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Indigenous peoples and COVID-19
30 years fighting slavery
Social Forum
Human Rights Champion: Ro’otsitsina Juruna
Stand Up for Human Rights

Crucial need for indigenous peoples’ participation for COVID-19 recovery

“Given the disproportionate impact that COVID-19 has had on indigenous peoples, their participation is more critical than ever.” Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, was speaking during a panel session on indigenous peoples and COVID-19 at the Human Rights Council.
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UN Fund and NGOs: fighting contemporary forms of slavery for 30 years

For the past 30 years, the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery has financially supported 400 projects in 104 countries that aim to support survivors in their healing journey, restore their dignity and create sustainable opportunities for their future.
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Political will and collective action needed in fight against COVID-19

The critical need for human rights, international cooperation and solidarity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic was the focus of this year’s Social Forum, an annual meeting convened by the Human Rights Council.
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Countering COVID-19 misinformation in indigenous communities in Brazil

Ro’otsitsina Juruna, an indigenous woman from the Xavante people, has been helping her community in western Brazil to receive reliable information and access to COVID-19 vaccines, despite the misinformation spreading all over the country. “Immunization saves lives. Not just one person in a family, the entire family,” Ro’otsitsina said.
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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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Israel: Palestinian HRDs Bachelet calls on the Israeli authorities to revoke their designation of six Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organisations as terrorist organizations, calling it an unjustified attack on human rights defenders.

Coup d’état in Sudan Bachelet condemns Monday’s military coup in Sudan and calls for the immediate release of all those arbitrary detained.

Palestinian occupation: Political failure A new “imaginative and brave” playbook is needed to achieve globally agreed goal to end 54-year-old Israeli occupation and secure Palestine’s self-determination, expert says.

Israel: HRDs ‘attacked’ Experts condemn decision by Israeli Minister of Defence to designate six Palestinian human rights and civil society groups as terrorist organisations.

USA: Haiti migrants Experts condemn USA’s recent and ongoing systematic mass deportation of Haitian migrants and refugees, and cautioned that such collective expulsions violate international law.

Myanmar: Violence warning Myanmar could be on eve of even greater human rights catastrophe and loss of life amid reports military junta is deploying tens of thousands of troops and heavy weapons to northern Myanmar, expert warns.

Israel – Occupied Palestinian Territories Experts appeal to Israel to release or charge five Palestinian men who are dangerously ill after prolonged hunger strikes protesting the unlawful practice of administrative detention.

Pakistan: Blasphemy case Experts appealed to Pakistan to release Stephen Masih, a Pakistani Christian from Sialkot District, who has been detained for over two years awaiting trial for allegedly committing blasphemy.

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Libya migrants We are extremely worried about the continued suffering of migrants and asylum seekers in Libya who are experiencing a myriad of daily violations and abuses at the hands of both State and non-state actors.

Right to a healthy environment Bachelet hails landmark decision that recognizes a healthy environment as a human right.

Myanmar military Concerns at substantial deployment of heavy weapons and troops by the Myanmar military in Chin, Sagaing and Maway regions.

Rohingya killing Bachelet pays tribute to Rohingya human rights defender Mohib Ullah and calls for a prompt, thorough and effective investigation into his killing.

Myanmar crisis Urgent action is needed to prevent the situation in Myanmar from spiraling into a full-blown conflict warns a new report detailing widespread violations by the military against Myanmar’s people, some of which may constitute crimes against humanity or war crimes.

Tribute to John Ruggie It is difficult to overstate the impact of the work of John Ruggie, whose drive and commitment were central to the development of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and whose own life was devoted to making a difference to everyone’s lives.

Yemen violations We are very concerned by the situation in Yemen where all parties to the conflict continue to engage in violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law with little regard for basic rule of law principles.

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Gender identity UN expert calls for urgent action against rhetoric, practices that endanger lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and gender-diverse people.

Iran The death penalty is imposed arbitrarily and is being used as political punishment in Iran, says human rights expert, calling for an end to imposition of the death penalty in violation of international law.

Belarus Belarus is routinely denying women their human rights and is subjecting women activists to enforced disappearances, torture, ill-treatment & exile, violating women's rights & freedoms, warns UN expert.

Finland The UN Independent Expert carries out official visit to Finland from 26 October to 4 November 2021 to look into human rights situation of older people.

Mauritius: toxic waste The UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights visits Mauritius from 22 to 29 October

COVID-19 Recovery For the world to recover from the pandemic, there must be a strong renewed commitment to multilateralism, including adequate funding for the World Health Organization and establishment of a global fund for social protection, says UN expert.

