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Human Rights Champion – José Quisocala
A tribute to Roberto Garretón Merin
Human Rights Champion: Titouan Bernicot
Hate speech
Human Rights Day 2021

Young activist sets up bank to tackle poverty and environmental damage

When José Quisocala noticed children in his native Peru living in poverty and environmental squalor, he opted to do something to help. At age seven he founded a bank that uses money raised from recycled waste collected by children to create accounts for customers to pay for things like food and school fees.
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Roberto Garretón Merino: A life in service of human rights

UN Human Rights Chief, Michelle Bachelet, colleagues and friends pay tribute to Roberto Garretón Merino, Chilean lawyer and long-time defender of human rights, following his passing.
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A young conservationist is planting corals to restore the South Pacific Ocean

Titouan Bernicot, a marine conservationist from French Polynesia, has been working to restore depleting coral reefs in the South Pacific Ocean. “Corals are the rainforest of the seas, the ocean lungs. They are so important for our planet well-being and for us as humans,” he says.
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HC calls for decisive action as hate speech grows worldwide, exacerbated by COVID-19

Speaking to the Italian Senate's Extraordinary Commission against intolerance, racism, anti-Semitism and incitement to hatred and violence, the High Commissioner recommended specific reforms to build policies and narratives that emphasise our common humanity and rights.
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Human Rights Day: All human, all equal

On Human Rights Day this year, we’re calling for a new social contract with equality at its core. By addressing deep-seated discrimination with human rights, we can move towards a fairer and more inclusive world – because we’re all human, and we’re all equal.
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News

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Myanmar coup anniversary One year into the coup in Myanmar, UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet urges the international community to intensify pressure on the military to stop its campaign of violence against the people of Myanmar and to insist on the prompt restoration of civilian rule.

Yemen airstrikes Amid Yemen’s escalating conflict, which saw deadly airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition on 21 January, there needs to be a transparent, independent and impartial investigation to ensure individual accountability for any breaches of international humanitarian law.

Memory, dignity and justice Michelle Bachelet commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, a crime of shocking inhumanity.

Burkina Faso Bachelet deplores the military takeover of power in Burkina Faso, calls on the military to immediately release the president and other high-level officials who have been detained, and urges a swift return to constitutional order.

Syria prison Situation of civilians in northeastern Syrian city of Al-Hasakeh is deeply troubling after ISIL fighters launched attacks on a prison there, leading dozens of detainees to escape and sparking fighting between ISIL and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

Syria: Boys at risk Expert seriously concerned for welfare of close to 700 children held at Al-Sina’a/Ghuwayran prison in Al-Hasakeh and call on States to urgently repatriate all their children detained there.

Papua New Guinea Bachelet warmly welcomes Papua New Guinea’s decision to repeal the death penalty, and urges all States that retain it to take a similarly progressive and courageous step.

Sudan visit postponed UN Expert Adama Dieng’s first visit ot Sudan has been postponed. Dieng calls on the authorities to share new dates as soon as possible. He will continue to engage with civil society and others, to closely monitor and assess the human rights situation.

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Memory, dignity and justice Michelle Bachelet commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, a crime of shocking inhumanity.

Papua New Guinea Bachelet warmly welcomes Papua New Guinea’s decision to repeal the death penalty, and urges all States that retain it to take a similarly progressive and courageous step.

Sudan clampdown The human rights situation in Sudan continues to be of serious concern, with peaceful protesters killed or injured on a near-daily basis by security forces, as well as a clampdown on critics of the authorities and on independent journalists.

Yemen conflict Amid a deeply concerning escalation of the conflict in Yemen, we call on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects, in line with their obligations under international law. As has been shown time and time again, there is no military solution to this conflict.

Ethiopia We are alrmed by the multiple, deeply disturbing reports of civilian casualties and destruction due to airstrikes in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. At least 108 civilians have reportedly been killed and 75 others injured in just 14 days. We call for the protection of civilians.

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Leprosy Day Expert today decries existence of more than 100 laws globally that discriminate against people affected by leprosy.

Holocaust Remembrance Day Experts reiterate their calls to combat antisemitism and all forms of religious and racial bigotry.

