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Human Rights and Peace Operations
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Brazil: Racism and COVID-19
Voices from the Field: South Sudan
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Security Council debates peace operations and human rights

“Human rights are central to the Council’s mandate to maintain international peace and security”, the High Commissioner told the Security Council during an open debate on peace operation and human rights. She stressed that currently 12 UN peace operations have human rights components that powerfully contribute to better protection; bring missions closer to the people they serve, and foster the capacities of governments to advance inclusive development, rule of law, and peace.
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Realising children’s rights through a healthy environment

“The survival, health, well-being and development of children depends on an environment that is safe, clean, healthy and sustainable,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. She was speaking at the Human Rights Council, during the annual full day meeting of the rights of the child.
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Brazil: Fighting the double epidemic of racism and COVID-19

“As the black population in Brazil, we still have to face police brutality, we still have to face inequality in many different ways. And now, hunger and poverty and COVID-19.” Dalila Negreiros is a Brazilian human rights defender calling on her government to do more.
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“Only together can we address the negative impacts of pandemics”

“The pandemic has also drawn out human values from deep within and shown that the world survives best when we in togetherness put the survival of the group above the survival of the self,” says, Denis Fuh Chenwi, Human Rights Office in South Sudan.
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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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DRC: Attacks by ADF may amount to crimes against humanity Attacks by ADF have left almost 800 people dead and dozen of other injured

China/ Hong Kong security law We are alarmed that arrests are already being made under the law. Definition of the offences are vague and overly broad, which may lead to discriminatry or arbitrary interpretation and enforcement of the law.

Ethiopia protests Killing of singer and activist Hachalu Hundessa sparks protests which worryingly have increasingly taken on an ethnic undertone. The authorities shut down the Internet, making it extremely difficult to verify the number of casualties.

COVID-19: Poverty A UN expert tells the Human Rights Council that the global pandemic is compounding long-standing neglect of low-income people, including women, migrant workers and refugees, and has dashed hopes of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030

Israel: Annexation plans Bachelet calls on Israel not to proceed with its plans to illegally annex a swathe of occupied Palestinian territory, and warns it would have a disastrous impact on human rights of Palestinians and across the region.

Mental health A UN expert tells the Human Rights Council a new strategy is needed to handle the global mental health challenge and the status quo must drop the outdated ‘mad or bad’ approach.

Mali: Security situation worsens Bachelet concerned about the deteriorating security situation in central Mali

China: Freedoms call UN experts urge the Government to abide by its international legal obligations and say it is time for renewed attention on human rights, particularly given recent moves in Hong Kong, and against minorities in the Xinjiang and Tibet autonomous regions.

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DRC: Attacks by ADF may amount to crimes against humanity Attacks by ADF have left almost 800 people dead and dozen of other injured

Global Pride 2020 In a video message commemorating Global Pride 2020, the High Commissioner recalled the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTI people. She stated we at a "hinge moment", with an opportunity "for collective reflection and potentially transformative change."

Mali: Security situation worsens Bachelet concerned about the deteriorating security situation in central Mali

New technologies Facial recognition, less-lethal weapons and other new technologies must not be used to prevent people’s right to protest peacefully and participate in public affairs, Bachelet says, launching major report on the issue.

Syria: Civilians displacement Bachelet expresses concern over the conditions of thousands of civilians trapped in displacement camps in the aftermath of the defeat of ISIL.

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Mental health A UN expert tells the Human Rights Council a new strategy is needed to handle the global mental health challenge and the status quo must drop the outdated ‘mad or bad’ approach.

Iran: Secret execution UN experts express outrage at the reported execution of a member of the country’s Kurdish minority and urge authorities to end arrests, enforced disappearances and secret executions of political prisoners.

Turkey: Terrorism ruling A UN expert says evidence does not support terrorism charges for 11 human rights defenders who face up to 15 years in prison if prosecuted and convicted.

Human trafficking A UN expert tells the Human Rights Council that States must use a rights-based approach to fight human trafficking rather than viewing it as strictly a law enforcement issue.

Gabon: Same-sex relations Decriminalisation move is to be commended, says UN expert, as it establishes a valuable protection for gays, lesbians, and bisexual, trans and other gender-diverse persons.

Belarus: Protests crackdown UN experts condemn the Government’s mass arrests of members of civil society who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression.

