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Martin Ennals Awards 2019
Human Rights stories
Francis Oko Armah
Remembering the Holocaust
Stand up for human rights

A Sudanese refugee activist is the 2019 Martin Ennals Award Laureate. Abudul Aziz Muhamat highlights the situation of refugees in offshore detention by the Australian government. Two other finalists included an Afro-Colombian rights campaigner and a human rights lawyer from Turkey.
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Bachelet tells "good human rights stories."

"Human rights are useful. Respect for human rights generates practical benefits in everyday life," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet told an audience recently. She made her comments at the Geneva launch of the “Good Human Rights Stories” initiative, a partnership of 13 organizations and countries dedicated to showing that human rights matter.
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When you stand up for girls, you stand up for everyone

Francis Oko Armah is a student who stands up for the right for young people to have access to and be educated about reproductive and sexual health. He works for the Young Leaders for Change Foundation in Accra, Ghana.
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Benjamin Orenstein, Holocaust survivor

Benjamin Orenstein, 93, is one of the last witnesses of the Holocaust and the only surviving member of his family who were all executed in the camps. He tells us his story.
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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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Nicaragua: concerns about criminalization of dissent Over the last six months, several hundred people – including peasant leaders, students, former politicians, journalists and civil society activists -- have been arrested and held in pre-trial detention for long periods in connection with their alleged roles during the protests between April and July 2018.

Egypt: concerns over executions There is significant cause for concern that due process and fair trial guarantees may not have been followed in some or all of these cases, and that the very serious allegations concerning the use of torture were not properly investigated.

UN high commissioner for human rights to visit Mexico The UN High Commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet, will be in Mexico on an official visit from 4-5 April.

Croatia: violence against women Croatia must act now to stop violations of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights, adopt measures to prevent them from occurring again and hold those responsible to account, say experts.

Nicaragua: concerns about criminalization of dissent Prominent leaders convicted or sentenced in controversial circumstances in recent weeks include student leader Jonathan López.

Iran must stop execution Iran must immediately the imminent execution of child offender Mohammad Kalhori, say experts.

Racism concerns against Papuans An incident involving the use of snake against an arrested boy reflects a pattern of violence, alleged arbitrary arrests and detention, as well as torture, used by Indonesian police and military in Papua, say experts.

Syria: Bachelet alarmed by civilian casualties The bombardment of Idlib and surrounding areas by government forces and their allies, coupled with a series of attacks by non-State actors, has led to numerous civilian casualties and left some hundreds of thousands of displaced people in an extremely vulnerable situation.

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Nicaragua: concerns about criminalization of dissent Prominent leaders convicted or sentenced in controversial circumstances in recent weeks include student leader Jonathan López.

UN high commissioner for human rights to visit Mexico The UN High Commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet, will be in Mexico on an official visit from 4-5 April.

Press briefing notes on Syria/Idlib and India/Kashmir High Commissioner for Human Rights expresses alarm at attacks on civilians in Syria/Idlib; condemns suicide bomb attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

South Sudan: Sexual violence A UN report highlights persistently high levels of sexual violence in South Sudan’s northern Unity region.

Philippines: Concerns over a journalist arrest Concerns about the arrest on libel charges of Maria Ressa, the CEO of the independent news outlet Rappler in the Philippines

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Iran must stop execution Iran must immediately the imminent execution of child offender Mohammad Kalhori, say experts.

Lesotho Fulfilling human rights to water and sanitation critical for human development, says UN expert

France: Gilets jaunes restrictions UN experts denounce severe rights restrictions on “gilets jaunes” protesters .

Chechnya: LGBT rights Russia must act urgently to protect rights of people who are, or are perceived to be, lesbian, gay or bisexual in Chechnya, and investigate allegations of human rights abuses including two reported deaths, say experts.

Myanmar: Protest crackdown Expert deplores violent police response to protests in Myanmar against a statue of independence hero General Aung San.

Mali Human rights situation in Mali is a cause of grave concern as security and humanitarian conditions in central and northern areas continue to worsen, says expert.

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HRC to hold its 40th session The UN Human Rights Council will hold its fortieth regular session from 25 February to 22 March 2019 in Geneva.

Working Group to Review the Human Rights Records in 14 States Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review Working Group to hold thirty-second session in Geneva from 21 January to 1 February 2019

Council concludes 39th ninth session The Council concluded its 39th regular session.

Council adopts eight resolutions The Council adopted eight texts.

