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Indigenous Rights Workshop
COVID-19 safety education
Human rights in the DPRK
South Africa: Environmental justice and COVID-19
Human Rights Day 2020

Workshop on human rights helps indigenous people battle the pandemic

Indigenous people from several regions in Brazil took part in a workshop to help them better promote and protect their rights during the COVID-19 crisis. The workshop was led by UN Human Rights Senior Indigenous Fellows.
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Tackling COVID-19 in Nigeria from a safety education angle

The safety education tools that Ugochi Obidiegwu, Managing partner at The Safety Chic, develops for children and adults have been helping teachers and pupils in Nigeria resume school with minimised danger during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Quest for Justice: A Former Prison Guard from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea speaks out

A former prison guard from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) turned human rights activist is playing an important role in shedding light on human rights violations in the DPRK.
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South African environmental activist demands responsible business practices during COVID-19

Margaret Ghogha Molomo, an environmental activist in South Africa, says that protecting her community from destructive mining companies has been made harder by the assembly restrictions during COVID-19.
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Human Rights Day 2020 - Recover Better

On Human Rights Day, 10 December, join us in reaffirming the importance of placing human rights at the heart of the recovery to build back the world we want.
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News

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Venezuela: Harassment of civil society organizations Concerns by continous and increasing attacks against civil society organizations, human rights defenders and journalists.

CAR electoral violence A UN expert says impunity will continue to fuel violence and conflict in the Central African Republic unless those responsible are brought to justice.

Viet Nam: Chilling message Arrests in Viet Nam send chilling message before key Communist Party meeting, say experts.

Peru: Unnecessary use of force by police Bachelet urges Peru authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure law enforcement agencies conduct themselves according to international human rights norms and standards.

Palestinian evictions Expert calls on Israel to reverse its eviction orders for Palestinian families living in Occupied East Jerusalem, calling them part of an alarming pattern to change demography of the city.

Israel/OPT: COVID-19 vaccination Experts urge Israel to ensure all Palestinians living under occupation have swift and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Uganda elections We are deeply concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in Uganda ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 14 January and the challenges this situation may pose not only for voting day itself, but also for the post-electoral period.

Attack on US Capitol The attack on the US Capitol demonstrated clearly the destructive impact of sustained, deliberate distortion of facts and incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders. We call on leaders to disavow false and dangerous narratives.

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Venezuela: Harassment of civil society organizations Concerns by continous and increasing attacks against civil society organizations, human rights defenders and journalists.

Viet Nam clampdown We are deeply concerned at the use of vaguely defined laws to arbitrarily detain a growing number of people in Viet Nam, including journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders.

US Pardons Concerns over the US presidential pardons for four security guards convicted for killing 14 Iraqi civilian, as pardoning them contributes to impunity

CAR violence We are deeply alarmed by reports of escalating violence in Central African Republic stoked by political grievances and hate speech and remind all parties that the protection of civilians is paramount.

Tigray access Bachelet calls for access to whole of the Tigray region of Ethiopia amid increasing concerns at the human rights and humanitarian situation of civilians seven weeks after the conflict began.

Thailand protests We call on the Government of Thailand to stop the repeated use of serious criminal charges against individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Venezuela shipwreck The deaths of at least 21 Venezuelans at sea as they attempted to reach Trinidad and Tobago highlight the need for urgent action against smugglers and traffickers, and the need for safe and regular migration routes.

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CAR electoral violence A UN expert says impunity will continue to fuel violence and conflict in the Central African Republic unless those responsible are brought to justice.

Viet Nam: Chilling message Arrests in Viet Nam send chilling message before key Communist Party meeting, say experts.

Israel/OPT: COVID-19 vaccination Experts urge Israel to ensure all Palestinians living under occupation have swift and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

‘Shut Guantánamo now’ Experts call on the incoming Biden Administration to immediately shut down the detention centre at Guantánamo Bay, describing it as a disgrace for the United States and the international community as a whole.

Qatar sanctions Expert welcomes Saudi Arabia’s withdrawal of sanctions against Qatar as “positive first step” and urges UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to follow suit.

Airliners in war zones On first anniversary of Iran strike against Ukraine Flight PS752, which killed all 176 persons, expert calls for urgent measures to protect civilian aircraft flying in conflict zones or areas of high military tensions.