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HRCAC concludes its 26th session The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee held its 26th session in a hybrid manner in Geneva, Switzerland, this week from 16 to 20 August.

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

Singapore Singapore’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review on 12 May

Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review 22 January 2021

Nauru Nauru’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review 22 January 2021.

Georgia Georgia’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review 21 January 2021

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

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

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SPT to visit Bulgaria Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) will make its first visit to Bulgaria from 24 to 30 October to assess the treatment of people deprived of their liberty.

CESCR’s latest findings The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has published its findings on Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Plurinational State of Bolivia and Nicaragua.

CEDAW’s upcoming country reviews UN Women’s Rights Committee will hold its upcoming session next week to review Maldives, Sweden, Egypt, Yemen, Indonesia, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, South Sudan and South Africa.

Migrant workers in Rwanda and Azerbaijan Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW) has issued its findings on Rwanda and Azerbaijan

Paraguay violates indigenous people’s rights Paraguay violated the indigenous community’s rights and sense of “home”, the Human Rights Committee said in its landmark decision

Child Rights: Historic ruling on climate change The CRC has found that a State party can be held responsible for the negative impact of its carbon emissions on the rights of children both within and outside its territory.

Human Rights Committee to review Germany, Armenia, Botswana and Ukraine Human Rights Committee will hold its upcoming session from today to 5 November, during which it will review Germany, Armenia, Botswana and Ukraine.

Child rights in Czech Republic, Eswatini, Poland and Switzerland The Child Rights Committee has issued its findings on Czech Republic, Eswatini, Poland and Switzerland.

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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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Launch of new training materials on Human Rights at International Borders The High Commissioner launched the new Trainer’s Guide on Human Rights at International Borders, developed in collaboration with UN Office of Counterterrorism. Stating that she trusts it will "help border officials and relevant actors to take a human rights-based and gender-responsive approach to border governance, including in the context of counterterrorism."

The High Commissioner at the InterAmerican Defense College The High Commissioner addressed the participants of the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Seminar, at the InterAmerican Defense College. She spoke to the fundamental role played by human rights law and humanitarian law in the efforts to have stronger institutions – including the security forces - that protect human rights. Stating that “Having armed forces that know, respect and promote human rights – including of discriminated people and communities - is the best safeguard to preventing human rights violations”.

Women: a Global Mission in a New Reality The High Commissioner delivered a statement at the 3rd Eurasian Women’s Forum, where she discussed the interconnectedness of the well-being of societies and the human rights of women and girls. Stating that, most especially in the light of Covid-19, we must continue to support women’s leadership and feminist movements -- political, public, and financial -- and continue to protect the right of all women to meaningful participation.

Michelle Bachelet at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly At the UN General Assembly, the High Commissioner presented her report to the Third Committee, outlining the office’s human rights work, between 1 January and 30 June 2021, including the work conducted by 95 field presences, in partnership with many stakeholders. She stated that “now is the time to build bridges and narrow human rights gaps” and that “next steps must be taken with urgency and resolve, trust and solidarity.”

Bachelet: Lessons learned and challenges in the fight against the Covid-19 Pandemic The High Commissioner addressed the opening of the 2021 Social Forum, in which she discussed good practices, success stories, lessons learned, and challenges in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic, with a special focus on international cooperation and solidarity, and from a human rights perspective

Reviving the Human Rights to Science The High Commissioner addressed the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipation Summit 2021 in an introductory remark, where she emphasized the importance of the human right to science. She further stressed the importance of this right in the context of Covid-19 and vaccine equity, stating that “the right to science must be accessible by all and benefit for everyone’s participation, without discrimination.”

Human rights principles to "build forward fairer”: from local policies to collective actions The Deputy High Commissioner addressed the high-level dialogue on the Future of the International Human Rights Cities Movement, focused on “building forward fairer’. She stressed that to build back fairer, “we must address the underlying weaknesses of our social and economic systems highlighted by the pandemic”, and that a comprehensive vision of human rights must be embraced.

Presentation of the Secretary-General's and High Commissioner's country reports and oral updates On behalf of herself and the Secretary General, the High Commissioner presented reports on the human rights situations in Cambodia, Georgia and Yemen. She further delivered an oral update on the progress and results of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the Philippines. Stating that she hopes this work can “help to promote a transformative approach to human rights-based reforms, strengthen an institutional culture of respect for human rights and redress for victims, and contribute towards prevention of violations recurring.”

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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 / 39th Session From: 01-11-2021
To: 12-11-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

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