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COVID-19: Prisons
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COVID-19 and human rights
Stand Up for Human Rights

Act now to stop COVID-19 ‘rampaging through prisons’

Bachelet calls on governments to take urgent action to stop COVID-19 sweeping through places of detention where people are often extremely vulnerable to infection.
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Bachelet calls for easing of sanctions to enable fight against COVID-19

Both for global public health reasons, and to support the rights and lives of millions of people in these countries, sectoral sanctions in Iran, Venezuela and other countries should be eased or suspended, the High Commissioner said.
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UN expert urges action against xenophobia related to COVID-19

Governments must ensure that their response to the COVID-19 pandemic does not contribute to xenophobia and racial discrimination, said the UN Special Rapporteur on racism.
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COVID-19 and its human rights dimensions

Respect for human rights is fundamental to the success of the public health response to COVID-19. Now is the time for solidarity and cooperation to tackle the virus.
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Stand up for human rights

Join us in promoting and defending human rights for everyone, everywhere. Stand up for human rights and take action for stronger respect, greater freedom and more compassion.
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News

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Food and sanctions Economic sanctions should be lifted immediately to prevent hunger crises in countries hit by the pandemic, says UN expert.

COVID-19 / Minorities COVID-19-related fears should not be exploited to attack and exclude minorities - UN expert on minority issues.

COVID-19 / Refugees Joint statement by UNHCR, IOM, OHCHR and WHO on protection of the rights and health of refugees, migrants and stateless in COVID-19 response

Hungary emergency We are concerned by a draft bill that appears to give the Hungarian government practically unlimited powers to rule by decree and bypass parliamentary scrutiny with no clear cut-off date.

SPT COVID-19 Advice Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has issued detailed advices on actions governments and independent monitoring bodies should take to protect people deprived of their liberty during COVID-19.

Ethiopia internet shutdown The continued communications shutdown in Ethiopia is worrying, especially so amid the COVID-19 crisis which makes essential that everyone has unhindered access to the internet and phone services

Sri Lanka pardon We are troubled by reports that an army sergeant convicted of perpetrating a massacre in Sri Lanka received a presidential pardon and was released from jail this week.

Uganda police powers We welcome the ruling by Constitutional Court that the wide discretionary powers granted to the police to stop or prevent public meetings are unconstitutional.

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COVID-19 / Refugees Joint statement by UNHCR, IOM, OHCHR and WHO on protection of the rights and health of refugees, migrants and stateless in COVID-19 response

Sri Lanka pardon We are troubled by reports that an army sergeant convicted of perpetrating a massacre in Sri Lanka received a presidential pardon and was released from jail this week.

Uganda police powers We welcome the ruling by Constitutional Court that the wide discretionary powers granted to the police to stop or prevent public meetings are unconstitutional.

COVID-19: Prisons Bachelet calls on governments to take urgent action to stop COVID-19 sweeping through places of detention where people are often extremely vulnerable to infection.

COVID-19 / Sanctions Both for global public health reasons, and to support the rights and lives of millions of people in these countries, sectoral sanctions in Iran, Venezuela and other countries should be eased or suspended, the High Commissioner said.

South Sudan violence Bachelet expresses serious concerns about the escalation in violence in South Sudan in the past month, urging State authorities to curb the bloodshed and bring those responsible to justice.

Coronavirus impact Michelle Bachelet demande aux États de veiller à ce que les droits de l’homme restent au cœur des mesures prises face à la COVID-19 et à protéger les plus vulnérables, tant du point de vue médical qu’économique.

Yemen: Due process We are concerned that 35 Yemeni parliamentarians have been sentenced to death, their property confiscated and their families threatened.

Promoting Freedoms and Protecting Activists on Social Media The High Commissioner recorded a video message to an international conference in Doha on “Social Media: Challenges and Ways to Promote Freedoms and Protect Activists”. She stressed the need to ensure that human rights norms guide how online space is regulated and managed.

Iraq : Education report Report finds that children in Iraq still cannot access schools or obtain key civilian documentation necessary for enrolment in state schools, two years after the territorial defeat of ISIL.

Israel/OPT report UN Human Rights Office issues a report on business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in response to a specific request by the UN Human Rights Council.

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Food and sanctions Economic sanctions should be lifted immediately to prevent hunger crises in countries hit by the pandemic, says UN expert.

COVID-19 / Minorities COVID-19-related fears should not be exploited to attack and exclude minorities - UN expert on minority issues.

“Heroes need protection” Health care workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide must receive adequate protective equipment, says UN expert.

COVID-19 / Domestic violence Restrictive measures adopted worldwide to fight COVID-19 intensify the risk of domestic violence, UN rights expert warns.

Protecting older people UN human rights expert urges better protection of older persons facing the highest risk of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 / CAR Central African Republic – UN human rights expert calls for urgent ceasefire to protect population from COVID-19.

