Timeline Category: Publications

Issued by the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries (Report to the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council, September 2026)

Submission Date: 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). Submission to the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries on Technology in the Operations of Mercenaries, Mercenary-Related Actors, and Private Military and Security Companies.

This submission was presented to the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries in response to a formal call for inputs for the thematic report to the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council. It examines how emerging technologies — including surveillance tools, autonomous systems, and digital platforms — are reshaping the operational landscape of mercenaries and private military and security companies, and analyses the human rights implications under international humanitarian and human rights law. Relevant to practitioners in international security law, human rights monitoring, and digital warfare governance.

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Publié par le Haut-Commissariat aux droits de l’homme en application de la résolution CDH 57/11

Submission Date: 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). Soumission au Haut-Commissariat aux droits de l’homme sur le terrorisme et les droits de l’homme.

Cette soumission a été présentée au Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme en réponse à un appel à contributions pour le rapport thématique destiné à la 63e session du Conseil des droits de l’homme. Elle examine l’intersection entre les mesures antiterroristes et la protection des droits fondamentaux, en analysant les cadres juridiques nationaux et internationaux, les risques de dérive sécuritaire, et les obligations des États en matière de droits humains dans le contexte de la lutte contre le terrorisme. Pertinente pour les praticiens du droit international humanitaire, les experts en droits de l’homme, et les décideurs politiques travaillant sur les cadres de sécurité.

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Issued by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), March 2026 — Principles Engaged: 3, 4(a), 4(b), 7, 35, 38, 39, 43, 44, 45, 46

Submission Date: May 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). The State Cannot Be Its Own Accountability Mechanism: Ubuntu Jurisprudence, Customary Law Traditions, and the Structural Contradiction of Classifying State Actors as Human and Peoples’ Rights Defenders under Principle 4(a) in Southern Africa.

This submission was presented to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in response to a formal call for inputs on the Draft Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human and Peoples’ Rights Defenders and Their Protection in Africa. Focused on Southern Africa, it addresses the structural contradiction of Principle 4(a) which classifies state actors including the police and army as human rights defenders, drawing on Ubuntu jurisprudence from South Africa and Zimbabwe and the Nyamakala accountability tradition of the Kurukan Fuga Charter. It proposes a three-tier restructuring of Principle 4, a whistleblower savings clause, and amendments to Principle 43’s investigative obligation. Relevant to African constitutional law scholars, human rights accountability practitioners, and civil society organisations working on state accountability.

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Issued by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), March 2026 — Principles Engaged: 23, 27, 32, 39, 40, 41, 42, 49

Submission Date: May 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). Defending Rights in a Disappearing State: Climate-Exposed Human Rights Defenders, Blue Economy Governance, and the Structural Inadequacy of the Enabling Environment Framework for African Small Island Developing States.

This submission was presented to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in response to a formal call for inputs on the Draft Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human and Peoples’ Rights Defenders and Their Protection in Africa. Focused on African Indian Ocean SIDS, it identifies the structural inadequacy of the Declaration’s enabling environment framework for jurisdictions whose territorial identity is oceanic and whose institutional capacity is compressed by climate-related fiscal constraints. It proposes a SIDS-specific capacity sub-principle, an extension of extractive industries protections to marine and blue economy contexts, and a supplementary reporting mechanism for violations by extraterritorial actors. Relevant to SIDS policy specialists, environmental human rights practitioners, and climate justice advocates.

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Issued by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), March 2026 — Principles Engaged: 13, 30, 36, 37(14-15), 42(6), 44, 45, 46

Submission Date: May 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). The Criminalisation of Expression in the Digital Age: Cybercrime Legislation, Surveillance Infrastructure, and the Enforcement Deficit of Principles 13, 30, and 36 in West Africa.

