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No human rights progress despite new presidency, Burundi inquiry finds

The Commission of Inquiry on Burundi outlines the serious human rights violations occurring in the context of the 2020 elections, including summary executions, arbitrary detentions and arrests, torture and sexual violence.
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High Commissioner calls for States to build smart, universal social protection systems

Every State has an interest in ensuring that no-one is left behind. COVID-19 has once again hammered home that message: we are only truly safe if all of us are safe. Even in a time of crisis – perhaps especially at a time of crisis – social protection systems are relatively small investments that return very powerful dividends.
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High Commissioner calls for stronger education systems to enable national and global recovery

“Poverty harms the poor – but it also harms the rich”, the High Commissioner warned. “The misery and injustice of inadequate schooling does not only harm the children sitting on rickety benches. It harms us all”.
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COVID-19 and the right to development: a call for international solidarity

Stronger international cooperation and solidarity is key to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, said participants of a panel discussion on the right to development at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council.
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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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Myanmar violence UN human rights expert calls for immediate end to military assaults on Rakhine villages, and decries mounting death toll of children.

Syria: Turkey violations Bachelet calls on Turkish authorities to respect international law and ensure halt to violations committed in Syria by armed groups under Turkey’s effective control.

Bachelet’s global update The High Commissioner outlines pressing human rights issues in each region of the world, in her opening address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

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.

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.

Russia: Alexei Navalny Bachelet urges the Government of the Russian Federation to carry out, or fully cooperate with, a thorough, transparent, independent and impartial investigation into the poisoning of the opposition figure.

Pakistan: Journalists killings Increasing concern about incitement to violence against journalists and human rights defenders in Pakistan, in particular against women and minorities. Especially worrying are accusations of blasphemy.

Algeria misinformation After the publication of a number of articles misrepresenting the UN human rights system in relation to Algeria, the UN Human Rights Office is issuing a clarification.

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Syria: Turkey violations Bachelet calls on Turkish authorities to respect international law and ensure halt to violations committed in Syria by armed groups under Turkey’s effective control.

Algeria misinformation After the publication of a number of articles misrepresenting the UN human rights system in relation to Algeria, the UN Human Rights Office is issuing a clarification.

Sudan peace UN Rights Chief welcomes the signing of Sudan’s peace deal and urges all sides to ensure human rights are kept at the heart of the agreement and its implementation.

Venezuela: Bachelet welcomes pardon to 110 people This decision is a positive step in efforts to open up the democratic space

DRC: Bachelet urges investigation into threats against Dr Mukwege DRC: Bachelet condemns deaths threats against Dr Mukwege and asks for swift investigation.

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Mali Release former government officials detained for more than a month, UN expert tells Mali coup leaders.

Myanmar violence UN human rights expert calls for immediate end to military assaults on Rakhine villages, and decries mounting death toll of children.

Toxic Waste Countries must protect their people against pollution and other hazardous substances such as the virus that causes COVID-19, UN expert says

Enforced disappearances Experts raise concerns about “multiplying effect” of impunity around enforced disappearances.

Democratic & Intl Order International financial institutions ensure their activities and projects they support do not lead to human rights violations, says UN expert.

Minorities forum The voices of minorities will be at the forefront of online regional forums on hate speech and social media in September and October.

COVID slavery Millions of children, women and men could be pushed into contemporary forms of slavery by pandemic, UN expert tells Human Rights Council

Development Countries need to put more resources into development both around the world and within their own countries, says UN human rights expert.

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Council holds dialogues on Burundi, South Sudan and Venezuela The Council held separate dialogues with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, on South Sudan, and started its dialogue on Venezuela

Council holds dialogue with special rapporteur on Myanmar The Council held a dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, and started its dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria

Council holds dialogue on unilateral coercive measures The Council held a dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights

Council holds dialogue on enforced disappearances The Council held separate dialogues with the Working Group on enforced disappearances, and the Special Rapporteur on hazardous wastes

Council holds interactive dialogue on international order The Council held an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order

Council holds dialogue with Working Group on arbitrary detention The Council held separate interactive dialogues with the Working Group on arbitrary detention and the Independent Expert on older persons

Council adopts Belarus resolution The Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on the situation of human rights in Belarus in the run up to the 2020 presidential election and its aftermath

Council holds urgent debate on Belarus The Council held an urgent debate on the human rights situation in Belarus, hearing a statement from opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, among others

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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.

Justice and Disability Three UN bodies that deal with disability rights team up to issue ground-breaking guidelines to ensure effective access to justice for people with disabilities.

Sexual violence survivors’ rights UN women’s rights committee has found that survivors of sexual violence in armed conflict have been long neglected in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and has called on the government to take immediate action to provide adequate support.

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.

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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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Indigenous peoples Indigenous human rights defenders are guardians of indigenous peoples' land, resources and the knowledge and identity which form the basis for their continued existence as peoples. But protecting these ways of life has increasingly jeopardized defenders’ own lives

South Sudan Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement has been slow, and increasing levels of inter-communal violence are alarming, the Deputy High Commissioner told the Human Rights Council

Covid lessons In a speech to the World Humanitarian Forum, the High Commissioner cited two key lessons of the pandemic, to date – and a choice.

Social protection High Commissioner calls for States to build smart, universal social protection systems

Private sector and global cooperation In a video message to the UN Global Compact Private Sector Forum, the High Commissioner stressed that the commitment of the private sector to human rights and good governance will be “essential” to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and to “build the just and prosperous world we want.”

Education “Poverty harms the poor – but it also harms the rich”, the High Commissioner warned. “The misery and injustice of inadequate schooling does not only harm the children sitting on rickety benches. It harms us all”.

Belarus In an urgent debate on Belarus, the Deputy High Commissioner called for the fundamental rights of all Belarusians to prevail over political interests and geopolitical calculations. “Instability and conflict are destructive and expensive,” she pointed out. “Repression – which drives grievances underground, to fester – fuels both.”

COVID-19 and the right to development “Recovering from COVID-19 is a chance to reverse longstanding cycles of poverty and inequality,” the High Commissioner told the Human Rights Council at the Biennial Panel discussion on the Right to Development. She stressed the need for human rights, shared responsibility and global solidarity to overcome the pandemic, noting “solidarity goes to the soul of the right to development.”

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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: 07-09-2020
To: 25-09-2020
Palais Wilson Gr

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

Human Rights Council / 45th Session From: 14-09-2020
To: 06-10-2020
Palais des Nations Room XX

Committee on Enforced Disappearances / 19th Session From: 14-09-2020
To: 25-09-2020
PW 1st floor

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances / 122nd Session From: 21-09-2020
To: 30-09-2020
XI

Committee on the Rights of Child - Pre-sessional Working Group / 87th Session From: 28-09-2020
To: 02-10-2020
PW 1st floor

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights / 68th Session From: 28-09-2020
To: 16-10-2020
PW Gr and PW 1st

Human Rights Committee - Pre-Sessional WG on Communications / 130th Session From: 05-10-2020
To: 09-10-2020
PW 1st floor

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