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Stand Up for Human Rights

High Commissioner updates the Human Rights Council on human rights concerns, and progress, across the world

Raising many serious concerns – including the COVID-19 epidemic – the High Commissioner emphasised that upholding human rights can strengthen the effectiveness of policies and boost societies’ resilience
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#IStandwithHer: It is time to change the story

Gender stereotypes lie at the heart of discriminatory attitudes, policies and laws. They are so deeply ingrained that we often replicate them unconsciously. On International Women’s Day, join us to change discriminatory narrative and demand more equal and inclusive societies.
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A call to action for human rights

Calling human rights “part of the very identity of the United Nations,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres outlined a commitment to step up action on human rights in seven key areas.
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Threats to human rights are rising – but so are solutions, High Commissioner says

Opening the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council, Michelle Bachelet said “Today’s turbulent political landscape requires usable policy tools that are rooted in experience, with a proven track record. These tools exist.”
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#changethestory

Let’s challenge the gender bias and stereotypes which are so deeply ingrained in our worldviews and societies. Join us to change the narrative and take action for women’s rights and gender equality.
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News

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Iraq expert visit Iraq should redouble efforts to address the human rights situation of 1.5 million internally displaced people, says UN expert.

Aghanistan civilian casualties It is the sixth year on a raw that the number of civilian casualties has excedeed 10,000

Syria: Inhumane attacks UN Human Rights chief expresses horror at the scale of the humanitarian crisis in northwest Syria, saying it is cruel beyond belief that civilians are being bombed.

Burundi journalists UN experts denounce the jail terms given to four journalists who sought to cover violent incidents in Burundi before elections.

Hate speech on social media Propagation of hate speech through social media contributes directly to rise of hate crimes against minorities, says UN expert.

Human Rights Committee UN Human Rights Committee meets in Geneva from 2 to 27 March to review Central African Republic, Portugal, Tunisia, Uzbekistan and Dominica.

Cameroon violence Shocking episode in the ongoing crisis in the country’s North-West and South-West regions left 23 people dead, the majority of them children.

Myanmar violence UN experts express concern over rise in violence in northwest Myanmar after internet shutdown.

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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.

Nicaragua attacks We are deeply concerned at the repeated attacks on indigenous people in Nicaragua, and urge the authorities to ensure those responsible are held accountable and take steps to prevent further violence.

Iraq violence We are alarmed at the escalation in violence in the central Iraqi city of Najaf where supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr allegedly shot dead anti-Government demonstrators.

DRC: Bachelet end of mission We call on the Government and the international community to seize the opportunity that currently exists to lift the country out of its conflicts, human rights violations and socio-economic problems.

Libya airstrikes UN joint report calls for accountability for a deadly airstrike on a migrant detention centre last July, and says urgent steps are needed to prevent a similar tragedy.

Human Rights Day Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet

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Iraq expert visit Iraq should redouble efforts to address the human rights situation of 1.5 million internally displaced people, says UN expert.

Hate speech on social media Propagation of hate speech through social media contributes directly to rise of hate crimes against minorities, says UN expert.

New Zealand older people UN expert on older people’s rights will visit New Zealand from 2 to 12 March.

Mali expert visit Increasing violence and impunity in central Mali are cause for concern, says UN expert after his visit.

Peru experts visit UN experts on people of African descent will visit Peru from 25 February to 4 March.

Romania experts visit UN experts on discrimination against women and girls will visit Romania from 24 to 6 March.

Burundi journalists UN experts denounce the jail terms given to four journalists who sought to cover violent incidents in Burundi before elections.

Japan expert visit Japan has achieved remarkable progress in protecting rights of persons affected by leprosy and these efforts must continue, says UN expert.

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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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Human Rights Committee UN Human Rights Committee meets in Geneva from 2 to 27 March to review Central African Republic, Portugal, Tunisia, Uzbekistan and Dominica.

Child rights UN child rights body issues its findings on the countries reviewed during its latest session: Austria, Belarus, Costa Rica, Hungary, Rwanda and State of Palestine.

CESCR meeting UN committee on economic, social and cultural rights meets in Geneva 17 February to 6 March to review Belgium, Benin, Guinea, Norway, Ukraine.

CEDAW: Meeting in Geneva UN Women’s Rights Committee to meet in Genava from 10 to 28 February to review Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Eritrea, Kiribati, Latvia, Pakistan, Republic of Moldova, and Zimbabwe.

Pacific: Child rights UN committee will travel to Samoa in March to hear directly from government delegations, NGOs and others, including children, about child rights in the Pacific region.

Human Rights and climate change UN Human Rights Committee says countries may not deport individuals who face climate change-induced conditions that violate the right to life.

Child Rights Committee UN Child Rights Committee meeting in Geneva to review Austria, Belarus, Costa Rica, Hungary, Rwanda and State of Palestine

Women’s Rights Statement Statement by the Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Women’s Rights Convention on Wednesday.

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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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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

Myanmar Democratic deficits, entrenched impunity, weak rule of law, and the lack of civilian oversight over the military, have been major enabling factors in the violence, extreme poverty, exploitation and dispossession experienced by minorities in Myanmar

Global update Raising many serious concerns – including the COVID-19 epidemic – the High Commissioner emphasised that upholding human rights can strengthen the effectiveness of policies and boost societies’ resilience

Occupied Palestinian Territory Report to the Human Rights Council on ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

Child rights The 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child should encourage States, the UN system and civil society to strengthen our collective work to ensure that no child is left behind

Women's Rights "Women's rights are not negotiable", said High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet opening a panel discussion commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action.

Mainstreaming Child Rights Increasing emphasis by many UN bodies on the rights of children has important impact on children’s lives, the High Commissioner said.

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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 Elimination of Discrimination against Women / 75th Session From: 10-02-2020
To: 28-02-2020
XVI

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights / 67th Session From: 17-02-2020
To: 06-03-2020
PW Gr and PW 1st

Human Rights Council / 43rd Session From: 24-02-2020
To: 20-03-2020
Palais des Nations Room XX

Human Rights Committee - Working Group on Communications / 128th Session From: 24-02-2020
To: 28-02-2020
PW 1st floor

Committee on the Rights of Child / 84th Session From: 02-03-2020
To: 06-03-2020
Apia, Samoa

Human Rights Committee / 128th Session From: 02-03-2020
To: 27-03-2020
PW Gr and PW 1st

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Pre-sessional Working Group / 77th Session From: 02-03-2020
To: 06-03-2020
XVI

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Pre-sessional Working Group / 66th Session From: 09-03-2020
To: 13-03-2020
PW 1st floor

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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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Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Database

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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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