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Victory over a torturer
Impunity in South Sudan
Davos: Business leaders must stand up for human rights
Human Rights in Mali
Stand Up campaign

Victim to victor: the story of Souleymane Guengueng

Souleymane Guengueng is one of the victims of torture who has demanded justice for the atrocities they endured under the dictatorship of Chad’s Hissène Habré.
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Civilians in South Sudan live under constant risk of mass atrocities

A UN report details grave human rights violations, including killings and gang rapes, committed in Juba in July 2016. Six months later, there remains widespread impunity, as abuses continue unabated.
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Davos: Business leaders must stand up for human rights

High Commissioner Zeid calls on business leaders at Davos to use their considerable influence to stand up for human rights and to join in the fight to defend the global values that are currently under threat.
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Engaging in critical dialogues for human rights and peace in Mali

Members of an armed separatist group listen to a presentation by the UN Human Rights and Protection Division in Ber, northern Mali. The meeting is part of a critical strategy to engage extremist groups in human rights dialogue, said Division Director Guillaume Ngefa.
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“Stand up for someone’s rights today”: A global call to support human rights

“Stand up for someone’s rights today” is the new global campaign that aims to encourage, amplify and support what people do in their everyday lives to defend human rights. It promotes taking action for greater freedom, stronger respect and more compassion.
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News

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Briefing: Iran, Bahrain We urge the Iranian authorities not to execute Sajad Sanjari, a juvenile when he was sentenced to death in 2012. W urge Bahrain to impose a moratorium on the use of the death penalty after the execution by firing squad of three men in Bahrain on Sunday.

South Sudan High Commissioner Zeid warns that the unbridled outbursts of violence that occurred in South Sudan in July last year, as detailed in a UN report, could continue and quickly escalate in the absence of justice and accountability.

Zeid at Davos High Commissioner Zeid calls on business leaders at Davos to use their considerable influence to stand up for human rights and to join in the fight to defend the global values that are currently under threat

Côte d’Ivoire / Rights UN rights expert Mohammed Ayat warns about the challenges faced by Côte d’Ivoire in view of the imminent withdrawal of the UN Operation in the country.

Mission to CAR UN human rights expert Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum will carry out a follow-up mission to the Central African Republic (25 January to 3 February).

Open consultation UN expert Vitit Muntarbhorn launches a two-day open consultation on sexual orientation and gender identity (24-25 January, UN headquarters, Geneva).

'A senseless murder' UN expert Michel Forst condemns the murder in Mexico of environmental human rights defender Isidro Baldenegro Lopez of the raramuri indigenous people.

IDP camp bombing “This tragedy should never have happened” – UN expert Cecilia Jimenez-Damary urges Nigeria to give greater protection to all internally displaced persons.

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Briefing notes: DRC Political accord in the DRC, an opportunity to ensure that everyone is able to fully exercise their right to freedoms of association and peaceful assembly, opinion, and expression.

DRC / Growing instability Accountability for killings of protesters is vital, says the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein as DRC crisis continues.

Briefing note Reports of dozens of killings by police and soldiers in the DRC "deeply troubling". We call on Bahrain to release Nabeel Rajab, detained for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Briefing note: Myanmar, Colombia, Two Covenants The UN Human Rights Office emphasises the potential of the Colombian peace agreement to improve the human rights situation in the country; Zeid urges Myanmar to look into the violence in the Rakhine state; all states are urged to uphold the rights of the two covenants (ICESCR and ICCPR).

Gambia elections The increased military presence deployed across The Gambia since President Yayha Jammeh rejected the election result risks heightening the current climate of intimidation and harassment in the country, Zeid warns.

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Mission to CAR UN human rights expert Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum will carry out a follow-up mission to the Central African Republic (25 January to 3 February).

Côte d’Ivoire / Rights UN rights expert Mohammed Ayat warns about the challenges faced by Côte d’Ivoire in view of the imminent withdrawal of the UN Operation in the country.

Open consultation UN expert Vitit Muntarbhorn launches a two-day open consultation on sexual orientation and gender identity (24-25 January, UN headquarters, Geneva).

'A senseless murder' UN expert Michel Forst condemns the murder in Mexico of environmental human rights defender Isidro Baldenegro Lopez of the raramuri indigenous people.

IDP camp bombing “This tragedy should never have happened” – UN expert Cecilia Jimenez-Damary urges Nigeria to give greater protection to all internally displaced persons.

Poverty in S. Arabia “Saudi Vision 2030 could be a catalyst for realizing women’s rights,” says UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston.

Sudan / Sanctions UN expert Idriss Jazairy welcomes the recent decision of President Barack Obama to lift most sanctions unilaterally imposed by the United States on Sudan.

Whistleblowers “It is time to recognize the contribution of whistleblowers” – UN Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas welcomes commutation of Manning’s sentence.

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HRC reaffirms mandate of Commission on South Sudan The Council concluded its special session by reaffirming the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.

HRC condemns violations in South Sudan The Council concluded its special session on South Sudan after adopting a resolution in which it condemned the ongoing violations and abuses.

HRC opens special session on South Sudan The Council this morning opened its 26th special session to discuss the situation of human rights in South Sudan.

HRC Special Session on South Sudan The Council will hold a Special Session on the human rights situation in South Sudan on Wednesday, 14 December 2016

HRC elects new President and vice-Presidents for 2017 The Council elected its new bureau for 2017 at an organizational meeting, appointing Ambassador Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli of El Salvador as 2017 President.