“No exceptions” “Everyone has the right to life-saving interventions” – UN human rights experts call for no exceptions for COVID-19.

The right to the truth “The truth about gross rights violations must be unveil” – UN expert says the International Day for the Right to the Truth.

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Human Rights Council forty-second regular session Human Rights Council to hold its forty-second regular session from 9 to 27 september 2019 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

2019 report of the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi The UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi raises red flags at the serious human rights violations committed in the pre-electoral climate

Myanmar experts call for justice for sexual assault victims Report finds Rohingya victims of brutal sexual violence remain without justice, as military continues its use in Kachin and Shan states.

Myanmar Experts expose military business ties, call for sanctions Report maps degree to which Myanmar’s military has used its own businesses, foreign companies and arms deals to support brutal operations against ethnic groups constituting serious crimes under international law.

HRC 41st session The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its forty-first regular session from 24 June to 12 July 2019 in Geneva.

Council closes fortieth session The Council concluded its fortieth regular session.

Council closes fortieth session The Council adopted five resolutions in which it extended two mandates.

Human Rights Council extends mandates The Council adopted 12 resolutions in which it, among other actions, decided to extend mandates.

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Treaty Bodies joint statement The Chairpersons of the 10 UN Treaty Bodies urged global leaders to ensure that human rights are respected in government measures to tackle COVID-19.

Human Rights Treaties Branch The United Nations Human Rights Treaties Branch has postponed all upcoming treaty body committee sessions until the end of May in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

SPT halts visits UN torture prevention body suspends visit to Argentina over coronavirus concerns and also postpones upcoming missions to Bulgaria, Australia and Nauru.

Child rights in Pacific countries UN Child Rights Committee issues findings on Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu.

CESCR Findings The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has published its findings on Belgium, Benin, Guinea, Norway, and Ukraine.

Obstetric Violence Spain needs to combat obstetric violence, UN Women’s Rights Committee has found.

SPT’s visits and Coronavirus advice UN torture prevention body confirms upcoming visits and issues advice on compulsory quarantine for Coronavirus.

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Our priorities

Enhancing equality and countering discrimination

Strengthening the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations

Advancing sustainable development through human rights

Enhancing participation and protecting civic space

Increasing implementation of the outcomes of the human rights mechanisms

Preventing violations and strengthening protection of human rights

Resources

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#FightRacism "Racism is against everything we stand for," the High Commissioner said in a video marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. She said that all of us have a responsibility to fight it, including in times of pandemics.

Ending racism “Racism violates everything we stand for and everything we do,” High Commissioner Bachelet told the Human Rights Council, citing the police violence, racial profiling and structural discrimination in health, employment, education and housing experienced by people of African descent.

Human Rights in Venezuela The High Commissioner updated the Council on the Human Rights situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

DPRK update Avenues for holding people accountable for human rights violations in the DPRK could include prosecutions involving victims and their representatives around the world, based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.

Rights of People with Disabilities The High Commissioner spoke on the Council’s Annual Debate On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities which focused on the importance of awareness raising.

International Women’s Day Commemoration International Women’s Day, the High Commissioner told the Council that despite the progress in the past 25 years, “achieving women's equal human rights is an ongoing struggle”.

More country updates The High Commissioner updated the Council on the human rights situations in Colombia, Cyprus, Eritrea, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Yemen.

More country updates The High Commissioner updated the Council on the human rights situations in Colombia, Cyprus, Eritrea, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Yemen

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The UN Human Rights Appeal 2020

The UN Human Rights Appeal 2020

Standing up for your rights

A collection of 16 stories highlighting the impact of our work around the world

Protecting LBGTi people

Living Free and Equal: Tackling Violence and Discrimination against LGBTi People

Human rights info. for Parliamentarians

Human Rights: Handbook for Parliamentarians (co-published with IPU)

Traditional justice in Africa

Human Rights and Traditional Justice Systems in Africa

National mechanisms for reporting and follow-up

NMRF: A Practical Guide to Effective State Engagement with International Human Rights Mechanisms

Right to development

FAQs on the Right to Development

Human rights and government budgets

Realizing Human Rights through Government Budgets

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Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families / 32nd Session From: 30-03-2020
To: 03-04-2020
PW Ground Floor

Committee on Enforced Disappearances / 18th Session From: 30-03-2020
To: 09-04-2020
PW 1st floor

Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent / 26th Session From: 30-03-2020
To: 03-04-2020
V

Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture / 51st Session From: 30-03-2020
To: 03-04-2020
XXVII

Working Group on the use of mercenaries / 39th Session From: 30-03-2020
To: 03-04-2020
XXII

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Pre-sessional Working Group / 13th Session From: 30-03-2020
To: 03-04-2020
XVII

Committee against Torture / 69th Session From: 20-04-2020
To: 15-05-2020
PW 1st floor

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination / 101st Session From: 20-04-2020
To: 08-05-2020
PW Ground Floor

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Anti-discrimination Database

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