the UN human rights system itself.

ENDS

Contact: IBAHRI@int-bar.org

Notes:

1. The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), established in 1995 under Founding Honorary President Nelson Mandela, is an autonomous entity working to promote, protect and enforce human rights under a just rule of law, and to preserve the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession worldwide.
2. Find the IBAHRI on social media here:
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3. The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.
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Website page link for this news release:
Short link: tinyurl.com/yf9968hn
Full link: www.ibanet.org/IBAHRI-at-the-61st-session-of-the-United-Nations-Human-Rights-Council-takeaways

Francesca Restifo
Senior Human Rights Lawyer and UN Representative
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) Francesca.Restifo@int-bar.org