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"Shine your Light" Geneva
Women and climate change
Climate-related human rights violations
The power of dignity, equality and rights
Stand Up / UDHR 70 campaign

Over 400 pupils and students in Geneva, the human rights capital, commemorate the 70th years of the rights declaration and shine a light on their role as the current and next generation of human rights defenders.
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Human rights defenders call for urgent action to “save our homes.”

While the effects of climate change are dramatically felt by the small island nations in the Pacific, for women living there, the challenges are even greater. Women’s human rights defenders call for more women to be included in all levels of decision making and negotiations surrounding climate change.
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"‘Change’ is too mild a word": human rights law requires action on climate-related violations

At the COP24, High Commissioner Bachelet calls for policies to counter “overwhelming” climate impact
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"The force of these rights binds us together as human beings"

High Commissioner Bachelet celebrates the power of human dignity, human equality and human rights
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Stand up for human rights and celebrate the UDHR 70th anniversary

Join the year-long campaign to celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which turns 70 in 2018. 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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Human Rights Day As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet reflects on its achievements, but also the many current challenges, and urges us not to forget these powerful and prophetic words.

UDHR: 30 articles on the 30 Articles In a special series, OHCHR is publishing an article a day on the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration leading up to its 70th anniversary on 10 December. Today: Article 30: Rights are Inalienable

DRC: HC condemns violence ahead of elections Michelle Bachelet expressed deep concerns at the use of excessive force ahead of the presidential elections in the DRC and called the authorities to fully protect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Poland: Concerns over climate talks access UN experts say some accredited participants had been denied entry to the COP24 conference in Katowice.

Human rights experts condemn Belarus executions It is unconscionable to carry out capital punishment in defiance of the Human Rights Committee’s request for a stay, experts say

EU: terrorist content online Experts raise concerns about the European Union’s Proposal for a Regulation on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online, calling on the EU to ensure that it is brought into line with human rights standards.

Kachin activists jailed Expert expresses dismay at the imprisonment of three ethnic Kachin activists for allegedly criticizing the Myanmar military during peaceful demonstrations in April.

Cameroon Experts express concerns over a crackdown against protesters in Cameroon following President Paul Biya’s re-election, and call for protection of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

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Yemen Senior UN human rights official urges leaders on all sides of the Yemen conflict to do “absolutely everything humanly possible” to prevent renewed fighting and calls for immediate removal of restrictions on delivery of aid supplies.

Briefing notes: Papua We are concerned about the arrest of more than 500 during a peaceful protest in Indonesia, marking West Papuan National Day, and the use of excessive force by security forces in Papua.

Tribute to a rights defender Michelle Bachelet pays tribute to Russian historian and leading human rights activist Lyudmila Mikhaylovna Alexeyeva whose life and work inspired generations of human rights defenders around the globe.

Bachelet to visit South Africa and Morocco Michelle Bachelet begins her visit to South Africa to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration. She will then go to Marrakech for the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

Inheritance rights for women To grant women equal inheritance rights is to empower them and ensure protection of their economic and social rights, Michelle Bachelet says, welcoming Tunisia’s significant move to gender equality.

Guatemala, Nicaragua We welcome the sentencing in Guatemalan of a former soldier to 5,130 years for his role in the Dos Erres massacre. We remain concerned at reports that Nicaraguan authorities are continuing to criminalize civil society.

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Poland: A critical juncture on women’s rights Gender equality does not seem to be a priority for the Government at the moment, say UN experts.

Poland: Concerns over climate talks access UN experts say some accredited participants had been denied entry to the COP24 conference in Katowice.

Morocco The UN Special Rapporteur on racism will visit Morocco from 13 to 21 December

Mexico The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention warns Mexico against the planned extension of automatic pre-trial detention, urging Congress to avoid expanding legal grounds that have already allowed human rights violations.

Human rights experts condemn Belarus executions It is unconscionable to carry out capital punishment in defiance of the Human Rights Committee’s request for a stay, experts say

Kachin activists jailed Expert expresses dismay at the imprisonment of three ethnic Kachin activists for allegedly criticizing the Myanmar military during peaceful demonstrations in April.

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Council concludes 39th ninth session The Council concluded its 39th regular session.

Council adopts eight resolutions The Council adopted eight texts.

HRC adopts five resolutions The Council adopted five resolutions.

Council adopts 10 resolutions The Council adopted 10 resolutions and one Presidential statement.

Dialogue on the Central African Republic, Georgia The Council held a dialogue on the situation in the Central African Republic, in Georgia, and on technical assistance and capacity building.

Human rights situations in Cambodia, Somalia and Sudan The Council held separate dialogues with mandate holders on the human rights situations in Cambodia, Somalia and Sudan.

Situation of human rights in Yemen and Libya The Council held dialogues on the human rights situation in Yemen and on the situation of human rights in Libya.

Human rights situation in Ukraine and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The Council held a dialogues on the situation of human rights in Ukraine and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Racial Discrimination Committee publishes findings Human rights experts issue concluding observations on Albania, Honduras, Iraq, Norway, Qatar, and the Republic of Korea.

Human rights experts condemn Belarus executions It is unconscionable to carry out capital punishment in defiance of the Human Rights Committee’s request for a stay, experts say

Committee Against Torture publishes findings UN experts issue concluding observations on Canada, Guatemala, Maldives, Netherlands, Peru, and Viet Nam

Torture prevention body announces planned country visits Experts will in 2019 visit Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Ghana, Senegal, Swizerland and the United Kingdom.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to meet Experts to review Albania, Honduras, Iraq, Norway, Qatar, and Republic of Korea

Universal Children’s Day Experts call for Governments around the world to be united in ensuring priority attention to the realization of the rights of the child

Enforced disappearances UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) publishes its findings on Japan and Portugal, and issues follow-up observations on Mexico.

Women’s rights experts issue findings Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women releases observations on Bahamas, Congo, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mauritius, Nepal, Samoa, Tajikistan, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

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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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Climate-related human rights violations International law requires States to act

Climate change threatens rights At COP24, the High Commissioner calls for action

A just transition to the green economy Climate action needs social dialogue and human rights

The power of dignity, equality and rights High Commissioner Bachelet celebrates the power of human dignity, human equality and human rights.

Climate change and migration Complex and deadly challenges require better policies.

South Africa's human rights heroes The High Commissioner marks #UDHR70 in Johannesburg.

Minorities and statelessness Stateless people – many of them minorities – are vulnerable to human rights violations.

Responsibility to Protect To protect people from atrocity crimes, timely prevention is essential

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Annual appeal 2018

Annual appeal 2018

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

Migration

Migration, Human Rights and Governance: Handbook for Parliamentarians (co-published with IPU)

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Committee on the Rights of Child / 80th Session From: 14-01-2019
To: 01-02-2019
Palais Wilson

Human Rights Council – Organizational meeting for the selection of troikas for UPR during 2019 From: 15-01-2019
To: 15-01-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 32nd Session From: 21-01-2019
To: 01-02-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice / 24th Session From: 28-01-2019
To: 01-02-2019
New York

Working Group on Situations / 23rd Session From: 28-01-2019
To: 01-02-2019
Palais Wilson

Working Group on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises / 22nd Session From: 04-02-2019
To: 08-02-2019
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Rights of Child - Pre-sessional Working Group / 82nd Session From: 04-02-2019
To: 08-02-2019
Palais Wilson Grand Floor

Human Rights Council – Organizational meeting for 40th session From: 11-02-2019
To: 11-02-2019

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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