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Forensic work in the DR Congo
Sudan expert’s final report
Socio-economic rights
Social Forum 2020
Stand Up for Human Rights

Forensic investigators hope to bring victims closer to justice in the DR Congo

A Technical Assistance Team was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to support judicial investigations into serious crimes in the Kasai provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We follow them on one of their visits to a location where a massacre took place.
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Sudan: Considerable reforms but major challenges remain- independent expert

In his last report, the UN independent expert on the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, urges continued international support and engagement with the Sudan to help guide the country through a challenging transition period.
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Launch of a new global platform for a progressive dialogue on economic and social rights and the right to development

At an event at Khartoum University to launch a new global series of dialogues, High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet called for "renewed attention to economic, social and cultural rights, and the right to development, in policy making, to ensure that our pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals are firmly grounded in human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, participation and accountability"
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Building better policies will break the cycles of poverty and inequality

Poverty, inequalities and ways to break their cycles were the focus of the recent Human Rights Council Social Forum. The Forum brought together a wide range of people from academic experts to civil society activists and from government officials to people with experience of living in poverty and with inequalities.
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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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News

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Colombia: Transitional Justice Bachelet urges the Colombian authorities to unconditionally support and cooperate with the transitional justice system and to guarantee the full independence of its mechanisms

Nigeria: army killings Bachelet strongly condemns the use of excessive and disproportionate force by Nigerian armed forces in Lagos, and calls for “root and branch” reform of the security forces.

Brazil leprosy A UN human rights expert says Brazil has a unique opportunity to redress the injustice of six decades of separating children from parents affected by Hansen’s disease.

Israel - Occupied Territories Israel should release detained Palestinian hunger striker and end practice of detention without charge, says UN human rights expert.

Denmark UN experts call on Denmark to halt contentious apartment sale until courts rule on legality of “ghetto package” laws that hit immigrants hard.

India: restrictive laws Bachelet draws attention to three different laws that are being used to restrict foreign funding for NGOs and stifle civil society voices, and have led to arrests of human rights activists.

Thailand UN experts call for an end to crackdown on peaceful protest and urge Thai government to release unconditionally those arbitrarily detained.

Rape – a monstrous crime Bachelet stands in solidarity and outrage with survivors of rape, and those demanding justice. Tempting as it may be to impose draconian punishment, she urges instead a victim-centred approach to preventing sexual violence and ensuring justice.

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Bolivia elections Bachelet urges Bolivia’s authorities, political and other actors to refrain from any actions that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the general elections taking place on Sunday

COVID: Crisis at sea Call for governments and businesses to act to address the hidden crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of ship crew members and other workers stranded at sea for many months because of COVID-19.

Mediterranean: Migrants’ plight Urgent action is needed to address the dire situation of migrants attempting to cross the central Mediterranean Sea in search of safety, and to tackle the shocking conditions they face in Libya, at sea and in Europe.

Nagorno-Karabakh: Bachelet worried about resumed hostilities Bachelet calls on all sides to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure

Cambodia: Rights defenders arrests We call on the Government to immediately and unconditionally release those detained for their exercise of these rights, and to bring an end to the intimidation of civil society actors.

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Protecting minorities A minority’s existence does not depend on a State’s approval, its ‘popularity’ or the whims of a government, UN expert says as he proposes conceptual framework to ensure minorities’ protection in international law.

Iran crackdowns UN experts calls on Iran to conduct an independent, impartial, and transparent inquiry into the violent crackdown against protests in November 2019 and January 2020, and bring human rights violators to justice.

Debt crisis UN expert warns of looming debt crisis for some low- and middle-income countries because of COVID-19, and urges States and international financial institutions to provide debt relief and reform the international debt architecture.

Israel - Occupied Territories Israel should release detained Palestinian hunger striker and end practice of detention without charge, says UN human rights expert.

Denmark UN experts call on Denmark to halt contentious apartment sale until courts rule on legality of “ghetto package” laws that hit immigrants hard.

Brazil leprosy A UN human rights expert says Brazil has a unique opportunity to redress the injustice of six decades of separating children from parents affected by Hansen’s disease.

Thailand UN experts call for an end to crackdown on peaceful protest and urge Thai government to release unconditionally those arbitrarily detained.

GA: Poverty UN expert provides a human rights vision to both eradicate poverty and transition towards low-carbon societies.

