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Social Forum 2020
Rape – a monstrous crime
Voices from the Field: Ukraine
Hazardous waste and COVID-19
Stand Up for Human Rights

Building better policies will break the cycles of poverty and inequality

Poverty, inequalities and ways to break their cycles were the focus of the recent Human Rights Council Social Forum. The Forum brought together a wide range of people from academic experts to civil society activists and from government officials to people with experience of living in poverty and with inequalities.
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Rape is a monstrous crime, perpetrators must be held accountable – but death penalty and torture are not the answers - Bachelet

Bachelet stands in solidarity and outrage with survivors of rape, and those demanding justice. Tempting as it may be to impose draconian punishment, she urges instead a victim-centred approach to preventing sexual violence and ensuring justice.
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Ukraine: Leaving no-one behind in the battle against COVID-19

“One of our guiding principles – to leave no-one behind – is the cornerstone of our work in Ukraine. This has not changed with the COVID-19 crisis,” says Krassimir Yankov, Head of the Kharkiv field office for the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in the country.
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Expert: COVID-19 exposure is exposure to hazardous substances

“Everyone has a right to be protected from exposure to hazardous substances and environmental pollution. Exposure to COVID-19 is no exception,” said Marcos Orellana, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes.
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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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Bolivia elections Bachelet urges Bolivia’s authorities, political and other actors to refrain from any actions that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the general elections taking place on Sunday

Rape – a monstrous crime Bachelet stands in solidarity and outrage with survivors of rape, and those demanding justice. Tempting as it may be to impose draconian punishment, she urges instead a victim-centred approach to preventing sexual violence and ensuring justice.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Bachelet expresses alarm as hostilities continue to widen in conflict zone and calls for an urgent ceasefire due to the impact on civilians.

Spain: Age assessment procedures Spain’s procedures to determine the age of unaccompanied migrant children violated their fundamental human rights, UN child rights committee has found.

Italy Expert condemns criminalization of 11 human rights defenders in Italy, saying their efforts to search for and save lives of migrants and asylum seekers in distress in the Mediterranean should instead be applauded.

Iran: COVID-19 Citing risk of COVID-19 “coursing through Iran’s prisons,” Bachelet urges authorities to release detained human rights defenders, lawyers, political prisoners and peaceful protestors

Cameroon Cameroon must release main opposition leader and stop intimidating political activists, UN human rights experts say

Guinea elections: Hate speech Michelle Bachelet and Pramila Patten call on Guinean presidential candidates to refrain from using provocative language invoking ethnic affiliations during their campaigns that may lead to violence, discrimination and other human rights violations.

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COVID: Crisis at sea Call for governments and businesses to act to address the hidden crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of ship crew members and other workers stranded at sea for many months because of COVID-19.

Mediterranean: Migrants’ plight Urgent action is needed to address the dire situation of migrants attempting to cross the central Mediterranean Sea in search of safety, and to tackle the shocking conditions they face in Libya, at sea and in Europe.

Nagorno-Karabakh: Bachelet worried about resumed hostilities Bachelet calls on all sides to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure

Cambodia: Rights defenders arrests We call on the Government to immediately and unconditionally release those detained for their exercise of these rights, and to bring an end to the intimidation of civil society actors.

Pakistan: Journalists killings Increasing concern about incitement to violence against journalists and human rights defenders in Pakistan, in particular against women and minorities. Especially worrying are accusations of blasphemy.

Russia: Alexei Navalny Bachelet urges the Government of the Russian Federation to carry out, or fully cooperate with, a thorough, transparent, independent and impartial investigation into the poisoning of the opposition figure.

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Mexico UN experts say proposed budget cuts could hurt vital services for women

GA: Judges & lawyers Expert presents report on disciplinary proceedings against judges for alleged misconduct in exercise of their functions.

GA: Countering terrorism Expert criticizes misuse of terrorism laws by some States, saying inappropriate use of such measures in the context of complex and violent conflicts sometimes only worsens the situation.

Mexico Human rights experts welcome promised release of woman who has spent 11 years in prison without trial or sentence

Iran Independent human rights experts welcome release of imprisoned human rights defender Narges Mohammadi, and hope for release of others detained arbitrarily.

GA: Indigenous Peoples Indigenous peoples have largely been left out of COVID-19 responses globally and the pandemic is likely to worsen inequalities and racism in wider society, expert says

Cameroon Cameroon must release main opposition leader and stop intimidating political activists, UN human rights experts say

GA: Violence against Women Expert expresses alarm at increase in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, and urged States to take immediate steps to stop violence against women.

