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Former child soldiers board a MONUC helicopter
UN and African Union special procedures conclude the first joint roadmap to promote and protect human rights in Africa
© UN Photo/Marie Frechon

A new roadmap for human rights mechanisms in Africa

The special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights seek innovative ways for promoting human rights in Africa and adopt the first roadmap for a partnership. The new partnership allows for joint and greater scrutiny of African countries’ compliance with their international human rights obligations.
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Activists campaigned outside the court during the sentencing hearing © Jordi Matas

Ending impunity for homophobic killings

UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay welcomes the findings of a court in South Africa, which has handed down long sentences to a group of men found guilty of the brutal murder of a teenager who was living openly as a lesbian.
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The Working Group on business and human rights holds its first meeting in Geneva © OHCHR

Getting down to business

The UN Working Group on business and human rights, meeting for the first time, considers a strategy to promote and ensure implementation of the new global standard to prevent and address human rights abuses linked to business practices.
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Human Rights in the news 

Pillay on Syria
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay urges the international community "to cut through the politics and take effective action to protect the Syrian population."
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Palestinian territories
Fact-finding mission by Special Rapporteur Richard Falk to the occupied Palestinian territory, Egypt and Jordan, from 10-20 February.
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Judge Garzón case
UN experts on independence of judges and enforced disappearances express over implications of Judge Baltasar Garzón case in Spain.
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Mission to Uruguay
Human right to water and sanitation: fact-finding visit by UN expert Catarina de Albuquerque to assess official efforts (13-17 February).
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Pillay / Senegal elections
UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay urged the Government, candidates and supporters to renounce violence and expressed concern about possible use of excessive force by authorities in Senegal.
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Meetings and events

CEDAW / 51 session
From : 13-02-2012 To : 02-03-2012
PN XVI
Human Rights Council / 19th session
From : 27-02-2012 To : 23-03-2012
PN XX
Pre-Session Working Group CEDAW / 53rd session
From : 05-03-2012 To : 09-03-2012
PN XVI
Pre-Session WG on Communications - Human Rights Committee / 104th session
From : 05-03-2012 To : 09-03-2012
New York
WG on the use of mercenaries / 15th session
From : 12-03-2012 To : 16-03-2012
PWG
Human Rights Committee / 104th session
From : 12-03-2012 To : 30-03-2012
New York
International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions (ICC) / 25th session
From : 20-03-2012 To : 22-03-2012
PN XIX
Ad Hoc Committee on the elaboration of complementary standards to ICERD / 4th session
From : 10-04-2012 To : 20-04-2012
PN XXI
WG on the Right to Development / 13th session
From : 23-04-2012 To : 27-04-2012
PN XXI
WG on communications / 10th session
From : 23-04-2012 To : 27-04-2012
WG on Arbitrary Detention / 63rd session
From : 30-04-2012 To : 04-05-2012
PW1
Committee against Torture (CAT) / 48th session
From : 07-05-2012 To : 01-06-2012
PW1
Pre-sessional WG - CESCR / 48th session
From : 21-05-2012 To : 25-05-2012
PWG
UPR Working Group / 13th session
From : 21-05-2012 To : 04-06-2012
PN XX
Committee on the Rights of Child (CRC) / 60th session
From : 29-05-2012 To : 15-06-2012
PWG
Meeting of Special Rapporteurs /Representatives /Independent Experts and Chairpersons of WG of the HRC / 19th session
From : 11-06-2012 To : 15-06-2012
PW1
Pre-sessional WG – CRC / 61st session
From : 18-06-2012 To : 22-06-2012
PWG
WG on Situations (HRC Complaint Procedures) / 10ème session
From : 18-06-2012 To : 22-06-2012
Human Rights Council / 20th session
From : 18-06-2012 To : 06-07-2012
PN XX
State parties meeting to CEDAW / 17th session
From : 26-06-2012 To : 26-06-2012
New York
Human Rights Committee / 105th session
From : 09-07-2012 To : 27-07-2012
PWG
CEDAW / 52nd session
From : 09-07-2012 To : 27-07-2012
New York
WG on the use of mercenaries / 16th session
From : 30-07-2012 To : 03-08-2012
New York
WG on Arbitrary Detention / 64th session
From : 27-08-2012 To : 30-08-2012
PN XI
WG on communications / 11th session
From : 27-08-2012 To : 31-08-2012
PW1
States parties meeting - CRPD / 8th session
From : 05-09-2012 To : 07-09-2012
New York
State parties meeting - ICCPR / 31st session
From : 06-09-2012 To : 06-09-2012
New York
Human Rights Council / 21st session
From : 10-09-2012 To : 28-09-2012
PN XX
Committee on the Rights of Child (CRC) / 61st session
From : 17-09-2012 To : 05-10-2012
PWG
Social Forum / 5th session
From : 01-10-2012 To : 03-10-2012
PN XVIII
CEDAW / 53rd session
From : 01-10-2012 To : 19-10-2012
PN XVI
Pre-sessional WG - CRC / 62nd session
From : 08-10-2012 To : 12-10-2012
PWG
Human Rights Committee / 106th session
From : 15-10-2012 To : 02-11-2012
PWG
Universal Periodic Review
From : 22-10-2012 To : 05-11-2012
PN XX
States Parties meeting - OPCAT / 4th session
From : 25-10-2012 To : 25-10-2012
PN XIX
Committee against Torture (CAT) / 49th session
From : 29-10-2012 To : 23-11-2012
PW1
WG on Arbitrary Detention / 65th session
From : 14-11-2012 To : 23-11-2012
PN IX
Forum on Minorities Issues / 5th session
From : 27-11-2012 To : 28-11-2012
PN XX
WG on the use of mercenaries / 17th session
From : 03-12-2012 To : 07-12-2012
PW1
Pre-sessional WG - CESCR / 49th session
From : 03-12-2012 To : 07-12-2012
PWG
State Parties meeting - CRC / 14th session
From : 18-12-2012 To : 18-12-2012
New York
 
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