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Policies should include the needs and voices of young people, High Commissioner Bachelet tells a Central Asian forum

Speaking to a Youth Forum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the High Commissioner said meaningful engagement and participation by young people will be vital to solving the damage done by COVID-19 and climate change – and to building back better societies
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COVID-19 and young people: urgent action needed to stem ‘severe and long-lasting’ impacts

A new study looking at the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people, such as disruption to education and employment, ‘risk reducing the productive potential of an entire generation.’
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COVID-19 - a critical threat to indigenous peoples

In a message to mark International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, Bachelet highlights their vulnerability to COVID-19, with many already facing environmental damage and economic depredation.
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Galina Edin, indigenous rights activist: “I feel responsible for my people”

“We should ask ourselves what future we want for our children and ourselves. We want it to be bright, don’t we?” Galina Edin is an indigenous rights activist from the Russian Federation, working on youth issues. 9 August marks the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
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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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Somalia “Legislation drafted by parliamentarians in Somalia risks legitimizing child marriage, among other alarming practices, and must be prevented from passing into law,” says Bachelet.

Lebanon explosion Beirut blast brings into sharp focus the need for international community to step up and help Lebanon and its people at this time of multiple crises.

Jordan teachers’ union We are deeply concerned by Jordan’s decision to close a teachers’ trade union, arrest its leaders and suspend its board for two years, replacing it with an interim Government-appointed committee.

Indigenous peoples In a message to mark International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, Bachelet highlights their vulnerability to COVID-19, with many already facing environmental damage and economic depredation.

Yemen media under attack Bachelet says she is appalled by high number of human rights violations against journalists across Yemen.

Haiti justice Bachelet says former Haitian paramilitary leader Emmanuel "Toto" Constant must be held accountable for the horrendous human rights violations committed during 1990s

Iran NGO Bachelet alarmed by the Iranian Government’s increased pressure on a prominent civil society group working on poverty and social protection, and arrest of its founding member.

Right of peaceful assembly Human Rights Committee published its interpretation on the right of peaceful assembly, defining the scope of assembly that applies to both physical meetings and virtual or online gatherings, and outlining governments’ obligations.

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Somalia “Legislation drafted by parliamentarians in Somalia risks legitimizing child marriage, among other alarming practices, and must be prevented from passing into law,” says Bachelet.

Lebanon explosion Beirut blast brings into sharp focus the need for international community to step up and help Lebanon and its people at this time of multiple crises.

Yemen media under attack Bachelet says she is appalled by high number of human rights violations against journalists across Yemen.

Iran NGO Bachelet alarmed by the Iranian Government’s increased pressure on a prominent civil society group working on poverty and social protection, and arrest of its founding member.

Haiti justice Bachelet says former Haitian paramilitary leader Emmanuel "Toto" Constant must be held accountable for the horrendous human rights violations committed during 1990s

Turkey: New social media bill Concerns over authorities’ moves to introduce a new social media law that would give the State powerful tools for asserting even more control over the media landscape. If adopted, the law may undermine freedom of expression and weaken platforms for independent journalism.

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Peru Peru has an historic opportunity to make companies more responsible and to protect human rights by ratifying the "Escazú Agreement."

Sanctions and Covid Sanctions make it harder for individuals and countries to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, UN Experts say, and should be eased or ended.

Jammu and Kashmir On the anniversary of India’s changing the status of Jammu and Kashmir, UN human rights experts call on the international community to take urgent action.

Cultural and Religious Rights Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia should remain an inter-cultural space reflecting the diversity and complexity of Turkey, say UN experts

Mali kidnapping UN expert says Mali must step up efforts to find and free abducted opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé, abducted more than four months ago.

Family unity UN human rights experts call on The Netherlands not to deport Ugandan refugees because it could permanently split up their family.

Digital space During COVID-19 pandemic, open, secure Internet vital to save lives, say UN human rights experts

Kyrgyzstan: death of rights defender ‘a stain’ Death in prison of human rights defender Azimjan Askarov shows cruel disregard for human rights, says human rights expert

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Council closes forty-fourth session Human Rights Council concludes its forty-fourth regular session.

Human Rights Council adopts four resolutions Before concluding its forty-fourth session, the Council adopted four resolutions and appointed four Special Procedure mandate holders

Human Rights Council adopts six resolutions The Human Rights Council adopted six resolutions, including the extension of mandates on Belarus and of the Working Group on transnational corporations.