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Summary of the 45th session of the Council The Council concluded its forty-fifth regular session after adopting 35 resolutions, one Presidential Statement and one decision

Council adopts 6 more resolutions The Council adopted 6 resolutions dealing, among others, with human rights of women and girls, child rights, the prevention of human rights violations, and the Philippines

Council adopts 13 resolutions The Council adopted 13 resolutions renewing, among others, the mandates on Yemen, Burundi, Venezuela, private military companies, and toxic wastes

Council adopts 15 texts The Council adopted 15 texts, including to extend the mandates on enforced disappearances, international order, and unilateral coercive measures

Starvation as a method of warfare in South Sudan Starvation being used as a method of warfare in South Sudan, noted the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan

Council holds debate on item 10 Presentation of the High Commissioner reports on Georgia and Yemen, the Secretary-General report on Cambodia, followed by a general debate on item 10

Council holds dialogue with FFM Libya The Council held an enhanced interactive dialogue with the Fact-finding Mission on Libya, and adopted the UPR outcomes of Guinea-Bissau and Guyana

Human Rights Council discusses Sudan and Somalia The Council held an enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Sudan, followed by an interactive dialogue on Somalia

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Spain: Age assessment procedures Spain’s procedures to determine the age of unaccompanied migrant children violated their fundamental human rights, UN child rights committee has found.

Migrant workers: Safe and dignified return CMW calls for immediate action to address the inhumane conditions of migrant workers who are stranded in detention camps and ensure they can have a safe and dignified return to their home countries.

Enforced disappearance: New date for online dialogue with Iraq The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances has rescheduled its public dialogue with Iraq on how the country is addressing the issue of enforced disappearances.

Spain violates inclusive education right Spain violated the right to inclusive education of a child with Down syndrome who was sent to a special education centre by national authorities, despite his parents’ objections, CRPD has found.

Mexico’s decision on enforced disappearances The unanimous decision by the Mexican Senate to recognize the competence of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances to examine individual complaints is a significant step in the country’s human rights development.

Belarus: Role of women in protests UN women’s rights committee underlined how women voices are not marginal, but central in political processes.

Enforced disappearances: Special dialogue with Iraq CED will hold a special public dialogue with Iraq during its upcoming online session to discuss what the country is doing to address the issue of enforced disappearances.

Argentina: Suspension of deportation The UN child rights committee has applauded Argentina’s decision not to deport a mother of three young children who had already completed her sentence for a drug offence.

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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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International Law Speaking on International Law Day, High Commissioner Bachelet noted that "for the law to remain relevant, to be respected as having binding force, and to shape and channel political decision-making, it must evolve and remain abreast of new and emerging challenges in our society"

Business and rights An international and binding legal instrument to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises is potentially crucial to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, the High Commissioner said – and it is crucial that a future treaty take into account the experiences of those most affected by business activities

Socio-economic rights At an event at Khartoum University to launch a new global series of dialogues, High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet called for "renewed attention to economic, social and cultural rights, and the right to development, in policy making, to ensure that our pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals are firmly grounded in human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, participation and accountability"

Migration Network Speaking to the UN Migration Network, the High Commissioner stressed that in implementing the Global Compact on Migration, we have an "unique opportunity to realize the commitment to leave no one behind and reach the furthest behind first. An opportunity to ensure the respect, protection and fulfilment of migrants’ human rights are at the core of our actions." She highlighted that "this is an opportunity we cannot miss."

Our work for human rights Speaking to the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the High Commissioner highlighted fast-moving work by the Office to support partners and States with immediately effective tools, assistance and guidance, as COVID-19 advanced, throwing up multiple human rights challenges

Fight against racism The High Commissioner opened the 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. She recalled that the Durban World Conference represents a milestone in our common fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Social Forum This year’s Social Forum of the Human Rights Council focuses on combatting poverty and inequalities. In her statement, the High Commissioner stressed the impacts of COVID-19 on these two challenges. “COVID-19 has brought to the fore the inequality pandemic overlooked by many. It is time to stop looking the other way,” she said.

World Human Rights Cities Forum In a video for the 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum, the High Commissioner stressed that “a strong network of human-rights committed mayors will be critical in moving forward the human rights agenda”. She added she was “committed to working with you to ensure cities are a vibrant space in which the rights of all residents are respected, protected and fulfilled.”

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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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Human Rights Committee / 130th Session From: 12-10-2020
To: 06-11-2020
PW Gr and PW 1st

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women / 77th Session From: 19-10-2020
To: 06-11-2020
Ariana 2

Open-ended intergovernmental Working Group to elaborate a legally binding instrument on transnational cooperations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights / 6th Session From: 26-10-2020
To: 30-10-2020
XX

Open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights / 6th Session From: 26-10-2020
To: 30-10-2020

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 36th Session From: 02-11-2020
To: 13-11-2020
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the Right to Development / 21st Session From: 02-11-2020
To: 06-11-2020
V

Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture / 42nd Session From: 09-11-2020
To: 13-11-2020
PW Gr; TBC (11 Nov Dual)

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Pre-sessional Working Group / 79th Session From: 09-11-2020
To: 13-11-2020
Ariana 2

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