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Development and human rights
Human rights in occupied Palestinian territory
Migrants in the Mediterranean
Marvin Del Cid and Sonny Figueroa
Stand Up for Human Rights

HC: Human rights and sustainable development advance each other

"I am convinced that human rights and sustainable development are interlocking and conjoined: at best, they advance each other,” the High Commissioner said during a seminar on the subject. "True development generates greater social justice."
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HC: Root causes must be addressed in violence escalation in Gaza

“Appalling events in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territory have once again called this Council into Special Session,” the High Commissioner said, noting the “most significant escalation in hostilities” since 2014. “While I welcome the ceasefire of 21 May, it is clear that unless the root causes of this violence are addressed, it will sadly be a matter of time until the next round of violence commences, with further pain and suffering for civilians on all sides,” she stressed.
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Report: A call to safeguard migrants in central Mediterranean Sea

“I feel as if I have gone from hell to uncertainty. I thought my journey would come to an end and I would find a safe place in Europe,” said Daraja, a Nigerian migrant. A new report by UN Human Rights delivers first-hand accounts of migrants facing the perilous journey through Libya to Europe. It also calls for an urgent reform of search and rescue policies and practices and more robust protection of migrants at sea.
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“Our work is fundamental"

For Marvin Del Cid and Sonny Figueroa being a journalist in Guatemala has been an exercise in creativity, strength and persistence. The two, who are part of Article 35 – an association dedicated to protecting journalists, have been subjected to harassment both on and off line including slander, unlawful detention and death threats. “The information we public becomes a public good,” said Del Cid. “Our work is fundamental.”
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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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Colombia: Violence in Cali Bachelet calls for dialogue and respect for human rights after new reports of deaths and injuries in Cali

Israel: minority rights Expert condemns attacks on Israel’s Palestinian minority by extreme right-wing and vigilante groups, including settlers.

Nicaragua elections Concerns over Nicaragua's chances of holding free elections due to measures taken by authorities.

Samoa OHCHR urges that the rule of law and democratic institutions in Samoa be respected and protected, and in particular the key role played by an independent judiciary.

Mediterranean: Migrants Bachelet calls on Libya and EU Member States to urgently reform their search and rescue operations in the central Mediterranean Sea that too often rob migrants of their lives, dignity and fundamental human rights

Belarus: Roman Protasevich arrest We call for the immediate release of journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega.

Gaza-Israel: Calls for ICC probe Expert call on all parties to conflict to respect a ceasefire, and for ICC investigation into attacks on civilian populations and other gross rights violations.

Myanmar sanctions Experts welcome new set of government sanctions against Myanmar’s junta by US, UK and Canada

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Colombia: Violence in Cali Bachelet calls for dialogue and respect for human rights after new reports of deaths and injuries in Cali

Nicaragua elections Concerns over Nicaragua's chances of holding free elections due to measures taken by authorities.

Samoa OHCHR urges that the rule of law and democratic institutions in Samoa be respected and protected, and in particular the key role played by an independent judiciary.

Belarus: Roman Protasevich arrest We call for the immediate release of journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega.

Belarus experts Bachelet appoints three high-level experts to the UN Human Rights Office’s fact-finding Mission on Belarus that will assist her in conducting a comprehensive examination of alleged human rights violations in the country since 1 May 2020

Israel / OPT Bachelet calls for strict respect for international law and appeals to all sides to take steps to de-escalate the increasingly alarming situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Iraq: Kurdistan Region Freedom of expression in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been increasingly curtailed over the past year. Critics of public authorities have risked not only intimidation, restrictions on their movements and arbitrary arrests, but some were also charged with defamation, while others were prosecuted under national security laws

Occupied Palestinian Territory We are deeply concerned at the escalation of violence in the OPT, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. We condemn all violence and all incitement to violence. Efforts to calm the situation must be redoubled.

