The third session of the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law was held on 16 and 17 November 2021. In accordance with resolution 40/9, adopted on 5 March 2019 the theme of the third session of the Forum is “Access to justice for all: a necessary element of democracy, rule of law and human rights protection”.

Ms. Jan Beagle, Director General of the International Development Law organisation, was appointed Chairperson of the third session of the Forum.

The third session of the Forum was to be held on 26 and 27 November 2020, but did not take place owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the Note from the Secretariat A/HRC/46/60.

• Chairperson’s report: A/HRC/49/80
• Highlights from the 3rd Session of the Forum: two pager
• Annotated Provisional Agenda A/HRC/FD/2021/1
• Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet
• Programme of Work
• Biographies of panellists

Videos

• Opening meeting
• Panel Discussion on Equal access to justice: a foundation for human rights, democracy, the rule of law and sustainable development
• Panel Discussion on Making justice truly accessible to all
• Panel Discussion on When emergency strikes: access to justice in times of crisis
• Panel Discussion on Broadening the horizons of access to justice
• Closing meeting

Participation in the 2021 Forum

Human Rights Council resolutions 28/14 and 34/41 decided that the Forum would be “open to the participation of States, United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes, intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations and mechanisms in the field of human rights, national human rights institutions and other relevant national bodies, academics and experts and non-governmental organizations…”

Inputs received

The views and/or opinions expressed in the contributions listed below are those of the contributing organizations and do not reflect in any way the views and/or opinions of OHCHR. OHCHR is not responsible for the content of the organizations’ views and/or opinions. The use and posting of the contributions do not provide any legal and/or other status to the contributing organizations or association with OHCHR.

Statements

Member States

• Algeria
• Brazil
• Cuba
• Iraq 1 | 2
• Namibia
• Philippines
• Tunisia

United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes

• UNODC

International and regional organisations

• European Union

NGOs

• AIDHDES 1 | 2
• Beijing Zhicheng Migrant Workers' Legal Aid and Research Center 1 | 2 
• Center of my Right for Support the Rights and Freedoms
• Chongqing Centre for Equal Social Development 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 
• China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) 1 | 2 | 3
• Human Rights Information and Training Center 
• International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)
• International Bar Association 1 | 2 | 3 | 4  
• International Committee for the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
• Organization for Defending Victims of Violence
• Pan African Women’s Association (PAWA) 1 | 2
• Southern Poverty Law center

Academics and experts

• Asma Siddiq
• China University of Political Science and Law

Submissions

Member States

• Azerbaijan
• Philippines
• Qatar
• Romania
• Tunisia

United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes

• UNICEF and Child Rights Connect
• UNODC

International and regional organisations

• International Development Law Organization
• OSCE - ODIHR 1 | 2

NGOs

• Coalition for Genocide Response
• Comité Español de Representantes de Personas con Discapacidades (CERMI)
• Defence for Children International (DCI)
• Fédération internationale des ACAT (FIACAT)
• Instituto Promoviendo Desarrollo Social – (IPRODES) 1 | 2
• International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)
• International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
• International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights (Race and Equality)
• Journalists and Writers Foundation
• Ohaha Family Foundation
• Open Society Foundations/Justice Initiative 1
• Terre des Hommes

Academics and experts

• Castan Centre for Human Rights Law 1 | 2