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Voices from the Field: Zimbabwe
COVID-19 in Iranian prisons
Voice from the Field – East Africa
Voices from the field: Mexico
Stand Up for Human Rights

Fiona Adolu, prioritizing human rights in Zimbabwe during COVID-19

“While the pandemic is primarily a public health crisis, it has impacted the entire gamut of human rights and if we do not stand together to fight to protect all human rights for everyone now, we will not be able to successfully win the war against the pandemic,” says Fiona Adolu, Human Rights Adviser in Zimbabwe.
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Defending rights of Iranian prisoners amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh’s hunger strike in detention has brought public attention and outcry to conditions in the country’s prisons. Her husband, Reza Khandan, explains more.
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UN Human Rights in East Africa: Leave no one behind during COVID-19

“If people say, “We are in this together,” then we should really all be in this together,” Nwanneakolam Vwede-Obahor, head of UN Human Rights’ East Africa Regional Office, says of the response to the pandemic.
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Supporting human rights defenders and journalists in Mexico, “a privilege.”

“Human rights work is all about people and the bonds we create,” said Ricardo Neves a UN Human Rights staffer working in Mexico. During the pandemic, Ricardo’s work has centered on shedding light on the plight of human rights defenders and journalists and supporting those affected by emergency measures and the longstanding violence throughout the country.
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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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South Sudan killings Bachelet condemns new outbreak of intercommunal violence in South Sudan that reportedly left hundreds dead, and calls for those responsible to be brought to justice.

COVID-19 in Africa Lives of hundreds of millions Africans are at stake not just due to COVID-19, but mostly due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 response both continentally and globally.

Stand up against hate High Commissioner urges everyone to stand up against hate in remarks for the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May.

South Sudan Failure to prioritize public health care in South Sudan has left survivors of conflict-related sexual violence struggling to access adequate medical and mental treatment, report finds.

Rwanda: Genocide suspect arrest Bachelet hails arrest of Rwanda genocide suspect Félicien Kabuga 26 years after the genocide.

Kenya: Mass evictions As thousands are forced from informal settlements in Nairobi, UN experts urge the Government to stop large-scale evictions and provide alternative accommodation.

Malaysia / COVID-19 “Stop crackdown on migrants, journalists and civil society” – UN human rights experts call on the Malaysian authorities.

Canada: Appeal for help UN experts call on Canada to repatriate a five-year-old orphaned girl being held in north-eastern Syria’s overcrowded Al-Hol camp.

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South Sudan killings Bachelet condemns new outbreak of intercommunal violence in South Sudan that reportedly left hundreds dead, and calls for those responsible to be brought to justice.

COVID-19 in Africa Lives of hundreds of millions Africans are at stake not just due to COVID-19, but mostly due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 response both continentally and globally.

Rwanda: Genocide suspect arrest Bachelet hails arrest of Rwanda genocide suspect Félicien Kabuga 26 years after the genocide.

Stand up against hate High Commissioner urges everyone to stand up against hate in remarks for the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May.

Syria – civilian killings Bachelet expresses concerns about continuing killings of civilians across Syria, saying the deteriorating situation is “a ticking time-bomb” must not be ignored.

Migrant pushbacks We are deeply concern about reports that Maltese authorities requested commercial ships to push boats with migrants in distress back to the high seas and Libyan Coast Guard is continuing to turn vessels back to its shores.

Americas: Prison conditions We are deeply worried by the overcrowding and lack of basic services in many prisons in the Americas region that are fuelling the spread of COVID-19 and triggering protests.

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Kenya: Mass evictions As thousands are forced from informal settlements in Nairobi, UN experts urge the Government to stop large-scale evictions and provide alternative accommodation.

Malaysia / COVID-19 “Stop crackdown on migrants, journalists and civil society” – UN human rights experts call on the Malaysian authorities.

Canada: Appeal for help UN experts call on Canada to repatriate a five-year-old orphaned girl being held in north-eastern Syria’s overcrowded Al-Hol camp.

Tibet: ‘Drop charges’ UN experts are concerned about what appears to be China’s criminalisation of the legitimate work of a minority community member and human rights defender.

COVID-19 / Indigenous peoples States of emergency are exacerbating marginalisation, with many indigenous communities forced to stand by while business interests invade and destroy their lands, territories and resources.

Workers’ rights Experts call on Governments and businesses to ensure all workers are protected from exposure to hazards in the workplace, including the coronavirus.