Assange extradition Expert welcomes British court’s refusal to extradite Julian Assange to US on basis that he would be exposed to “oppressive” conditions of imprisonment that would almost certainly cause him to commit suicide.

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UPR Working Group 37th session UPR Working Group 37th session to be held from 18 to 29 January 2021

HRC Vice Presidents Human Rights Council Elects Three Vice Presidents for 2021 Bureau

Jamaica Jamaica’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Libya Libya’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Croatia Croatia’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

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DRC violated right to life The UN Human Rights Committee has found the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) violated the right to life of Pascal Kabungulu who was killed in an extrajudicial execution, in front of his family.

Netherlands: Child’s right to nationality In a ground-breaking decision, the Human Rights Committee has found that the Netherlands violated a child’s rights by registering “nationality unknown” in his civil records.

Enforced Disappearances: 1,000 urgent actions Committee on Enforced Disappearances has just registered the 1,000th urgent action request, marking a significant milestone for the mechanism.

Global webinar on peaceful assembly UN Human Rights and the University of Pretoria will jointly hold a global webinar on 16 December to raise awareness on two new international instruments relating to the right of peaceful assembly.

Iraq: Enforced Disappearances CED has issued its findings on Iraq, calling on the State party to incorporate the offence of enforced disappearances into domestic criminal legislation, and to ensure no person is held in secret detention.

Racial profiling CERD published its guidance to combat racial profiling emphasizing the serious risk of algorithmic bias when AI is used in law enforcement

Trafficking in women and girls Women’s rights committee published recommendations to eliminate trafficking of women and girls in the digital age, highlighting the increasing use of social media to recruit trafficking victims during COVID-19

Saudi Arabia rights defenders The UN women’s rights committee called for the immediate release of Loujain Al-Hathloul in Saudi Arabia and all other women human rights defenders in detention.

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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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International Migrants Day Ahead of International Migrants Day, the High Commissioner launched a campaign and toolbox with the purpose to shift harmful narratives about migration. "We need stories that show that the values we hold in common are stronger than what divides us," she said. “Stories that paint a hopeful picture of the future we share.

Reparations Marking the 15th anniversary of the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparations for Victims of Gross Violations, the High Commissioner discussed the catalytic power of reparations to release deeply felt harms

Public health At the launch of a WHO handbook on health and social protections, the High Commissioner emphasised that the only effective way to fight an epidemic is with the public's trust – and the only effective way to rebuild health systems, economies and societies is to ensure they serve the needs and rights of the people

Torture-free trade The High Commissioner's statement on the feasibility, scope and parameters for international standards regarding the trade in products for use in torture or capital punishment.

Tracing people Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Central Tracing Agency of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the High Commissioner expressed gratitude, on behalf of all victims of enforced disappearances, for its many years of human rights work.

InterAmerican Dialogue In a conversation with Former Presidents of the Americas, the High Commissioner stressed the impact of the COVID-9 pandemic in the region.

Nova Scotia In this video message, the High Commissioner participated in the celebration of the first anniversary of Nova Scotia’s "Count Us In" Action Plan, in Response to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. She commend Nova Scotia for its valuable contributions to implementing the International Decade descent in Canada.

Sexual Reproductive rights In many places around the world, sexual and reproductive health and rights are in constant jeopardy – with disproportionate impacts on specific groups of women and girls, the High Commissioner pointed out. We cannot gloss over those differential impacts as we work to uphold human rights.

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The UN Human Rights Appeal 2021

The UN Human Rights Appeal 2021

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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Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 37th Session From: 18-01-2021
To: 29-01-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Human Rights Council Advisory Committee / 25th Session From: 15-02-2021
To: 19-02-2021
XX

Human Rights Council / 46th Session From: 22-02-2021
To: 19-03-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 38th Session From: 03-05-2021
To: 14-05-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the Right to Development / 21st Session From: 17-05-2021
To: 21-05-2021
V

Human Rights Council / 47th Session From: 21-06-2021
To: 09-07-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Human Rights Council / 48th Session From: 13-09-2021
To: 01-10-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 39th Session From: 01-11-2021
To: 12-11-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

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UN Charter Body Database

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National Human Rights Institutions Website

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Universal Human Rights Index

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Anti-discrimination Database

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Human Rights Education and Training Database

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Jurisprudence Database

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