Women in Congo seek justiceSexual violence is a hallmark of the conflict in Eastern Congo. Justice for most of the women has been elusive. 25-12-2009 Human Rights Day – a global celebrationThis year’s Human Rights Day theme, ‘embracing diversity, ending discrimination’ is enthusiastically embraced in many countries through a wide variety of celebratory programmes. 23-12-2009 A legacy of traumaThe campaign of terror being waged across several central African nations by the renegade group, the Lord’s Resistance Army “may amount to crimes against humanity” according to two reports just released by Human Rights investigating teams. 23-12-2009 Transitional justice in BurundiNational consultations in Burundi aim at healing wounds after three decades of armed conflict between the two main ethnic groups the Hutus and Tutsis 09-12-2009 A world free of land minesA decade on from the adoption of the Mine Ban Treaty, progress has been substantial. However, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyung-wha Kang says many challenges remain. 04-12-2009 Human Rights Day, 10 December 2009In the lead-up to Human Rights Day, 10 December Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay is marshalling global support for a campaign focused on non-discrimination 04-12-2009 Modelling transitional justiceHuman Rights Chief Navi Pillay identifies implementation as the real challenge in the development of transitional justice for States devastated by conflict or emerging from repressive rule. 03-12-2009 Calls for change in ColombiaOn a visit to Colombia, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyung-wha Kang undertakes to convey to the authorities the concerns of local groups who live in fear of homicides, landmines, threats, forced displacement and stigmatization. 01-12-2009 Judicial interactionRegional judges meeting in the Maldives are urged to interact more to find ways of fighting inequality and discrimination. 18-11-2009 In Search of Justice and a HomeThe United Nations human rights office in Cambodia works closely with partners to help stop forced evictions and assist victims to seek fair compensation. 17-11-2009 History shackles Afro-BraziliansHuman Rights Chief Navi Pillay on a week-long visit to Brazil travels to a quilombo – one of the communities founded by escaped slaves where the inhabitants have taken action to achieve economic independence. 10-11-2009 Who are the victims of human trafficking?Victims must not be treated as criminals by national immigration and law enforcement officials, says Special Rapporteur on trafficking in report to UN General Assembly. 05-11-2009 A story of modern slaveryThe latest report from the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery describes the plight of the millions of people globally who work as bonded labourers. 04-11-2009 Human Rights DiplomacyUN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay lectures on diplomacy the Harvard Law School faculty. 28-10-2009 Quality Education for Indigenous PeoplesIndigenous communities globally are missing out on quality education. A report to the Human Rights Council gives advice for the improved implementation of their right to education. 22-10-2009 Somalia: “Another problem in another place”The UN’s Independent Expert on Somalia says the international community must act to bring an end to the long-standing human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Somalia. 21-10-2009 The evolution of transitional justiceUN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay urges States confronting the past to make full use of the human rights mechanisms and expertise available. 19-10-2009 Migrant domestic workersEconomic instability leaves the most vulnerable in the global community more exposed than ever. The rights of domestic migrant workers are the focus of a day of discussion at the UN Committee on Migrant Workers. 16-10-2009 The Human Rights Council in special sessionHuman Rights chief Navi Pillay, at a special session of the Human Rights Council urges respect for human rights as the basis for a resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. 15-10-2009 Rights of the Child Convention turns 20Human Rights Chief urges practical measures to realize children’s rights to mark the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 08-10-2009 Business and Human Rights: a way forward Human Rights chief Navi Pillay welcomes private and public sector delegates to a global gathering in Geneva, organised to discuss a way forward for business and human rights. 06-10-2009 OHCHR opens new officesHigh Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay signs an agreement to establish an office in Mauritania and another to create a regional office for South America in Chile. 01-10-2009 Biking for human rightsThe Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has a new, highly visible aid available to its human rights monitors in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. 09-09-2009 Violence against womenProgress made and lessons learned: the role of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences. 07-09-2009 A shared visionThe Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights supports the establishment of the Regional Center for Democracy, Good Governance, Human Rights and Civic Education in Zambia. 04-09-2009 Witches in the 21st CenturyAction is urged to combat a growing problem: thousands of people, mostly older women and children accused as witches are murdered every year. 24-08-2009 World Humanitarian DayThe first World Humanitarian Day honours workers who have lost their lives in service of others. 19-08-2009 A week dedicated to indigenous peoplesOver 300 representatives of indigenous peoples from around the world, UN agencies and bodies, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations converged in Geneva this week for the second annual session of the Expert Mechanism of IP. 11-08-2009 An alternative to “see you in court.”BASESwiki is a global, interactive website designed to help people find and exchange information on non judicial alternatives to solving disputes between business and society. 