HRC adopts five resolutions The Council adopted five resolutions.

Council adopts 10 resolutions The Council adopted 10 resolutions and one Presidential statement.

Dialogue on the Central African Republic, Georgia The Council held a dialogue on the situation in the Central African Republic, in Georgia, and on technical assistance and capacity building.

Human rights situations in Cambodia, Somalia and Sudan The Council held separate dialogues with mandate holders on the human rights situations in Cambodia, Somalia and Sudan.

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Iran must stop execution Iran must immediately the imminent execution of child offender Mohammad Kalhori, say experts.

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee to review rights in Bulgaria, Cameroon, Estonia, Kazakhstan, and Mauritius.

Women’s rights committee to meet Will review women’s rights in Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Botswana, Colombia, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Serbia, and the United Kingdom

Switzerland torture prevention The Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has completed its first visit to Switzerland.

Child Rights Committee issues findings Child rights watchdog issues observations on Bahrain, Belgium, Czechia, Guinea, Italy, Japan, and Syrian Arab Republic, examined at the Committee’s latest session in Geneva.

Brazil torture prevention Human rights experts urge Brazil to abide by its international legal obligations by establishing an anti-torture mechanism.

Finland Sámi rights Finland violated the rights of representatives to the Sámi parliament, the Human Rights Committee found in two decisions published today.

UN torture prevention body to visit Switzerland The Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture will undertake its first visit to Switzerland from 28 January through 7 February to evaluate the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty.

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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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Positive human rights messages We need to make clear to people that the human rights framework is working – and working for them.

Female genital mutilation The African Union's campaign to end female genital mutilation will help free women from injustice and pain

Universal Social Protection Universal social protection is a right – and experience shows it need not be expensive.

HC meets German CEOs Especially today, businesses have a very important role to play in upholding and promoting human rights

Geneva Council of State Geneva’s motto is “after darkness, light”. We look forward to creating a world of rights and peace.

Sorrow, respect and determination The annual commemoration of victims of the Holocaust calls us to reflect on our present – and future.

The world is still not on target for 2030 "We need a greater sense of urgency about achieving the Agenda's promise to the world's people," the High Commissioner says.

Annual Appeal presentation The Office is a vital tool for greater prevention, and better protection, around the world.

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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

Migration

Migration, Human Rights and Governance: Handbook for Parliamentarians (co-published with IPU)

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Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council / 22nd Session From: 18-02-2019
To: 22-02-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture / 37th Session From: 18-02-2019
To: 22-02-2019
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights / 65th Session From: 18-02-2019
To: 08-03-2019
Palais Wilson Gr

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women / 72nd Session From: 18-02-2019
To: 08-03-2019
Palais des Nations Room XVI

Human Rights Committee - Working Group on Communications / 125th Session From: 25-02-2019
To: 01-03-2019
Palais Wilson Gr

Human Rights Council / 40th Session From: 25-02-2019
To: 22-03-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Global Alliance of the National Human Rights Institutions / 32nd Session From: 04-03-2019
To: 06-03-2019
Palais des Nations Room XVIII

Human Rights Committee / 125th Session From: 04-03-2019
To: 29-03-2019
Palais Wilson Gr

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UN Charter Body Database

Search for documents and information pertaining to UN Charter-based human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures.

Universal Periodic Review

Access information and documents about states that were part of the periodic review of the human rights. It includes documents submitted by countries themselves, UN agencies and external parties.

National Human Rights Institutions Website

Find information on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and the International Coordinating Committee for National Human Rights Institutions (ICC).

Universal Human Rights Index

Access country-specific human rights recommendations and information emanating from international human rights mechanisms in the UN system: the Treaty Bodies, the Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Database

Access translations of the UDHR, a milestone document in the history of human rights, into over 460 different languages and dialects.

Anti-discrimination Database

Search for information, policies and measures taken at the international, regional and national levels to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Human Rights Education and Training Database

Search worldwide for institutions, programmes and materials that aim to foster human rights education and training.

Jurisprudence Database

Access jurisprudence emanating from the United Nations Treaty Bodies that receive and consider complaints from individuals.

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Treaty BodiesSchedule of country reviews Deadlines for the submission of documentation Information by country - ratification status, reporting cycles and documentation Elections of Treaty Body Members
Special ProceduresOverview of visits by Special Procedures Upcoming country visits History of country visits since 1998 Countries with standing invitations
Universal Periodic ReviewOverview Documentation by country