Mexico: Women’s rights A UN expert says the Government must act to stamp out impunity and protect women human rights defenders, who face death threats and violence in some parts of the country.

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Council holds dialogue on extreme poverty The Human Rights Council also concluded its dialogue with the Working Group on Discrimination against women and girls

War-torn Idlib region faces global pandemic UN Syria Commission of Inquiry reports on rampant human rights violations and war crimes as Idlib faces the pandemic

Council holds dialogue on human rights of migrants The Council held a dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on migrants and started a dialogue on persons affected by leprosy

Council discusses discrimination against women Concludes interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to health

Council begins dialogue with SR on health Council also concludes its dialogues on education and on children and armed conflict

Council starts dialogue with SR on education The Council also concluded its dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons

Council discusses violence against children The Human Rights Council also started its dialogue on children and armed conflict

Council concludes dialogue on HC report The Council also hears presentations on Nicaragua, Venezuela, and on Crimea and Sevastopol, Ukraine

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SPT: Strengthening national preventive mechanisms UN torture prevention body has called for the role of domestic monitoring bodies, officially known as National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs), to be strengthened in critical situations.

Mali: Female genital mutilation Mali’s failure to criminalise female genital mutilation (FGM), allowing the inhuman practice to continue with impunity, resulted in the violation of women’s fundamental rights, the UN women’s rights committee has found.

US obligations to end racial discrimination The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has called on the United States to uphold its international obligations under the Convention.

COVID and treaties Speaking to the Chairs of Treaty Bodies before the launch of the General Assembly's Treaty Body review, the High Commissioner lauded their vital and insightful work

Treaty Body review Speaking at the launch of the General Assembly's Treaty Body review, the High Commissioner lauded the valuable work of the Committees, providing victims an essential space for justice and remedy, and offering Member States in-depth guidance and recommendations

Right to education in Spain The UN child rights committee has welcomed Spain’s prompt decision to allow a 12-year old Moroccan girl to go to school in Melilla, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, setting a positive example for over 80 other similar unresolved instances.

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.

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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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Human Rights and Peace Operations “Human rights are central to the Council’s mandate to maintain international peace and security”, the High Commissioner told the Security Council during an open debate on peace operation and human rights.

Human Rights in Crimea, Nicaragua and Venezuela The High Commissioner presented to the Human Rights Council introduction to reports on the situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine and in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. She also presented an oral update on the human rights situation in Nicaragua.

Children and the environment At the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner emphasised that the Office "will continue to work for a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment – one in which all children everywhere, both now and in the future, will be able to thrive and grow"

Rights of Rohingyas Briefing the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner regretted that the human rights situation for Rohingyas in Rakhine State has seen no improvement; "conditions for their safe, dignified and sustainable return from Bangladesh are still not in place"

Syria's future Speaking to the Brussels IV Conference on the future of Syria, the High Commissioner said only a human rights-based approach, based on the voices of all Syrians, can advance a just and sustainable future for the country

Philippines report Briefing the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner noted that the Philippines report found that "laws and policies to counter national security threats and illegal drugs have been crafted and implemented in ways that severely impact human rights"

High Commissioner urges States to “grasp the vital importance of this moment” Opening the Human Rights Council, she compared COVID-19 to “a heat-seeking device that exposes, and is fuelled by, systemic failures to uphold human rights”, and called for “strong, transformative measures to heighten the powerful protections that human rights based-policies can provide”

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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 Elimination of Discrimination against Women / 76th Session From: 22-06-2020
To: 10-07-2020
Ariana 2

Human Rights Committee / 129th Session From: 29-06-2020
To: 24-07-2020
PW Gr and PW 1st

Human Rights Council / 44th Session From: 30-06-2020
To: 17-07-2020
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on Situations / 26th Session From: 06-07-2020
To: 10-07-2020
Ariana 3

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Pre-sessional Working Group / 78th Session From: 13-07-2020
To: 17-07-2020
Ariana 2

Working Group on the use of mercenaries / 40th Session From: 13-07-2020
To: 17-07-2020
New York

Committee against Torture / 69th Session From: 13-07-2020
To: 24-07-2020
PW 1st floor

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination / 101st Session From: 05-08-2020
To: 27-08-2020
PW Ground Floor

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