This submission was presented to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in response to a formal call for inputs on the Draft Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human and Peoples’ Rights Defenders and Their Protection in Africa. Focused on West Africa, it analyses the systematic weaponisation of cybercrime and surveillance legislation against human rights defenders, documenting Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act prosecutions, Ghana’s use of Pegasus-class spyware, and Burkina Faso’s suspension of 27 international media outlets. It proposes converting hortatory language to binding obligations and creating a new Principle 36bis on surveillance due diligence. Relevant to digital rights practitioners, press freedom advocates, and African human rights lawyers.

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Issued by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), March 2026 — Principles Engaged: 21, 22, 37(22-26), 41, 42(7), 43, 50

Submission Date: May 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). Defenders Without Borders, Protections Without Reach: Cross-Jurisdictional Human Rights Defence, Conflict-Induced Displacement, and the Jurisdiction Gap in Principles 37 and 42 in the Horn of Africa.

This submission was presented to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in response to a formal call for inputs on the Draft Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human and Peoples’ Rights Defenders and Their Protection in Africa. Focused on the Horn of Africa, it identifies a fundamental jurisdiction gap in the Declaration’s territorial model of state-defender relations, proposes a new definitional category of cross-border defender, a home state non-pursuit obligation, and supplementary protections for HRDs who are internally displaced persons. Relevant to African human rights practitioners, international refugee law specialists, and civil society organisations working across the East and Horn of Africa.

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Issued by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), March 2026 — Principles Engaged: 3, 4(a), 12, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46

Submission Date: May 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). Unconstitutional Power and the Unprotected Defender: Military Governance, Civic Space Collapse, and the Operative Inadequacy of Principle 12 in the Sahel Region.

This submission was presented to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in response to a formal call for inputs on the Draft Declaration on the Promotion of the Role of Human and Peoples’ Rights Defenders and Their Protection in Africa. Focused on the Sahel sub-region — Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — it analyses the operative inadequacy of Principle 12 in post-coup governance contexts where six successful coups between 2020 and 2023 produced systematic, institutionalised repression of human rights defenders. Drawing on Ubuntu philosophy and the Kurukan Fuga Charter, it proposes a consequence architecture for post-coup contexts, an enumeration of forced military conscription as a prohibited reprisal, and a civic space crisis protocol. Relevant to African human rights practitioners, AU policy specialists, civil society organisations working in the Sahel, and scholars of African constitutional law.

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Issued by the Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI), Mr. Graeme Reid

Submission Date: May 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). Submission to the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Advance of the Country Visit to Mongolia.

This submission was presented to the UN Independent Expert on SOGI in advance of his official country visit to Mongolia scheduled for May 2026. It contributes to the mandate’s assessment of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Mongolian context, informing the IE SOGI’s formal findings and recommendations. Relevant to human rights defenders, LGBTQI+ rights advocates, and legal practitioners working on non-discrimination and equality frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Issued by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (Report to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly)

Submission Date: Early 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). Submission on Corporate Governance, Business and Human Rights.

This submission was presented to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in response to a formal call for inputs for the thematic report to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. It examines the interface between corporate governance frameworks and human rights obligations, analysing due diligence requirements, accountability mechanisms, and the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights across corporate structures and supply chains. Relevant to corporate lawyers, business and human rights practitioners, and policymakers working on mandatory due diligence legislation.

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Issued by the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries (Report to the 81st Session of the General Assembly, 2026)

Submission Date: Early 2026

Response(s) to the call for inputs:

Pierre J. D. (2026). Submission to the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries on Mercenaries, Mercenary-Related Actors and PMSCs in Organized Criminal Activities and Illicit Networks.

This submission was presented to the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries in response to a formal call for inputs for the thematic report to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. It analyses the intersection of mercenary activity, private military and security companies, and organised criminal networks, examining accountability gaps, jurisdictional challenges, and the human rights consequences of illicit mercenary operations under international law. Relevant to international criminal law specialists, human rights lawyers, and UN peace and security practitioners.

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