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 Musician Emmanuel Jal performs inside the Luminarium
South Sudanese musician and former child soldier Emmanuel Jal performs inside the Luminarium in Geneva
© OHCHR/ Jean-Marc Ferré

The Luminarium: A creative space for discussion

A 1,000 square metre inflatable and interactive art installation—Luminarium—was displayed on the lawn of the Palais des Nations for one week in June. The structure was sponsored by the United Kingdom Permanent Mission to the United Nations and open to UN staff, UN ground pass visitors, and school groups.
 
“This Luminarium will hopefully spark similar creativity in us as we enter to listen, learn, and share messages,” says UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay.


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 In the slums of Bucharest, a project helps Roma youth to stay away from drugs and develop their skills in sports, dance and music. © Valeriu Nicolae

“A little bit of money makes a real difference”

Romani human rights activist, Valeriu Nicolae, runs and funds from his own resources a project aimed at giving young people in a Bucharest ghetto a future free of drugs and crime through education and sports.



 Sandrine Salerno, Mayor of Geneva, Marcia Kran of OHCHR and Charles Beer, President of the Geneva State Council. © Network/ André Annen

What we can learn from the story of the Geneva school boy executed by drowning 450 years ago

In June 1566, a 15-year-old school boy, was convicted on charges of homosexuality and sentenced to death by drowning. Almost 450 years later, a commemorative plaque on the spot where the teenager was executed is being unveiled.



Human Rights in the news 

Turkey
High Commissioner urges Turkey’s government and civil society to act in a manner which would defuse tensions, following large-scale protests across the country.

Constitutional changes in Hungary
High Commissioner urges the Hungarian Government to revoke a series of constitutional changes widely seen as a backward step in human rights protection.

93,000 people killed in Syria / new study
An updated analysis carried out by data specialists on behalf of the UN Human Rights Office has led to the compilation of a list of 92,901 documented cases of individuals killed in Syria between March 2011 and the end of April 2013.

Georgia / Internally displaced persons
The UN Special Rapporteur on internally displaced persons calls for an integrated approach to address the situation of all internally displaced persons in Georgia.

Montenegro journalists
Montenegro must ensure violence against the country's journalists is investigated and those responsible held accountable, UN expert on freedom of expression Frank La Rue says.

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