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Advocating for inclusion via radio in Somalia
E. Roosevelt Human Rights Award 2019
Sexual violence in northeast Nigeria
Attacks against journalists
Stand up for human rights

Advocating for Somali marginalised communities’ inclusion via radio

In a Somali society marked by clan-based divisions, inequalities & exclusions, marginalized communities’ activists strive for inclusion with a media campaign supported by the UN Human Rights & Protection Group.
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Chris Mburu, winner, 2019 Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award

Right to education defender and former UN Human Rights staff, Chris Mburu, receives the 2019 Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award.
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Northeast Nigeria: addressing impunity for sexual violence amidst a decade-long conflict

As the decade-long conflict persists in northeast Nigeria, sexual violence against women and girls has escalated. UN Human Rights is working to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
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Ukraine: justice pending for killings of journalists and activists

In the last five years, Ukraine has suffered from a string of attacks against journalists and activists. Families are demanding investigations and fair trials.
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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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Summit challenge The international community must prioritise women’s rights to meet 25-year-old promises on sexual and reproductive health, say more than 20 human rights experts ahead of a key summit in Nairobi.

Cambodia: Kem Sokha UN expert welcomes end to house arrest of Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha. Calls for charges to be dropped.

Women’s Rights Committee UN women’s rights experts issue findings on Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Seychelles, which it examined during its session from 21 October to 8 November 2019

Civilians in Syria Civilians continue to pay a very high price in the ongoing hostilities in Syria. Dozens have been killed and injured in the largely separate situations occurring simultaneously in north-eastern and north-western Syria.

Iraq unrest Since October 1, we have documented 269 deaths and at least 8,000 others been injured. We urge investigations, clear instructions to security forces to abide by international norms on the use of force, and firm steps towards a meaningful dialogue.

Mauritania rape conviction The sentencing of a 30-year-old man for raping a 15-year old girl is an encouraging step for the Mauritanian Parliament to urgently relaunch the discussion a law against gender-based violence.

Chile protests Independent experts condemn excessive use of force by security forces in Chile during recent protests.

Israel visa UN experts criticise an Israeli Supreme Court ruling upholding the Government’s decision to revoke the work visa of Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director of Human Rights Watch.

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International Conference on the Great Lakes The UN Human Rights Office signs an agreement with the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region

Protests and unrest around the world There are common threads among many of the protests: populations that are fed up and angry, especially with socio-economic conditions, corruption, inequalities.

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.

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.

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Cambodia: Kem Sokha UN expert welcomes end to house arrest of Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha. Calls for charges to be dropped.

Montenegro mission Montenegro must substantially improve its assistance for victims and potential victims of trafficking, says UN Special Rapporteur after visiting the country.

People with albinism The Government of Brazil must implement specific and concrete measures – which thankfully cost almost nothing – to address the specific needs of people with albinism, says expert.

Egypt prisons The prison regime in Egypt may have directly led to the death of former President Mohamed Morsi, and may be placing the health and lives of thousands more prisoners at severe risk, experts say.

Chile protests Independent experts condemn excessive use of force by security forces in Chile during recent protests.

Assange concerns Julian Assange’s health is continuing to deteriorate and his life is at risk, says the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer.

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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.

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Committee Against Torture UN Committee Against Torture will meet in Geneva from 11 November to 6 December to review Burkina Faso, Cyprus, Latvia, Niger, Portugal, and Uzbekistan.

Spain: forced eviction case Spain violated a family’s right to housing by failing to weigh their vulnerability in an eviction, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights determined in a decision published on 30 October.

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights publishes findings on Denmark, Ecuador, Israel, Senegal, Slovakia, and Switzerland, which were reviewed in its latest session.

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.

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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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African descent In Nairobi, the High Commissioner calls for people to “come together and act as generations of women have done: take a powerful stand to uphold human rights”

Indian-Administered Kashmir We are extremely concerned that the population of Indian-Administered Kashmir continues to be deprived of a wide range of human rights

African Descent regional meeting In Senegal, the High Commissioner called on young people of African descent to “raise awareness, learn and share their history, stand up for their rights and write their own stories”.

Human Rights Council The Council can play a pivotal role in tackling global human rights issues like inequality, mass migration, climate change and the digital revolution, the High Commissioner notes at a retreat in Senegal.

Human rights solutions As a new global and digital landscape comes into sharper focus, the challenges we face are tightly intertwined, the High Commissioner told students at Harvard's Kennedy School – and they require a coherent approach that is principled, grounded in a very broad consensus, and which has demonstrated its value for decades.

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

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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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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

Committee against Torture / 68th Session From: 11-11-2019
To: 06-12-2019
Palais Wilson 1st

Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture / 39th Session From: 18-11-2019
To: 22-11-2019
Palais Wilson Gr

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention / 86th Session From: 18-11-2019
To: 22-11-2019
Palais des Nations Room XXVII

Forum on Business and Human Rights / 8th Session From: 25-11-2019
To: 27-11-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the use of mercenaries / 38th Session From: 25-11-2019
To: 29-11-2019
Palais des Nations Room XXIII

Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery / 24th Session From: 25-11-2019
To: 29-11-2019
Palais des Nations Room XXVII

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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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