Human Rights Council adopts 13 resolutions The Council extended among others the mandates on Eritrea, education, extrajudicial executions, trafficking in persons, leprosy, and extreme poverty

Council holds dialogue on occupied Palestinian territories The Human Rights Council also concluded its dialogue with Special Rapporteur on racism, and heard an oral update on Georgia

Council adopts UPR outcomes of Spain and Kuwait The Human Rights Council adopted the Universal Periodic Review outcomes of Spain and Kuwait, and held an enhanced interactive dialogue on Sudan

Human Rights Council begins dialogue on racism It also heard the report by the Working Group on human rights and transnational corporations, and concluded its dialogue on Venezuela

Council holds panel discussion on technical cooperation The Council held a panel discussion on technical cooperation towards upholding the rights of prisoners, and started a dialogue on Venezuela

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Treaty warning Chairs of the 10 UN Treaty Bodies call on States to properly fund their committees’ work, warning that the current underfunding is a serious concern, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Black women's lives also matter The UN women’s rights committee has called for a new era of human rights and gender justice, stressing that the lives of black women and girls also matter.

SPT: Strengthening national preventive mechanisms UN torture prevention body has called for the role of domestic monitoring bodies, officially known as National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs), to be strengthened in critical situations.

Mali: Female genital mutilation Mali’s failure to criminalise female genital mutilation (FGM), allowing the inhuman practice to continue with impunity, resulted in the violation of women’s fundamental rights, the UN women’s rights committee has found.

US obligations to end racial discrimination The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has called on the United States to uphold its international obligations under the Convention.

COVID and treaties Speaking to the Chairs of Treaty Bodies before the launch of the General Assembly's Treaty Body review, the High Commissioner lauded their vital and insightful work

Treaty Body review Speaking at the launch of the General Assembly's Treaty Body review, the High Commissioner lauded the valuable work of the Committees, providing victims an essential space for justice and remedy, and offering Member States in-depth guidance and recommendations

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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

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Youth activism Speaking to a Youth Forum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the High Commissioner said meaningful engagement and participation by young people will be vital to solving the damage done by COVID-19 and climate change – and to building back better societies

Calling on youth In a keynote speech to the 26th Youth Assembly, the High Commissioner called on young people to deploy their creativity in the struggle for sustainable development – and on world leaders to open up power structures to embrace participation by youth.

Sudan Speaking to Human Rights Council, the Deputy High Commissioner said OHCHR is grateful to the Government of Sudan for their support to the establishment of the office in the country. She stated that the Office looked forward to continue working with the Government of Sudan and others partners to advance and protect all human rights for all people in Sudan.

Justice and Human Rights in Venezuela The Deputy High Commissioner presented to the Human Rights Council the report on the independence of the justice system, access to justice and the human rights situation in the Arco Minero del Orinoco region in Venezuela.

COVID-19 and Women's Rights The Human Rights Council discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the human rights of women and girls worldwide. "Women and girls are at higher risk, not due to any inherent vulnerability, but rather due to pre-existing discrimination and inequality," said Peggy Hicks, director of Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division at OHCHR.

Accountability for women and girls in humanitarian settings The Deputy High Commissioner spoke to the Human Rights Council about women’s and girls’ rights in the context of humanitarian settings. "Let us use the opportunity of today’s discussion to reaffirm our commitment to their rights, to our common future based on those rights and to the sustainable development outcomes that we have together pledged to achieve," she said.

Srebrenica genocide As we mark the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, accountability and reconciliation need to be addressed with concrete action and renewed urgency, UN Human Rights Chief urges.

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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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Working Group on Communications / 27th Session From: 10-08-2020
To: 14-08-2020
PW 1st floor

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities / 24th Session From: 17-08-2020
To: 11-09-2020
Ariana 2

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention / 88th Session From: 24-08-2020
To: 28-08-2020
XI

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities / 23rd (resumed) Session From: 24-08-2020
To: 04-09-2020
XVI

Human Rights Council – Organizational meeting / 45th Session From: 28-08-2020
To: 28-08-2020

Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent / 26th Session From: 31-08-2020
To: 04-09-2020
PW Gr

Committee on the Rights of Child / 85th Session From: 07-09-2020
To: 25-09-2020
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Committee on the Rights of Child - Pre-sessional Working Group / 85th Session From: 07-09-2020
To: 25-09-2020
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