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Stand Up for Human Rights

High Commissioner: "Social Protection is a fundamental human right"

"Taking immediate steps to build a better, more comprehensive social protection system is crucial to providing immediate, life-changing assistance," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. She made her statement as part of Hernan Santa Cruz Dialogue on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, taking place in Ukraine.
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Malagasy children to receive human rights education in schools

The UN Country Team and the Ministry of National Education of Madagascar have signed a landmark agreement to provide human rights education in primary and secondary schools across the country.
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Surge in violence against children must be addressed with a rights-based approach

The COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating effect on an entire generation is examined in a new report on increased violence and abuse against children in the last year.
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Guidance establishes children’s rights carry into digital world

The Child Rights Committee published new legal guidance on how governments should protect children’s rights in the digital environment. General Comment 25 on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment says States have a clear responsibility to provide oversight on how children fare in the digital world.
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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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Fukushima concerns Experts deeply regret Japan’s decision to release contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear plant, saying discharge could impact millions of lives and livelihoods in Pacific.

Myanmar: Military slaughter must stop Bachelet urges States to take immediate, decisive and impactful measures to push Myanmar’s military leadership into halting its campaign of repression and slaughter of its people.

Israeli settler violence Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians in occupied West Bank has risen markedly in recent months, with assaults and property destruction occurring in an atmosphere of impunity

UK New Bill Bachelet expresses concern new Bill could lead to shielding military personnel operating abroad from due accountability for acts of torture or other serious international crimes.

“Rewards for Justice” concerns US anti-terrorism program “Rewards for Justice” violates human rights of some of individuals it targets, experts say.

Burundi refugees Experts call on Tanzania and Burundi to respect rights of refugees who have fled Burundi, deploring reports of enforced disappearances, torture, forced returns and repression.

Uganda: Political violence Experts alarmed by reports of widespread and continued repression against opposition leaders and their supporters in Uganda.

Violence in West Darfur We are appalled by the latest resurgence of violence in Sudan that has left at least 87 people dead and more than 191 injured, and forced thousands to flee their homes.

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UK New Bill Bachelet expresses concern new Bill could lead to shielding military personnel operating abroad from due accountability for acts of torture or other serious international crimes.

Tribute to Christof Heyns Christof Heyns, who has died aged 62, was an inspiring human rights advocate, whose warmth, optimism and generosity equalled his expertise. He cared for all people – those he worked with and those he worked to support and protect. We will miss him terribly.

Violence in West Darfur We are appalled by the latest resurgence of violence in Sudan that has left at least 87 people dead and more than 191 injured, and forced thousands to flee their homes.

Myanmar: atrocity crimes Top UN officials condemn Myanmar military’s widespread, lethal and increasingly systematic attacks after bloodiest day since protests began

Women’s rights We call on Turkey to reverse its decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention on combatting all forms of violence against women, and note that the move highlights the lack of meaningful participation in decision making in the country.

Climate Change UN Human Rights Office publishes a fact sheet to answer a range of questions about human rights and climate change and to promote better policies for people and the planet.

Myanmar: Lethal force The death toll has soared over the past week in Myanmar, where security forces have been using lethal force increasingly aggressively against peaceful protesters.

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Fukushima concerns Experts deeply regret Japan’s decision to release contaminated water from Fukushima nuclear plant, saying discharge could impact millions of lives and livelihoods in Pacific.

“Rewards for Justice” concerns US anti-terrorism program “Rewards for Justice” violates human rights of some of individuals it targets, experts say.

Burundi refugees Experts call on Tanzania and Burundi to respect rights of refugees who have fled Burundi, deploring reports of enforced disappearances, torture, forced returns and repression.

Uganda: Political violence Experts alarmed by reports of widespread and continued repression against opposition leaders and their supporters in Uganda.

Lao PDR Expert calls on Government of Lao PDR to immediately release three human rights defenders who have been detained for more than five years.

