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Death penalty and poverty
Human rights work update
Noorena Shams
Social Forum 2018
Stand Up / UDHR 70 campaign

For those executed despite never having committed a crime, the death penalty is the ultimate injustice. What compounds it is that only poor people – denied access to legal safeguards that could have mitigated the punishment – are ever sentenced to death.
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Bachelet says human rights must be at core of UN action

With 71 field presences, Kenya, Tunisia and Colombia are just a few of the countries where the UN Human Rights Office, working with governments, has recorded key human rights milestones.
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“The only option to survive is to be brave”

Pakistani athlete and human rights defender Noorena Shams is a triple-threat athlete (cycling, squash, cricket) and an outspoken advocate for rights and an active example of how sport can “make you bold.”
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“Sports and human rights give me hope”

“Sport has given me hope because being an athlete gives you courage,” said Rose Lokonyen. Lokonyen was part of the team of refugees who took part in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. She was speaking at the recent Social Forum on Sports, the Olympic ideal 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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Khashoggi disappearance Michelle Bachelet urges the Governments of Saudi Arabia and Turkey to reveal everything they know about the disappearance and possible extra-judicial killing of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia: Human rights defenders Experts urge Saudi Arabia to immediately and unconditionally release all women human rights defenders, including six defenders who remain in jail on charges relating to their peaceful defence of human rights.

Italy Migrant farm workers in parts of southern Italy are enduring extreme levels of labour exploitation and coercion, and inhumane working and living conditions, a UN expert says.

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee publishes reports Argentina, Cape Verde, Germany, Mali, South Africa and Turkmenistan reviewed

Business & human rights Too many companies globally are ignoring their human rights obligations and governments are failing to regulate and lead by example in business practices, UN experts say.

Child Rights Committee publishes reports Benin, El Salvador, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mauritania, Niger and Saudi Arabia were examined by the Committee during its session.

Briefing: Bangladesh, Venezuela We urge Bangladesh to review its new digital security act that could severely impact the work of journalists, bloggers, and historians, among others. We call for the release of 59 Colombians held without charge in Venezuela for over two years.

Ecuador: Freedom of Expression Expert welcomes and strongly encourages ongoing legal and policy changes initiated by Ecuador Government to promote and protect the rights to freedom of opinion and expression.

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Nobel Peace Prize UN human rights chief salutes Nobel Peace Prize winners Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege. “This is richly deserved recognition of these two extraordinarily brave, persistent and effective campaigners against the scourge of sexual violence, and the use of rape as a weapon of war.”

Bachelet urges Iran to stop executing juvenile offenders UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns the execution in Iran this week of Zeinab Sekaanvand Lokran, a juvenile offender.

Myanmar: Freedom of expression Ill-defined laws have been used in Myanmar to exert control over independent journalism across the country, including in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine states, UN human rights report on freedom of expression finds.

Rights chief condemns Egypt ruling Bachelet says she is extremely concerned that an Egyptian court’s confirmation of 75 death sentences didn’t result from a fair trial.

Briefing notes Independent journalism is now impossible in Myanmar, concern at protests in Basra in Iraq and two weeks after a WFP truck was shelled, we have yet to see investigations into what could amount to a war crime.

Bachelet applauds India LGBT decision New UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet urges other courts in other countries to follow the landmark unanimous decision by India’s Supreme Court to decriminalize consensual same sex relations.

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Unilateral sanctions Unilateral sanctions that deprive innocent people of food and medicines must end immediately, an independent expert says.

Business & human rights Too many companies globally are ignoring their human rights obligations and governments are failing to regulate and lead by example in business practices, UN experts say.

Italy Migrant farm workers in parts of southern Italy are enduring extreme levels of labour exploitation and coercion, and inhumane working and living conditions, a UN expert says.

Mali Real climate of fear and insecurity in country’s north and centre, says expert

Niger: migration expert visit Expert calls on international donors, including the European Union, to provide more assistance to Niger which is a major transit country for migrants in Africa.

World Day Against Death Penalty “Women and girls are an invisible death row population whose plight and needs are too often ignored,” say experts.

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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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Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee publishes reports Argentina, Cape Verde, Germany, Mali, South Africa and Turkmenistan reviewed

Child Rights Committee publishes reports Benin, El Salvador, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mauritania, Niger and Saudi Arabia were examined by the Committee during its session.

Human Rights Committee to meet Experts to examine civil and political rights in Belarus, Belize, Bulgaria, Guinea, Sudan, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Disability rights experts issue new legal guidance The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has issued a new general comment upholding the right of all persons with disabilities to participate and be involved in all issues relating to them.

Prevention of torture in Kyrgyzstan Human rights experts call on the authorities to ensure fundamental legal safeguards benefit all detainees

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to hold session The Committee will review economic, social and cultural rights in Argentina, Cabo Verde, Germany, Mali, South Africa, and Turkmenistan.

“Bride kidnapping” in Kyrgyzstan Culture of abduction, rape and forced marriage violates women’s rights in Kyrgyzstan, UN experts find

Human rights of migrant workers Committee publishes findings on Madagascar and Mozambique.

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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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Human rights work update High Commissioner briefs UN General Assembly on human rights work, milestones and challenges.

Human Rights Council retreat “At the heart of the change we need to deliver is stronger implementation of human rights recommendations and norms”, the High Commissioner declared.

Sports and human rights Exploring strategies to help sports express the best of humanity

Child human rights defenders We need to change how older people relate to children – listen more respectfully, value their experiences more, and keep our promises.

A choice between two futures for our environment Women, and others who are disproportionately affected by environmental damage, can be key agents in protecting the planet.

Rights defenders High Commissioner Bachelet on civil society activism as a powerful antidote to extremism.

Justice for Syria We are making every effort to ensure that the perpetrators of terrible crimes in Syria will one day be brought to justice, Bachelet tells UN in New York.

Economic empowerment Women’s autonomy, choice and rights lead to greater economic growth. The struggle for equality, dignity and rights of women needs to be constant and active.

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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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Human Rights Committee / 124th Session From: 08-10-2018
To: 02-11-2018
Palais des Nations Gr

Open-ended intergovernmental Working Group to elaborate a legally binding instrument on transnational cooperations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights / 4th Session From: 15-10-2018
To: 19-10-2018
Palais des Nations Room XX

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Pre-sessional Working Group / 63rd Session From: 15-10-2018
To: 19-10-2018
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Working Group on Communications / 42nd Session From: 17-10-2018
To: 19-10-2018
Palais des Nations Room XVI

Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice / 23rd Session From: 22-10-2018
To: 26-10-2018
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women / 71st Session From: 22-10-2018
To: 09-11-2018
Palais des Nations Room XVI

Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture Meeting of States parties / 7th Session From: 25-10-2018
To: 25-10-2018
Palais des Nations Room XVIII

Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights / 47th Session From: 29-10-2018
To: 31-10-2018
Palais Wilson 1-016

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UN Charter Body Database

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Universal Periodic Review

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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

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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

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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
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