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Summary of the 45th session of the Council The Council concluded its forty-fifth regular session after adopting 35 resolutions, one Presidential Statement and one decision

Council adopts 6 more resolutions The Council adopted 6 resolutions dealing, among others, with human rights of women and girls, child rights, the prevention of human rights violations, and the Philippines

Council adopts 13 resolutions The Council adopted 13 resolutions renewing, among others, the mandates on Yemen, Burundi, Venezuela, private military companies, and toxic wastes

Council adopts 15 texts The Council adopted 15 texts, including to extend the mandates on enforced disappearances, international order, and unilateral coercive measures

Starvation as a method of warfare in South Sudan Starvation being used as a method of warfare in South Sudan, noted the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan

Council holds debate on item 10 Presentation of the High Commissioner reports on Georgia and Yemen, the Secretary-General report on Cambodia, followed by a general debate on item 10

Council holds dialogue with FFM Libya The Council held an enhanced interactive dialogue with the Fact-finding Mission on Libya, and adopted the UPR outcomes of Guinea-Bissau and Guyana

Human Rights Council discusses Sudan and Somalia The Council held an enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Sudan, followed by an interactive dialogue on Somalia

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Spain: Age assessment procedures Spain’s procedures to determine the age of unaccompanied migrant children violated their fundamental human rights, UN child rights committee has found.

Migrant workers: Safe and dignified return CMW calls for immediate action to address the inhumane conditions of migrant workers who are stranded in detention camps and ensure they can have a safe and dignified return to their home countries.

Enforced disappearance: New date for online dialogue with Iraq The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances has rescheduled its public dialogue with Iraq on how the country is addressing the issue of enforced disappearances.

Spain violates inclusive education right Spain violated the right to inclusive education of a child with Down syndrome who was sent to a special education centre by national authorities, despite his parents’ objections, CRPD has found.

Mexico’s decision on enforced disappearances The unanimous decision by the Mexican Senate to recognize the competence of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances to examine individual complaints is a significant step in the country’s human rights development.

Belarus: Role of women in protests UN women’s rights committee underlined how women voices are not marginal, but central in political processes.

Enforced disappearances: Special dialogue with Iraq CED will hold a special public dialogue with Iraq during its upcoming online session to discuss what the country is doing to address the issue of enforced disappearances.

Argentina: Suspension of deportation The UN child rights committee has applauded Argentina’s decision not to deport a mother of three young children who had already completed her sentence for a drug offence.

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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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Our work for human rights Speaking to the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the High Commissioner highlighted fast-moving work by the Office to support partners and States with immediately effective tools, assistance and guidance, as COVID-19 advanced, throwing up multiple human rights challenges

Fight against racism The High Commissioner opened the 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. She recalled that the Durban World Conference represents a milestone in our common fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Social Forum This year’s Social Forum of the Human Rights Council focuses on combatting poverty and inequalities. In her statement, the High Commissioner stressed the impacts of COVID-19 on these two challenges. “COVID-19 has brought to the fore the inequality pandemic overlooked by many. It is time to stop looking the other way,” she said.

World Human Rights Cities Forum In a video for the 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum, the High Commissioner stressed that “a strong network of human-rights committed mayors will be critical in moving forward the human rights agenda”. She added she was “committed to working with you to ensure cities are a vibrant space in which the rights of all residents are respected, protected and fulfilled.”

Business and Human Rights Addressing a conference on Business and Human Rights, the High Commissioner stressed that we “must all create a conducive global environment for decent work, investment, and sustainability.” She highlighted that “respecting human rights is a responsibility of every business.”

Public health and human rights In a conversation with the Harvard School of Public Health, the High Commissioner stressed that health is a fundamental human right, "indispensable for the exercise of many other rights and necessary for living a life in dignity." She highlighted that COVID-19 has made realizing this right "even more pressing and urgent".

Science and Techlonogy post COVID-19 The High Commissioner sent a video to the Science and Technology Forum about discussing the role of science and technology in a post-COVID world. She said ensuring digital technologies better serve humanity will be essential if "we are to truly build back better from this crisis, with societies that are more equal, just and inclusive. Free societies that can embrace and benefit from digital technologies, while mitigating their risks."

Cambodia, Georgia and Yemen Georgette Gagnon, Director of the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division at OHCHR presented three reports the Human Rights Council: on Cambodia, Georgia 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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Human Rights Committee / 130th Session From: 12-10-2020
To: 06-11-2020
PW Gr and PW 1st

Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action / 18th Session From: 12-10-2020
To: 23-10-2020
XXI

Complaint Procedure - Working Group on Situations / 26th Session From: 19-10-2020
To: 23-10-2020
Ariana 3

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women / 77th Session From: 19-10-2020
To: 06-11-2020
Ariana 2

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Pre-sessional Working Group / 67th Session From: 19-10-2020
To: 23-10-2020
PW 1st floor

Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights / 50th Session From: 19-10-2020
To: 21-10-2020
PW-1016

Committee against Torture / Meeting of State Parties / 18th Session From: 22-10-2020
To: 22-10-2020
XVIII

Open-ended intergovernmental Working Group to elaborate a legally binding instrument on transnational cooperations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights / 6th Session From: 26-10-2020
To: 30-10-2020
XX

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