Cambodia Experts express serious concern over series of harsh new legal and administrative measures adopted by Royal Government of Cambodia in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Mali Charges against journalist and co-defendants still detained after court freed them must be dropped, say UN experts

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Secretary-General speech In a powerful speech to the Human Rights Council that focused on racism, women and the pandemic's impact on human rights, Antonio Guterres said "recovery gives us an opportunity to generate momentum for transformation"

Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review 22 January 2021

Nauru Nauru’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review 22 January 2021.

Georgia Georgia’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review 21 January 2021

Rwanda Rwanda’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Myanmar Myanmar’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Austria Austria’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Saint Lucia Saint Lucia’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

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CERD to review Belgium Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will hold its upcoming session from 19 to 30 April, during which it will review Belgium.

UN Disability Rights Committee issues findings on Estonia CRPD has published its findings on Estonia which it examined during its latest session

Human Rights Committee issues findings on Finland and Kenya The UN Human Rights Committee has issued its findings on Finland and Kenya which it examined during the latest online session

CED to review Switzerland, Colombia and Mongolia CED will hold its upcoming session from 12 April to 7 May, including to review country reports of Switzerland, Colombia and Mongolia.

Libya: violated activist's rights Libya violated the human rights of an activist working on women’s rights by failing to investigate and prosecute her unlawful arrest and torture by a militia group affiliated with the government

CEDAW issues findings on Denmark CEDAW has published its findings on Denmark, including the self-governing territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which it examined during its latest online session.

CRC: Child’s rights in digital environment The Child Rights Committee today published its legal guidance note on how States should protect children’s rights with regard to the digital environment

Argentina: Repealing deportation decree Three UN rights committees have applauded Argentina’s decision to derogate a decree* which allowed expedited expulsion of migrants without due process. The decree had been strongly criticised for violating the right to family unity, the principle of the best interests of the child and the principle of non-refoulement

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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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Hernan Santa Cruz Dialogue Ukraine "Taking immediate steps to build a better, more comprehensive social protection system is crucial to providing immediate, life-changing assistance," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. She made her statement as part of Hernan Santa Cruz Dialogue on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, taking place in Ukraine.

Youth and human rights “Young people have been inspiring the world by standing up for universal rights”, the High Commissioner said. Yet, at the same time, they still face barriers to the realization of many of their human rights “exactly because of their age”. At the Intersessional Seminar on Youth and Human Rights, she expressed the aim to intensify the focus on youth across the work of her Office.

People of African Descent The High Commissioner addressed a General Assembly Consultation regarding the establishment of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. “This is an important moment in history to advance the rights of people of African Descent”, she said. Highlighting the role of the United Nations, she added “the new Form can serve as a platform to generate ideas about how to reverse the injustices that lasted for decades.”

Roma Day Rise of hate speech disproportionally targets Sinti and Roma in social media, says expert

Law students and human rights The High Commissioner spoke to Law school students and how they can contribute to promoting and protecting human rights. "As your careers develop, I encourage you to remain true to the ideals you are now learning, and that the law can be a tool of immense power in the hands of all looking to make our world a fairer, more just one," she said.

Syria “Today, realization of the entire spectrum of human rights remains impossible for many Syrians,” the High Commissioner said in a video message to the Brussels conference on the future of Syria and the region. “We must all take action to support a future for Syria's people in which human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled,” she stressed.

Working Group on Ageing Speaking to the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, in New York, the High Commissioner said today's human rights law "provides fragmented and inconsistent coverage of the human rights of older persons", and encouraged development of "a dedicated legal instrument (to) effectively contribute to changes in law and practice at the national level"

Global Health In a conference on strenghening the role of the European Union in the context of global health, the High Commissioner spoke about the human rights impacts of COVID-19 and stressed the importance of Universal Health Coverage.

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The UN Human Rights Appeal 2021

The UN Human Rights Appeal 2021

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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Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 38th Session From: 03-05-2021
To: 14-05-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the Right to Development / 21st Session From: 17-05-2021
To: 21-05-2021
V

Human Rights Council / 47th Session From: 21-06-2021
To: 09-07-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Human Rights Council / 48th Session From: 13-09-2021
To: 01-10-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 39th Session From: 01-11-2021
To: 12-11-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

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