Switzerland People of African descent in Switzerland experience racial discrimination in various aspects of their lives, say experts.

Serbia forced labour Experts raise serious concerns about alleged forced labour of approximately 400 Vietnamese migrant workers, who are reported to be victims of trafficking in Serbia.

Afghanistan: Women and girls Taliban leaders in Afghanistan are institutionalizing large scale and systematic gender-based discrimination and violence against women and girls, experts say.

Switzerland UN expert postpones visit to Brian K. after positive steps by authorities.

New UK bill discriminates Experts express serious concern over UK’s Nationality and Borders Bill, saying it breaches country's obligations under international law.

Switzerland Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent to visit Switzerland from 17 to 26 January.

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

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

Tajikistan / UPR Tajikistan’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Tanzania / UPR Tanzania’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

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

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CRC to review Madagascar and Netherlands The UN Child Rights Committee will hold its upcoming session from 31 January to 11 February to review Madagascar and the Netherlands.

Burundi: Torture complaints Committee against Torture has deplored Burundi’s lack of cooperation in the individual complaints procedure.

End detention of migrants States have to immediately stop detaining migrant children and ultimately putting an end to the detention of all migrants.

Venezuela: Violation of due process guarantees Venezuela violated a jurist’s rights to be tried by an independent tribunal, the Human Rights Committee said

Mexico: Detention and torture of human rights defender CAT has called on Mexico to stop criminalizing legitimate human rights work, after deciding on the case of a human rights defender who was detained and tortured for a crime that he didn’t commit.

CERD’s country reviews UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today issued its findings on Chile, Denmark, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand.

CAT’s findings UN Committee against Torture published findings on the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Nigeria, Serbia and Sweden.

Ecuador: prisons violence Two UN anti-torture bodies expressed alarm at the ongoing violence in Ecuador’s prison system.

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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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Sustainable societies In a statement to the Prince Mahidol Award Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, the High Commissioner outlined why it is critical societies take action now to explore a future that is “fairer, healthier and more sustainable.”

Hate speech Speaking to the Italian Senate's Extraordinary Commission against intolerance, racism, anti-Semitism and incitement to hatred and violence, the High Commissioner recommended specific reforms to build policies and narratives that emphasise our common humanity and rights.

Annual Appeal 2022 Presenting the Office’s Annual Appeal for 2022, the High Commissioner said that to work towards resilient societies where equal opportunities are universal, “the commitment of States is not only important, it is urgent.” This year’s Appeal is calling for a total of US$400.5 million

Women and peace Speaking to the Security Council, the High Commissioner said that in Afghanistan, Sahel countries, Myanmar and elsewhere, violations of women's rights “significantly undermine global efforts to prevent conflict and sustain peace.”

Sustainable Development The next years “will fundamentally test global human rights leadership” said Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif. Speaking at the fourth Human Rights Council intersessional meeting focusing on Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, she echoed the Secretary-General’s call for a ‘renewed social contract anchored in human rights.’

Ethiopia At a Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Ethiopia, the Deputy High Commissioner detailed alleged violations and abuses of human rights in the context of the conflict; growing humanitarian needs; and thousands of arrests, mainly of Tigrayans, under the state of emergency.

Ukraine Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif briefed the Human Rights Council on multiple issues involving civic space and fundamental freedoms in Ukraine from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2021, including in territory controlled by the Government, territory controlled by the self-proclaimed ‘republics’ in eastern Ukraine, and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol

Nicaragua The Deputy High Commissioner updated the Human Rights Council on Nicaragua, especially on the electoral process and the elections held in November. She stressed that restrictions and human rights violations “created an environment unconducive to genuine and free elections.”

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The UN Human Rights Appeal 2022

The UN Human Rights Appeal 2022

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 / 40th Session From: 24-01-2022
To: 04-02-2022
Palais des Nations Room XX

Intersessional seminar on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights From: 08-02-2022
To: 08-02-2022

Intersessional panel discussion on the challenges and good practices in the prevention of corruption, and the impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic From: 15-02-2022
To: 15-02-2022

Human Rights Council / 49th Session From: 28-02-2022
To: 01-04-2022

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