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Global human rights update
Venezuela update
Indigenous rights defenders
Informal Briefing to States
Stand up for human rights

“The world has never seen a threat to human rights of this scope”: High Commissioner's update highlights climate threats

Michelle Bachelet's wide-ranging update to the Human Rights Council outlines human rights gains and setbacks across the world, and urges greater partnership
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Oral Update on the Human Rights Situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

At the Human Rights Council, High Commissioner Bachelet details continuing and serious human rights concerns in Venezuela
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Courts rather than spears used to defend indigenous territories

Nemonte Nenquino and Omanca are land human rights defenders from the Waorani people in Ecuador. The group recently won a landmark court ruling against the Government preventing oil exploration on their land.
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"The cost of doing nothing is far too expensive": High Commissioner informally briefs States

A wide-ranging statement details many human rights and procedural concerns, days before the Human Rights Council opens session.
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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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Enforced Disappearances review United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances will meet in Geneva from 16 to 20 September to examine more than 530 cases from 36 countries.

Jordan Valley annexation Expert denounces comments by Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu that he would order the annexation of the Jordan Valley if re-elected prime minister.

Hong Kong protests Experts react with alarm to reports of attacks on demonstrators, arrests of activists and human rights defenders, and threats to communications, as protests in Hong Kong enter their third month.

South Africa albinism The UN expert on the enjoyment of human rights by people with albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, is visiting South Africa from 16 to 26 September 2019.

UN expert to visit Zimbabwe UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association will visit Zimbabwe from 17 to 27 September.

Nigeria housing rights The UN expert on the right to adequate housing, Leilani Farha, visits Nigeria from 13 to 23 September to explore its housing challenges and opportunities.

Enforced Disappearances States around the world must act urgently to prevent enforced disappearances rather than looking the other way, say experts.

Scourge of slavery Scourge of modern day slavery is only likely to increase as a result of environmental degradation, migration and demographic shifts, an experts says.

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Sri Lanka army chief We are seriously concerned that Sri Lanka has appointed as army commander a military officer who has been heavily implicated in alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Rights to healthy environment New agreement between UN Environment Programme and UN Human Rights strengthens cooperation and prioritizes efforts to promote and protect environmental and human rights.

Zimbabwe protests We are deeply concerned by the socio-economic crisis that continues to unfold in Zimbabwe. We urge the Government to find ways to engage with protestors, and to refrain from the use of violence.

Hong Kong The High Commissioner is concerned by the ongoing events in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the escalation of violence in recent days. She urges restraint, investigations and meaningful dialogue

Sanctions on Venezuela Michelle Bachelet deeply worried about the potential impact of unilateral sanctions on the human rights of the people of Venezuela

Casualties in Yemen Series of attacks in Yemen have had serious impact on civilians across the country.

Concerns about excessive use of force by the Israeli Security Forces We call on the Israeli authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting of nine-year-old Palestinian child, Abdul Rahman Shteiwi

We strongly condemn the execution of two Bahraini citizens The executions went ahead despite allegations that the men’s “confessions” were obtained through torture

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Enforced Disappearances review United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances will meet in Geneva from 16 to 20 September to examine more than 530 cases from 36 countries.

South Africa albinism The UN expert on the enjoyment of human rights by people with albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, is visiting South Africa from 16 to 26 September 2019.

Jordan Valley annexation Expert denounces comments by Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu that he would order the annexation of the Jordan Valley if re-elected prime minister.

Nigeria housing rights The UN expert on the right to adequate housing, Leilani Farha, visits Nigeria from 13 to 23 September to explore its housing challenges and opportunities.

UN expert to visit Zimbabwe UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association will visit Zimbabwe from 17 to 27 September.

Enforced Disappearances States around the world must act urgently to prevent enforced disappearances rather than looking the other way, say experts.

Mongolia rights The mining sector in Mongolia should play a transformative role and help to ensure economic, social and cultural rights, says a UN expert after visiting the country.

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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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UN Migrant Workers committee Publishes its findings on Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Colombia

UN Child Rights Committee to meet CRC to review Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Mozambique, Panama, Portugal, and the Republic of Korea

SPT visit The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) is to carry out a visit to the UK and Northern Ireland. The focus of the visit will be on strengthening the framework and functioning of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM).

Disappearances Day Progressively more precarious movements of migrants – often as a result of States’ rigid migratory policies - expose many to heightened risks of human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, experts say.

Human Rights violations in Nepal Human Rights Committee urges Nepal to remove obstacles that hinder victims of torture and forced labour.

UN Disability Rights Committee to meet Albania, Australia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greece, India, Iraq, Kuwait, and Myanmar to be reviewed by human rights experts.

Paraguay: human rights violations UN experts say Paraguay must thoroughly investigate fumigations with agrochemicals and make full reparation to the victims

UN Committee Against Torture publishes findings Experts reviewed Bangladesh, Greece, Poland and Togo

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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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Nicaragua update Despite some improvement since the resumption of political dialogue in February, serious human rights concerns persist

Yemen update Conflict, disease, famine, economic collapse, probable war crimes and widespread human rights violations combine to create horrific misery and suffering in Yemen.

Global human rights update Michelle Bachelet's wide-ranging update to the Human Rights Council outlines human rights gains and setbacks across the world, and urges greater partnership

Update on Gaza Serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law have continued since March

Venezuela update At the Human Rights Council, High Commissioner Bachelet details continuing and serious human rights concerns in Venezuela

Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers There has never been a time more crucial than now to advance the human rights of migrants, the Deputy High Commissioner said, opening the Committee's 31st session.

Informal Briefing to States A wide-ranging statement details many human rights and procedural concerns, days before the Human Rights Council opens session

Asia-Pacific human rights bodies High Commissioner’s message to a meeting of national human rights institutions in Asia

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Standing up for your rights

A collection of 16 stories highlighting the impact of our work around the world

Annual appeal 2018

Annual appeal 2018

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 Persons with Disabilities / 22nd Session From: 26-08-2019
To: 20-09-2019
Palais des nations Room XVII

Committee on the Rights of Child / 82nd Session From: 09-09-2019
To: 27-09-2019
Palais Wilson Gr

Human Rights Council / 42nd Session From: 09-09-2019
To: 27-09-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances / 119th Session From: 16-09-2019
To: 20-09-2019
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Pre-sessional Working Group / 12th Session From: 23-09-2019
To: 27-09-2019
Palais des Nations XVII

Working Group on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises / 24th Session From: 30-09-2019
To: 04-10-2019
Palais des Nations XXI

Committee on the Rights of Child - Pre-sessional Working Group / 84th Session From: 30-09-2019
To: 04-10-2019
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on Enforced Disappearances / 17th Session From: 30-09-2019
To: 11-10-2019
Palais des Nations Room XVII

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National Human Rights Institutions Website

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Universal Human Rights Index

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Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Database

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Anti-discrimination Database

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Human Rights Education and Training Database

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Jurisprudence Database

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