Rape in South Sudan Sexual violence has reached epic proportions and requires the urgent attention of the world, said the UN independent Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan after a visit during which they met women survivors.

South Sudan The world’s youngest country, South Sudan, is on the brink of catastrophe, said the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan at the end of a ten-day visit, urging the international community to prevent ethnic cleansing.

Eritrea and ICC UN Commission of Inquiry recommends that the situation in Eritrea be referred to the International Criminal Court, reporting numerous human rights violations including enslavement, imprisonment and torture.

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Child rights: DRC UN experts in Geneva examined the Democratic Republic of Congo's record on child rights in Geneva on 18 and 19 January.

Child rights: Barbados UN experts in Geneva examined Barbados' record on upholding children's rights on 17 - 18 January.

Iran executions UN experts call on Iran to halt the possibly imminent execution of a juvenile offender and to observe its international obligations by ending the execution of people for crimes committed when they were under 18.

Georgia's review Children’s rights in Georgia will be reviewed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on 25 January.

Serbia's review Children’s rights in Serbia will be reviewed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on 24 January.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo review Children’s rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will be reviewed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on 18 and 19 January

Central African Republic review Children’s rights in the Central African Republic will be reviewed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on 20 January.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines review Children’s rights in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will be reviewed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on 16-17 January.

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Our priorities

Enhancing equality and countering discrimination

Combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law

Integrating human rights in development and in the economic sphere

Widening the democratic space

Strengthening international human rights mechanisms

Early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity

Resources

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Global challenges to human rights 2017 will be a challenge to the human rights community. We will continue to monitor and denounce disregard of fundamental principles.

74th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Working to uphold the most widely ratified international human rights treaty: the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Enforced Disappearance: States Parties to the Convention In Syria and many other contexts, the Convention on Enforced Disappearance remains highly relevant

Celebrating and Appraising the Human Rights Covenants We must uphold the Covenants in the corridors of power and in the smallest of places too.

Risk of escalating violence in South Sudan Killings, gang rape and massive destruction: "South Sudan teeters on the brink of a disaster even more terrible than the calamities its people have already endured."

Report on Ukraine High Commissioner Zeid presents the latest report by the Office on Ukraine.

Human Rights Day event on Lake Leman Humble drops of water come together with great force in the famous jet d'eau.

Concert for Human Rights Day Our world is small, fragile and infinitely precious.

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Annual Appeal 2016

The Annual Appeal 2016 provides information about our planned activities and needs for 2016

Right to development

Fact Sheet No. 37 FAQs on the Right to Development

Human Trafficking

Fact Sheet No. 36, Human Rights and Human Trafficking

Forced Evictions

Forced Evictions. Fact Sheet No. 25/Rev.1

Contract Negotiations

Principles for Responsible Contracts: Integrating the Management of Human Rights Risks into State-Investor Contract Negotiations - Guidance for Negotiators

Migrants

The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Migrants in an Irregular Situation

Racial Discrimination

Developing National Action Plans Against Racial Discrimination: A Practical Guide

Transitional Justice

Transitional Justice and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

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Committee on the Rights of Child / 74th Session From: 16-01-2017
To: 03-02-2017
Palais Wilson

Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations / 30th Session From: 23-01-2017
To: 27-01-2017
Palais des Nations Room XXII

Working Group on Situations / 19th Session From: 30-01-2017
To: 17-02-2017
Palais Wilson 1st floor

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances / 111th Session From: 06-02-2017
To: 10-02-2017
Seoul

Committee on the Rights of Child - Pre-sessional Working Group / 76th Session From: 06-02-2017
To: 10-02-2017
Palais Wilson Ground Floor

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Working Group on Communications / 37th Session From: 07-02-2017
To: 10-02-2017
Palais des Nations Room XVI

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Working on inquiries / 6th Session From: 09-02-2017
To: 10-02-2017
Palais Wilson 1016

Human Rights Council – Organizational meeting for 34th session From: 13-02-2017
To: 13-02-2017
Palais des Nations Room XIX

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UN Charter Body Database

Search for documents and information pertaining to UN Charter-based human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures.

Universal Periodic Review

Access information and documents about states that were part of the periodic review of the human rights. It includes documents submitted by countries themselves, UN agencies and external parties.

National Human Rights Institutions Website

Find information on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and the International Coordinating Committee for National Human Rights Institutions (ICC).

Universal Human Rights Index

Access country-specific human rights recommendations and information emanating from international human rights mechanisms in the UN system: the Treaty Bodies, the Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Database

Access translations of the UDHR, a milestone document in the history of human rights, into over 460 different languages and dialects.

Anti-discrimination Database

Search for information, policies and measures taken at the international, regional and national levels to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Human Rights Education and Training Database

Search worldwide for institutions, programmes and materials that aim to foster human rights education and training.

Jurisprudence Database

Access jurisprudence emanating from the United Nations Treaty Bodies that receive and consider complaints from individuals.

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Treaty BodiesSchedule of country reviews Deadlines for the submission of documentation Information by country - ratification status, reporting cycles and documentation Elections of Treaty Body Members
Special ProceduresOverview of visits by Special Procedures Upcoming country visits History of country visits since 1998 Countries with standing invitations
Universal Periodic ReviewOverview Documentation by country