IDAHOBIT Day / 17 May “States must include LGBT community in COVID-19 response” - The how and why from a UN human rights expert.

Debt extension Debt standstill for low-income and debt-distressed middle-income countries must go beyond 2020, urges UN rights expert.

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Human Rights Council forty-second regular session Human Rights Council to hold its forty-second regular session from 9 to 27 september 2019 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

2019 report of the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi The UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi raises red flags at the serious human rights violations committed in the pre-electoral climate

Myanmar experts call for justice for sexual assault victims Report finds Rohingya victims of brutal sexual violence remain without justice, as military continues its use in Kachin and Shan states.

Myanmar Experts expose military business ties, call for sanctions Report maps degree to which Myanmar’s military has used its own businesses, foreign companies and arms deals to support brutal operations against ethnic groups constituting serious crimes under international law.

HRC 41st session The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its forty-first regular session from 24 June to 12 July 2019 in Geneva.

Council closes fortieth session The Council concluded its fortieth regular session.

Council closes fortieth session The Council adopted five resolutions in which it extended two mandates.

Human Rights Council extends mandates The Council adopted 12 resolutions in which it, among other actions, decided to extend mandates.

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Italy discriminates against female firefighters Italy violated the right of a woman to become a permanent firefighter by imposing an unnecessary and unreasonable height requirement, Human Rights Committee has found.

Livecast tribute to victims of enforced disappearances The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances will hold its upcoming session online in what will be the first complete virtual session conducted by a UN treaty body.

COVID19: Raising women's voices Women’s rights committee calls for women’s equal representation in formulating COVID-19 responses and strategies to recover from the crisis.

Hungary's restrictions on people with disabilities Hungary’s guardianship system and institutionalisation on the basis of disability are grave and systematic violations of rights, UN experts found.

Denmark: asylum for Syrian mother of six The UN child rights committee has applauded Denmark’s decision to grant asylum to the mother of six Syrian refugee children living in the country.

Human Rights Committee issues findings The UN Human Rights Committee has published its findings on the civil and political rights record of Central African Republic, Portugal, Tunisia, Uzbekistan and Dominica.

SPT COVID-19 Advice Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has issued detailed advices on actions governments and independent monitoring bodies should take to protect people deprived of their liberty during COVID-19.

Treaty Bodies joint statement The Chairpersons of the 10 UN Treaty Bodies urged global leaders to ensure that human rights are respected in government measures to tackle COVID-19.

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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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Stand up against hate High Commissioner urges everyone to stand up against hate in remarks for the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May.

COVID-19 Press Conference Michelle Bachelet’s opening remarks at a virtual press conference with the UN correspondents’ association in Geneva on the human rights ramifications of coming out of lock-downs and other human rights issues relating to COVID-19.

COVID-19 and the human rights of older people At a webinar, the High Commissioner called for the rights of older people to be placed front and center in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

Addressing COVID-19 High Commissioner Bachelet calls for global solidary and "attentive scrutiny" of the impact of COVID-19, noting that "like a tsunami set off by an earthquake", the pandemic is accompanied by a planet-wide recession

COVID-19 and migrants In a video statement, the High Commissioner calls for support and solidarity with migrants amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honouring journalists Sound, evidence-based journalism is more important than ever, today, the High Commissioner noted

COVID-19 and human rights in Latin America The High Commissioner participated in the Inter-American Dialogue Webinar on the impact of COVID on human rights, especially women’s rights, in Latin America

Business and COVID-19 The High Commissioner's recommendations to meet the challenges of massive shifts in demand, supply chains, transportation and mobility and worker protection.

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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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Committee on the Rights of Child / 85th Session From: 11-05-2020
To: 29-05-2020
Palais Wilson

Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice / 28th Session From: 26-05-2020
To: 29-05-2020
New York

Meeting of Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies / 32nd Session From: 01-06-2020
To: 05-06-2020
New York

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples / 13th Session From: 08-06-2020
To: 12-06-2020
XX

Meeting of special rapporteurs/representatives, independent experts and chairpersons of working groups of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council / 27th Session From: 08-06-2020
To: 12-06-2020
XXII

Human Rights Council / 44th Session From: 15-06-2020
To: 03-07-2020
Palais des Nations Room XX

Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture / 41st Session From: 15-06-2020
To: 19-06-2020
PW Gr; PW 1st

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Working Group on Communications / 47th Session From: 17-06-2020
To: 19-06-2020
Ariana 2

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