10-08-2009 Prisoners’ right to educationA recent report from the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the right to education urges States to guarantee on-going learning opportunities for all prisoners. 26-07-2009 Future prospectsGraduate students discuss the impact of the global economic crisis at the 2009 United Nations Graduate Study Programme. 23-07-2009 Land grabbing in CambodiaA community tells the story of its battle for access to land to grow food and the effect it has had on hundreds of families. 21-07-2009 Silence is ViolenceA new UN report focuses on threats and attacks against women participating in public life and the widespread but under-reported problem of rape. 10-07-2009 Voice of the victimsThe UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict held two rounds of public hearings to give a voice to the victims 07-07-2009 The story of Barbara ShawBarbara Shaw, a vocal campaigner for the rights of Aboriginal Australians tells her story of discrimination and deprivation 30-06-2009 United against tortureHigh Commissioner marked the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June by calling on leaders worldwide to root out torture. 26-06-2009 The story of Nusreta Sivac Nusreta Sivac was targeted as a Muslim and sent to a concentration camp in Omarska where she was repeatedly abused during the war in Bosnia. 23-06-2009 Born into SlaveryMariama Oumarou, a young woman from Niger in west Africa who was born into slavery tells her story to the international community. 15-06-2009 Inequality before the lawFourteen years on from the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the repeal of discriminatory laws is a continuing struggle. 08-06-2009 The story of Geiler RomañaGeiler Romaña comes to Geneva to tell the story of the millions of displaced Colombians forced away from their homes by decades of violent conflict. 08-06-2009 Caught in the conflictUN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay highlights civilian suffering in armed conflict and calls for the protection of fundamental human rights and respect for the rule of law. 04-06-2009 A Milestone for Business and Human RightsHigh Commissioner for Human Rights hails a policy framework that underscores the corporate responsibility to respect human rights as “an important milestone.” 02-06-2009 In need of urgent actionThe Human Rights Council met in a special session to address the human rights consequences of the conflict in Sri Lanka. 26-05-2009 Prioritising Human RightsHigh Commissioner Pillay calls on the international community to maintain its investment in the human rights work of the United Nations in spite of the global economic downturn. 19-05-2009 Universal Periodic Review opens fifth sessionThe Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council, from 4 to 15 May, is to examine the human rights situations in 16 countries from different regions of the world. 04-05-2009 The story of Creuza OliveiraFrom domestic worker to a leader for Afro-Brazilian women, Creuza Oliveira highlights the power of unions and social movements in combating racism. 23-04-2009 The story of Khalid HussainKhalid Hussain appeals to the international community to help the Urdu speaking Bihari minority achieve equal rights in Bangladesh 22-04-2009 Anti-racism Durban Review Conference adopts final outcome documentThe anti-racism Durban Review Conference on 21 April adopted its final outcome document. High Commissioner for Human Rights warmly welcomed the latest development and called upon the international community to continue the fight against all forms of racis 21-04-2009 The story of Elena GorolováA Roma woman’s horror at discovering she had been involuntarily sterilized and her courage in the fight for justice. 21-04-2009 “United Against Racism”All victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are honoured at the start of the week-long Durban Review Conference. 20-04-2009 On the road for human rights The Government of Thailand joins the United Nations country team, and the National Human Rights Commission to sponsor the Human Rights caravan – the latest event to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 08-04-2009 Funding human rightsOHCHR continues to receive voluntary donations from member states and a greater percentage of those is being donated unearmarked. 18-03-2009 Strengthening tiesHigh Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay met with African leaders during an African Union summit, from 2 to 3 February, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 06-02-2009 Digital record of the UDHRThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights has entered the digital era. A new web site provides access to early UN documents related to the drafting of the Declaration. 04-02-2009 Concerted efforts to prevent genocideWorld experts meet to discuss the prevention of genocide at a 21 January seminar organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 20-01-2009 Right to food in Timor-LesteIn Timor-Leste, hunger is a daily reality for many people. OHCHR works in monitoring and advocating their right to adequate food. 15-01-2009 Violence must stopThe Human Rights Council 12 January concluded its special session which addressed the critical human rights situation in the Gaza Strip. 09-01-2009 Shake Your RightsSeven student designers have been awarded prizes in an international art competition, held to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 06-01-2009 A new web concept for human rightsAn interactive online site addressed to young people was developed by the OHCHR Office in Guatemala to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the UDHR. 06-01-2009 UDHR PostersPosters illustrating the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights exhibited in Mexico to mark the 60th anniversary of the Declaration. 02-01-2009 |