On March 27, PILPG's Circle of Former Ambassadors to the United Nations Human Rights Council sent an open letter to the International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach, on the potential readmission of "neutral" Russian and Belarussian athletes for the 2024 Olympics.

On March 22, PILPG's Circle of Former Ambassadors to the United Nations Human Rights Council released a statement reiterating its support for the UN Human Rights Council Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, which has submitted its second report to the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council. 

The Circle urges the Human Rights Council members to renew the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and calls on the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen the resources and capacities of the Commission of Inquiry, providing all support required by the Commission of Inquiry as it carries out its responsibilities. 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is arguably one of the most integral documents ever adopted by the United Nations. Its anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the incredible steps that have been taken towards freedom, justice, and peace since 1948. At the same time, the anniversary allows the international community to recognize the challenges facing the world in 2023, such as insecurity and conflict, disinformation and polarization, and ever-increasing inequalities.

On February 13, PILPG's Circle of Former Ambassadors to the United Nations Human Rights Council released a statement welcoming the release of political prisoners and strongly condemning violations of the right to a nationality in Nicaragua.

The PILPG Circle of Former Ambassadors to the UN Human Rights Council urges the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Council, the Organization of American States, and the Inter-American Human Rights Commission to address the situation in Nicaragua urgently.

On November 3, PILPG's Circle of Former Ambassadors to the United Nations Human Rights Council released a statement condemning the Islamic Republic of Iran's regime's violent crackdown on peaceful protests in support of women's rights and expressing deep concern about reports of continued suppression of the rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and other human rights across the country.   

The Circle stands in solidarity with women and girls who have bravely taken to the streets to demonstrate, demanding accountability and justice for the death of Mahsa Amini and Nika Shahkarami, as well as for democracy and their fundamental rights and freedoms to be guaranteed.  

The event was organized in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Ukraine in Geneva and co-sponsored by 42 members of the Group of Friends of Accountability, following the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It featured contributions by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for Ukraine, high-level officials from Ukraine, and prominent experts in the field of international law.

The speakers discussed the means of ensuring accountability for violations and crimes committed in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The Circle strongly condemns the grave human rights violations or abuses, repression of civil society, and democratic opposition in Nicaragua. The Circle notes that since the violent response to anti-government protests in 2018, the government of Nicaragua continues to restrict freedom of expression for journalists and media outlets through threats, physical attacks, arrests, random and spurious financial investigations, arbitrary prosecutions, and forced closures. The Ortega regime has proven its inability to win free and fair elections by continuing to arrest opponents and detaining government critics to remain politically unchallenged. The Circle calls on the international community, the UN Human Rights Council, and the Organization of American States (OAS) members to respond more forcefully and hold persons and entities accountable for the actions that continue to undermine democracy and the rule of law in the country.  

The Circle of Former Ambassadors acknowledges the vital work of Amnesty International. However, they express concern regarding the impact that the August 4 Press Release may have on the tragic war in Ukraine. Specifically, the Russian Government has already demonstrated using it as the pretext to defend its unjustified aggression and continued human rights violations and international humanitarian law in Ukraine.

The Circle of Former Ambassadors calls on Amnesty International and its International Secretariat leadership team to acknowledge that they made an error by prematurely publishing this Press Release and take appropriate action to recall it immediately. They call on human rights organizations to prioritize accountability for gross human rights violations, flagrant international law breaches by Russia, and justice for all affected populations.

In light of the new phase of political transition and economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the Circle urges all responsible parties in Sri Lanka to reaffirm their commitment to transitional justice. Substantial strides must be taken towards accountability for human rights violations committed during the Sri Lankan civil war.

Click below to read their statement, which urges the international community to prioritize accountability for gross human rights violations, consequences for flagrant breaches of international law, and justice for all affected populations.

In July 2022, PILPG convened a Circle of Former Ambassadors to the United Nations Human Rights Council, a group of several former Ambassadors to the Human Rights Council, including two former Presidents of the Council - Ambassador Joachim Rucker (2015) and Ambassador Vojislav Suc (2019).

As the 50th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council progresses in Geneva, the Public International Law & Policy Group’s Circle of Former Ambassadors to the Human Rights Council expresses grave concern about the catastrophic human rights and humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

Click below to read their statement, which urges Human Rights Council member states and UN institutions to prioritize accountability for gross human rights violations, consequences for flagrant breaches of international law, and justice for all affected populations.

In December 2021, PILPG Founder Dr. Paul R. Wiliams and Research Fellow Isabela Karibjanian contributed a written intervention to the 14th Session of the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues. PILPG’s comments propose discrete recommendations for the incorporation of minority rights into peace agreements and draws from the theme of the Forum's fifth session: Towards a lasting peace: positive initiatives to better protect the rights of minorities.

PILPG Program Manager Greta Ramelli delivered remarks on behalf of PILPG during the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues’ fifth session, entitled “Towards a lasting peace: positive initiatives to better protect the rights of minorities.” Her remarks included concrete suggestions from the PILPG team on how to best incorporate minority rights into peace agreements, with an aim of forging a durable peace.