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A victory against impunity in DR Congo
Victoria Ibiwoye
Stand up for human rights

Cyberspace cannot be an ungoverned zone, or a 'human rights black hole'

High Commissioner Bachelet issues a strong statement on digital risks – and potential solutions
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Many indigenous languages are in danger of extinction

Around 40 percent of the world’s 6,700 spoken languages are in danger of disappearing, and many of them belong to indigenous peoples. But this trend can be reversed, said Mona Rishmawi of the UN Human Rights Office. Rishmawi made her statement during a panel discussion at the Human Rights Council.
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55 sentenced to life imprisonment: A victory against impunity in DRC

Following violent tensions in Northeastern Congo, the Bunia Military Court, supported by the MONUSCO Joint Human Rights Office, sentenced 55 people to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity.
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Maximizing the transformative power of education

Victoria Ibiwoye struggled with education as a student. Now, she works to create a more inclusive learning environment that would provide better prospects for the youth in her country, Nigeria.
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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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Ecuador mission UN Human Rights Office to visit Ecuador to look into allegations of human rights violations.

Egypt: Arrests continue Call on Egypt to respect the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

Israel torture Israel must uphold its obligation to prevent torture and investigate allegations that Palestinian Samer Al-A’rbeed was tortured in custody, say UN experts.

Digital welfare state Expert expresses concerns about emergence of “digital welfare state”, saying such programs often slash welfare spending, set up intrusive government surveillance systems and generate profits for private corporate interests.

Malta murder probe Two years after murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, experts say authorities have failed to fully investigate the killing.

The Gambia: Expert visit The UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, will visit The Gambia from 21 to 29 October 2019.

Syria casualties Since the Turkish military offensive began on 9 October, we have verified a number of civilian casualties each day as a result of airstrikes, ground-based strikes and sniper fire.

Bahamas deportations We are concerned about the deportation of 112 Haitian migrants from The Bahamas to Haiti, including people from the Abaco Islands, which were badly hit by the destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian.

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Turkey’s offensive in Syria UN Human Rights Office disturbed by reports of civilian casualties in Syria.

Afghanistan: Airstrike casualties UN Report finds “US Airstrikes on Alleged Drug-Processing Facilities” caused a large number of civilian casualties.

Egyptian protests Bachelet urges Egyptian authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

DRC: Increase in violence UN Human Rights Office calls on the DRC authorities, as a matter of urgency, to implement a serious security strategy to resolve the crises and protect civilians in Ituri and South Kivu.

Reprisals on the rise UN Secretary-General Report documents alleged reprisals against victims, members of civil society and activists for cooperating with the UN in close to 50 countries.

Iraq Demonstrations UN rights office reminds Iraqi Government any use of force must comply with international standards, and protestors should be allowed to freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

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Israel torture Israel must uphold its obligation to prevent torture and investigate allegations that Palestinian Samer Al-A’rbeed was tortured in custody, say UN experts.

The Gambia: Expert visit The UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, will visit The Gambia from 21 to 29 October 2019.

Call for Belarus reforms The overall environment in Belarus remains hostile to dissident opinions and unduly restricts civil and political rights, says expert.

Antisemitism Antisemitism is toxic to democracy and poses a threat to all societies if left unaddressed, warns UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.

Netherlands surveillance A digital tool used by the Netherlands to detect welfare fraud discriminates against the poorest members of society and undermines privacy, says a UN expert.

Human rights defenders Overwhelming majority of human rights violations committed against human rights defenders around the world remain unpunished, says UN expert.

Malta murder probe Two years after murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, experts say authorities have failed to fully investigate the killing.

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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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Women’s Rights Committee UN women’s rights experts will meet in Geneva from 21 October to 8 November to review Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, and Seychelles

Cabo Verde: End of visit UN torture prevention committee ends its first visit to Cabo Verde and encourages the Government to strengthen the recently established National Preventive Mechanism

Committee on Enforced Disappearances UN Committee publishes its findings on Bolivia and Slovakia, which were examined during its latest session from 30 September to 11 October

International Day of the Girl States must better protect and empower girls, UN human rights experts say in joint statement by the UN Women’s Rights Committee and the UN Child Rights Committee for the International Day of the Girl.

Human Rights Committee UN human rights experts meet in Geneva to review Belgium, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Czech Republic, Mexico and Senegal

Belgium: Resolution of visa case The UN Child Rights Committee welcomes Belgium’s resolution of visa case and rectification of process for children taken in under kafalah system

Right of the Child UN Committee on Rights of the Child publishes its findings on the countries it examined during its latest session.

Egyptian protests Bachelet urges Egyptian authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

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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 in the digital age The international human rights framework provides a concrete, legal foundation on which States and firms can build their responses in the digital age, says UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet.

Child death inequalities Broad disparities in child mortality can be solved with comprehensive, human rights based policies, High Commissioner Bachelet writes in Nature magazine

Rights in a Changing World In Australia, the High Commissioner weighs today's turbulence with that of past eras – and advocates global engagement and the implementation of human rights

Bachelet in Australia Returning to the country that first took her in as a 23-year-old fleeing the Pinochet regime, the High Commissioner wonders what kind of reception she would get as a refugee in Australia today.

Boosting prevention To prevent human rights violations and conflict, we need to ensure that the entire UN system speaks and acts as one -- throughout the Peace and Security Pillar, the Development Pillar, and including Secretariat bodies, every specialized agency and all the UN Country Teams.

Malaysia visit At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Michelle Bachelet discusses the aspirations, opportunities, challenges and momentum for advancing human rights protections in Malaysia for all.

Celebrating women's heritage We enjoy a rich heritage today because of the feminist movements and women human rights activists who have gone before. We must continue to counter all efforts to control women’s decisions, freedoms, and the choices they make about their own bodies.

Civil society High Commissioner expresses “respect, support and gratitude” for the work of civil society and human rights defenders, at a Frontline event in Dublin

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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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Human Rights Committee / 127th Session From: 14-10-2019
To: 08-11-2019
Palais Wilson Gr

Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action / 17th Session From: 21-10-2019
To: 01-11-2019
Palais des Nations Room XXI

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Pre-sessional Working Group / 65th Session From: 21-10-2019
To: 25-10-2019
Palais Wilson 1st

Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice / 26th Session From: 21-10-2019
To: 25-10-2019
Palais des Nations Room XXV

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women / 74th Session From: 21-10-2019
To: 08-11-2019
Palais des Nations Room XVII

Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights / 49th Session From: 28-10-2019
To: 30-10-2019
Palais des Nations Room XXIII

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 34th Session From: 04-11-2019
To: 15-11-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Pre-sessional Working Group / 76th Session From: 11-11-2019
To: 15-11-2019
Palais des Nations Room XVII

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UN Charter Body Database

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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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