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Israel: minority rights Expert condemns attacks on Israel’s Palestinian minority by extreme right-wing and vigilante groups, including settlers.

Coercive mental health measures UN human rights experts call upon the Council of Europe to withdraw the draft Additional Protocol to the Oviedo Convention

Egypt Experts condemn execution of Wael Saad Tawdros Mikhil, a member of Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority, after he was convicted of murder based on an alleged forced confession.

Gaza-Israel: Calls for ICC probe Expert call on all parties to conflict to respect a ceasefire, and for ICC investigation into attacks on civilian populations and other gross rights violations.

Myanmar sanctions Experts welcome new set of government sanctions against Myanmar’s junta by US, UK and Canada

Chile Arbitrary and collective expulsion of migrants must stop, say UN experts.

Peru Criminalisation of environmental human rights defenders must stop, says UN expert

Enforced disappearances The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances will hold its 124rd session from 17 to 21 May 2021 to examine more than 320 cases from 25 countries.

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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

Secretary-General speech In a powerful speech to the Human Rights Council that focused on racism, women and the pandemic's impact on human rights, Antonio Guterres said "recovery gives us an opportunity to generate momentum for transformation"

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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Coercive mental health measures UN human rights experts call upon the Council of Europe to withdraw the draft Additional Protocol to the Oviedo Convention

South Africa: Domestic Violence South Africa’s low levels of conviction in domestic violence cases and the frequent failures by the police to enforce protection orders, exposed survivors to repeated abuses and resulted in the violation of women’s fundamental rights. Country: South Africa

CRC to review Luxembourg and Tunisia The UN Child Rights Committee will hold its upcoming session from 17 May to 4 June to review Luxembourg and Tunisia.

CED’s findings on Switzerland, Colombia and Mongolia Committee on Enforced Disappearances on Tuesday issued its findings on Switzerland, Colombia and Mongolia.

CERD issues findings on Belgium CERD’s Concluding Observations on Belgium are now available online

UN Committee on Migrant Workers issues findings on Chile CMW has issued its findings on Chile, which it examined during its latest session.

CERD to review Belgium Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will hold its upcoming session from 19 to 30 April, during which it will review Belgium.

UN Disability Rights Committee issues findings on Estonia CRPD has published its findings on Estonia which it examined during its latest session

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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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Development and human rights Human rights are crucial for development said High Commissioner.

Human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory “Appalling events in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territory have once again called this Council into Special Session,” the High Commissioner said, noting the “most significant escalation in hostilities” since 2014. “While I welcome the ceasefire of 21 May, it is clear that unless the root causes of this violence are addressed, it will sadly be a matter of time until the next round of violence commences, with further pain and suffering for civilians on all sides,” she stressed.

Ombudsmen The High Commissioner addressed the 12th World Conference of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). "By promoting the concept of the Ombudsman, and encouraging its development worldwide, the IOI contributes to the realization of human rights, rule of law, democracy, administrative justice, accountability of government, and access to justice for all," she said.

Global Biodiversity The High Commissioner participated on a panel on accountability and engagement for transformative change to halt the loss of biodiversity and restore it. "The environment is in crisis. Enjoyment of human rights, now and in the future, depends on how we act now," she said.

Prevent and Counter Terrorism Responses to terrorism “should be grounded in human rights and the rule of law”, the High Commissioner said, stressing it was both “the right thing to do” and is “the most effective approach”. She sent a video message to a virtual dialogue with human rights and civil society partners on building a better paradigm to prevent and counter terrorism.

Protecting children Advancing justice and rights for children in crisis and conflict

Business and rights Ten years after adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the High Commissioner pointed to many examples of important work – but said "Many more governments, and many more companies, need to step up – or even begin – their efforts"

Right to Development Opening the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development, the High Commissioner emphasised the vital relevance of its work to efforts to build a sound recovery from COVID-19

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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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Human Rights Council / 47th Session From: 21-06-2021
To: 15-07-2021
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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