Escalating Censorship: UN Watch Receives 3% of slots at 47th session

June, 2021 – Ahead of the 47th Session of the Human Rights Council, UN Watch applied to speak for 31 Interactive Dialogues (ID), which are debates with experts after they present their reports. UN Watch was only afforded one speaking slot, out of 31 requested. By contrast, International Service for Human Rights received five slots (out of only eight requested); Amnesty International received six slots (out of 14 requested); and the International Commission of Jurists received eight slots (out of 17 requested). In other words, for these other groups, the ratio of speaking slots received to those requested ranged from 43% to 62%. For UN Watch, it was a mere 3%. 

The extreme disparity made it easier for UN Watch to believe, after more than a decade of shady UN behaviour against the NGO, that it was done with a malicious intent – their censorship. Known for its strong speakers and outspoken stance on the UN’s functioning, it comes with little surprise to UN Watch that those in power are increasing efforts to cover up their wrongdoings. UN Watch’s suspicions have since been reaffirmed by a testimony from Emma Reilly, a UN Whistleblower, and leaked internal emails.