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The power of dignity, equality and rights
Climate change and migration
Human Rights Day
Human Rights Defenders
Stand Up / UDHR 70 campaign

"The force of these rights binds us together as human beings"

High Commissioner Bachelet celebrates the power of human dignity, human equality and human rights
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Meeting the complex challenges of climate change and migration

Prompt, effective and principled policies can better protect those most vulnerable.
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Bachelet celebrates Human Rights Day

As we celebrate the 70th anniversary and many achievements of this trailblazing document, High Commissioner Bachelet calls on "each of us to do our part to breathe life into the beautiful dream of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
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The double-edged of new technology for human rights defenders

For human rights defenders, the fast pace of technology developed both into a tool to promote rights and a weapon to try and silence them. During a recent discussion on technology and human rights, activists, experts, politicians discussed technology’s opportunities and challenges for defenders.
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Stand up for human rights and celebrate the UDHR 70th anniversary

Join the year-long campaign to celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which turns 70 in 2018. 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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Human Rights Day As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet reflects on its achievements, but also the many current challenges, and urges us not to forget these powerful and prophetic words.

UDHR: 30 articles on the 30 Articles In a special series, OHCHR is publishing an article a day on the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration leading up to its 70th anniversary on 10 December. Today: Article 30: Rights are Inalienable

Kachin activists jailed Expert expresses dismay at the imprisonment of three ethnic Kachin activists for allegedly criticizing the Myanmar military during peaceful demonstrations in April.

Cameroon Experts express concerns over a crackdown against protesters in Cameroon following President Paul Biya’s re-election, and call for protection of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

Tribute to a rights defender Michelle Bachelet pays tribute to Russian historian and leading human rights activist Lyudmila Mikhaylovna Alexeyeva whose life and work inspired generations of human rights defenders around the globe.

Briefing notes: Papua We are concerned about the arrest of more than 500 during a peaceful protest in Indonesia, marking West Papuan National Day, and the use of excessive force by security forces in Papua.

Bachelet to visit South Africa and Morocco Michelle Bachelet begins her visit to South Africa to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration. She will then go to Marrakech for the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

The Philippines The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression calls on the Philippine authorities to drop charges against online news website Rappler and its Chief Executive, Maria Ressa, saying the charges were being used a censorship tool.

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Yemen Senior UN human rights official urges leaders on all sides of the Yemen conflict to do “absolutely everything humanly possible” to prevent renewed fighting and calls for immediate removal of restrictions on delivery of aid supplies.

Inheritance rights for women To grant women equal inheritance rights is to empower them and ensure protection of their economic and social rights, Michelle Bachelet says, welcoming Tunisia’s significant move to gender equality.

Guatemala, Nicaragua We welcome the sentencing in Guatemalan of a former soldier to 5,130 years for his role in the Dos Erres massacre. We remain concerned at reports that Nicaraguan authorities are continuing to criminalize civil society.

Climate Change / COP24 Michelle Bachelet urged all states in an open letter to work together at next month’s COP24 meeting and to take effective, ambitious, urgent, human rights-based climate action now.

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Kachin activists jailed Expert expresses dismay at the imprisonment of three ethnic Kachin activists for allegedly criticizing the Myanmar military during peaceful demonstrations in April.

Mozambique A UN expert recognises Mozambique’s social fabric shields LGBT community from extreme forms of physical violence, but says Government urgently needs to change its policy to end marginalisation and ensure full social inclusion.

Honduras Masterminds of Berta Cáceres killing still at large, say UN experts

Human Rights Day UN experts: We must recommit to UDHR goal for lasting peace.

Human rights defenders Experts urge all States to fully implement the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders to ensure the freedom of human rights defenders to act without interference, intimidation, abuse, threat, violence, reprisal or undue restriction.

Kuwait Expert welcomes initiative to ensure the full and effective inclusion of people with disabilities in society, as laid out in the Kuwait National Development Plan 'Vision 2035'.

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Council concludes 39th ninth session The Council concluded its 39th regular session.

Council adopts eight resolutions The Council adopted eight texts.

HRC adopts five resolutions The Council adopted five resolutions.

Council adopts 10 resolutions The Council adopted 10 resolutions and one Presidential statement.

Dialogue on the Central African Republic, Georgia The Council held a dialogue on the situation in the Central African Republic, in Georgia, and on technical assistance and capacity building.

