Simon Henderson

International human rights lawyer. Former @savechildrenaus, @justicecentrehk, @DFAT, @thelawcouncil. Own views.

[Margaret Satterthwaite @SRjudgeslawyers]

⚖️Grateful to @IDLO, OHCHR, @IBAHRI, and all the organizers for convening today’s timely discussion on judicial selection and appointment processes during the 62nd session of the #HRC. It was a privilege to participate alongside such distinguished co-panelists and colleagues committed to strengthening the rule of law worldwide.

Today, I shared reflections from my report on the Principles for Judicial Appointments. One message was at the heart of our discussion: judicial appointments are not merely administrative decisions, they are human rights decisions. The way judges are selected shapes every person’s right to a fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal.

Judicial independence begins long before a judge enters a courtroom. It starts with appointment processes that are transparent, grounded in law, and protected from undue influence. Public trust in justice is built not only through judicial decisions, but through confidence that judges are selected fairly.

👉🏼We also need to rethink how we define “merit.” Strong and independent judiciaries benefit from diverse professional experiences and backgrounds. Diversity is not an exception to excellence, it is part of it.

My report, “Principles for Judicial Appointments”, is now available: https://t.co/RRgfUnhl1U

[Simon Henderson @simjhenderson]

#HongKong national security police have raided a bookshop and arrested two people for alleged "sedition".

Yet another alarming case. The latest in a relentless assault against bookshops and print media in Hong Kong.
https://t.co/PEs7B1iWAl

[UN Human Rights in Seoul @UNrightsSeoul]

📢Join us online tomorrow as OHCHR speaks at a discussion at the UN in New York about enforced disappearance in and by the #DPRK (co-hosted by Japan, Australia, ROK, US, and EU).

[William Nee @williamnee]

Jimmy Lai now detained for 2000 days, and it is 5 years since this last tweet:

[公共訴訟の専門家集団｜LEDGE @LEDGE_law]

／
📣弁護団インタビュー公開！
＼

「立候補年齢引き下げ訴訟」弁護団の一員として、同世代の原告たちを支えている弁護士の向井佑里さん。

きょうの控訴審第1回口頭弁論を前に、学生時代から携わってきたこの訴訟にかける思いを聞きました🕊️✨
https://t.co/k1VwhoyAEk

[Simon Henderson @simjhenderson]

@YaxueCao They are looking great! Well done!

[東京レインボープライド #TRP @Tokyo_R_Pride]

【Human Rights Conference 開催】

6月20日（土）、Human Rights Conferenceを開催しました。

トランスジェンダーとスポーツ、SRHR（性と生殖に関する健康と権利）、排外主義などをテーマに、さまざまな立場の登壇者とともに議論を行いました。

ご参加いただいた皆さま、ありがとうございました🌈

#TokyoPride2026
#HumanRightsConference

[石橋学 @ishibs_kanagawa]

ヘイトスピーチに刑事罰を科す差別禁止条例は川崎市で実現している。ヘイトクライムが起きれば市長が率先して非難する。差別根絶のための公的施設、ふれあい館もある。
市民が声を上げ、行政や議会を動かし、多文化共生社会を築いていけると川崎の取り組みが示している。
https://t.co/q4jLIFGm8p

[Erin Hale @erinhale]

Taiwan has withdrawn from the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in Kenya after 2 delegation members were denied entry to a fringe event and detained by Kenyan immigration authorities due to Chinese pressure. https://t.co/RYOZUW4uxR

[SwedenUN 🇸🇪 @SwedenUN]

There’s a worrying trend at the United Nations: more and more civil society organizations are being blocked from participating in our meetings and processes. Last week, Sweden joined a group of countries in highlighting this development. See our statement here: https://t.co/xMYxt4BreE

[Simon Henderson @simjhenderson]

I would add that middle power democracies failed the first phase of the test - the immediate response.

Australian FM & politicians spoke out. NZ & Australia lodged protest. Yet, there was limited cross-parliamentary solidarity & lack of other gov statements. More may still come.

[Simon Henderson @simjhenderson]

Interesting piece by @shrutipandalai looking at #China's ban on NZ MP's for visiting #Taiwan.

Using #India as a comparison is helpful, recognising its experience in responding to #China's playbook.

[The Lowy Institute @LowyInstitute]

Beijing’s ban on NZ MPs is a calibration test – will democracies pass it? | Shruti Pandalai https://t.co/PGrM9ReJ4W

[Simon Henderson @simjhenderson]

On Monday, plaintiffs in the same-sex marriage lawsuit submitted about 36,000 signatures of support to Japan's Supreme Court.

Hearings will be held later this year, with a ruling expected late this year or early next year.

@Tokyo_R_Pride @marriage4all_
https://t.co/z5vCceeCm0

[Simon Henderson @simjhenderson]

It was fantastic to be at @Tokyo_R_Pride on the weekend.

I met with a wide range of organisations and universities, discussing LGBTQ+ #humanrights and law reform issues in #Japan.

#TokyoPride #東京プライド

[Marriage For All Japan – 結婚の自由をすべての人に マリフォー @marriage4all_]

今年の東京プライド
マリフォーは
1⃣東京プライド会場内（代々木公園）のブース(11-18時)
2⃣北谷公園（代々木公園渋谷側出口から徒歩1分。10-19時）の２か所
北谷公園ではパネル展示やトークショー開催
２か所を回るスタンプラリーは、数量限定でプレゼントご用意。台紙のウチワは両会場で配布してます

[Simon Henderson @simjhenderson]

Holding a candle or a paper flower. These small forms of remembrance are considered "disorderly conduct" by Hong Kong Police.

Another year passes by where Tiananmen vigils, previously held for decades in #HongKong, are no longer allowed.
https://t.co/Wa6h6wJL6r

[Simon Henderson @simjhenderson]

Last night, I attended the #June4 commemoration at Waseda University in Tokyo.

We remembered the loved ones who lost their lives. We remembered their aspirations for freedom of expression, democracy and an end to corruption.

We chose to remember.

#六四 #天安门 #Tiananmen

[Alric Lee 李伊東 アリック リー @alric_lee]

Lee believes the current moment is "one of the last chances we can advocate and gather attention to political prisoners and the dilemma faced by civil society in Hong Kong."

https://t.co/9XaJXG9F91

[LadyLibertyHK レイディー ・リバティー 香港 @hkladyliberty]

6月3日18時より早稲田奉仕園にて開催の天安門事件追悼集会につきまして、予定通り行います。ただし開会時間前後は台風6号の影響で風が強くなる可能性がありますので、安全に十分注意を払い、ご無理のないようにお願い致します。

[難民支援協会（JAR） @ja4refugees]

6/19、難民支援協会では〈無料〉オンライン活動報告を開催します。弁護士を招いて、難民の権利と尊厳を取り戻す支援現場のリアルをお話します。すでに︎160人以上のお申し込みをいただいています！お申込は6/18まで。
https://t.co/JcOylkQe22