Human rights situations in Cambodia, Somalia and Sudan The Council held separate dialogues with mandate holders on the human rights situations in Cambodia, Somalia and Sudan.

Situation of human rights in Yemen and Libya The Council held dialogues on the human rights situation in Yemen and on the situation of human rights in Libya.

Human rights situation in Ukraine and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The Council held a dialogues on the situation of human rights in Ukraine and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Committee Against Torture publishes findings UN experts issue concluding observations on Canada, Guatemala, Maldives, Netherlands, Peru, and Viet Nam

Torture prevention body announces planned country visits Experts will in 2019 visit Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Ghana, Senegal, Swizerland and the United Kingdom.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to meet Experts to review Albania, Honduras, Iraq, Norway, Qatar, and Republic of Korea

Universal Children’s Day Experts call for Governments around the world to be united in ensuring priority attention to the realization of the rights of the child

Enforced disappearances UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) publishes its findings on Japan and Portugal, and issues follow-up observations on Mexico.

Women’s rights experts issue findings Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women releases observations on Bahamas, Congo, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mauritius, Nepal, Samoa, Tajikistan, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Spain sets milestone in international human rights law The women’s rights committee welcomes a decision by Spain’s highest court reaffirming that Spanish law must include the rights and freedoms of human rights treaties.

Committee Against Torture to meet Canada, Guatemala, Maldives, Netherlands, Peru, and Viet Nam to be reviewed by panel of independent human rights experts.

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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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The power of dignity, equality and rights High Commissioner Bachelet celebrates the power of human dignity, human equality and human rights.

Climate change and migration Complex and deadly challenges require better policies.

South Africa's human rights heroes The High Commissioner marks #UDHR70 in Johannesburg.

Minorities and statelessness Stateless people – many of them minorities – are vulnerable to human rights violations.

Responsibility to Protect To protect people from atrocity crimes, timely prevention is essential

2018 Business Forum In a keynote to the 2018 Business Forum, the High Commissioner argues for greater human rights due diligence and advocacy

An empowering anniversary #UDHR70 is a test of our values and an opportunity to demonstrate that human rights guidance works

Democracy, rule of law and rights Parliamentarians are vital partners, the High Commissioner says.

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Annual appeal 2018

Annual appeal 2018

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

Migration

Migration, Human Rights and Governance: Handbook for Parliamentarians (co-published with IPU)

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Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination / 97th Session From: 26-11-2018
To: 14-12-2018
Palais Wilson Gr

Committee on the Rights of Child / 80th Session From: 14-01-2019
To: 01-02-2019
Palais Wilson

Human Rights Council – Organizational meeting for the selection of troikas for UPR during 2019 From: 15-01-2019
To: 15-01-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 32nd Session From: 21-01-2019
To: 01-02-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice / 24th Session From: 28-01-2019
To: 01-02-2019
New York

Working Group on Situations / 23rd Session From: 28-01-2019
To: 01-02-2019
Palais Wilson

Working Group on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises / 22nd Session From: 04-02-2019
To: 08-02-2019
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Rights of Child - Pre-sessional Working Group / 82nd Session From: 04-02-2019
To: 08-02-2019
Palais Wilson Grand Floor

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UN Charter Body Database

Search for documents and information pertaining to UN Charter-based human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures.

Universal Periodic Review

Access information and documents about states that were part of the periodic review of the human rights. It includes documents submitted by countries themselves, UN agencies and external parties.

National Human Rights Institutions Website

Find information on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and the International Coordinating Committee for National Human Rights Institutions (ICC).

Universal Human Rights Index

Access country-specific human rights recommendations and information emanating from international human rights mechanisms in the UN system: the Treaty Bodies, the Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Database

Access translations of the UDHR, a milestone document in the history of human rights, into over 460 different languages and dialects.

Anti-discrimination Database

Search for information, policies and measures taken at the international, regional and national levels to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Human Rights Education and Training Database

Search worldwide for institutions, programmes and materials that aim to foster human rights education and training.

Jurisprudence Database

Access jurisprudence emanating from the United Nations Treaty Bodies that receive and consider complaints from individuals.

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Quick selection

Treaty BodiesSchedule of country reviews Deadlines for the submission of documentation Information by country - ratification status, reporting cycles and documentation Elections of Treaty Body Members
Special ProceduresOverview of visits by Special Procedures Upcoming country visits History of country visits since 1998 Countries with standing invitations
Universal Periodic ReviewOverview Documentation by country