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Annual Report 2019
Philippines report
France: Migrant rights and COVID-19
Treaty Body review
Stand Up for Human Rights

Annual report 2019: Human rights-based actions bring tangible results

UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet highlights the results of her office for 2019 in a report that underlines growing funding challenges.
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Philippines: Report details widespread human rights violations and persistent impunity

A new report by UN Human Rights highlights long-standing and acute human rights concerns in the Philippines, including killings, arbitrary detentions and the vilification of dissent.
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COVID-19: Standing up for the human rights of migrants and refugees in France

“We need to address inequalities, and we need to provide a human rights-based response to the situation of migrants and refugees,” says Steve Irakoze, a human rights activist working with migrant and refugee communities in France.
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Strengthening the Treaty Bodies, guardians of the world's human rights covenants and treaties

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
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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: 1,300 killed in 8 months Bachelet calls on community leaders and State authorities to address the long-standing causes of violence and prosecute those responsible for the brutal attacks on innocent civilians.

Philippines impunity Heavy-handed focus on countering national security threats and illegal drugs in the Philippines has led to killings and arbitrary detention, with victims deprived of justice, report finds.

US protests The grievances at the heart of the protests across the US need to be heard and addressed if the country is to move on from its tragic history of racism and violence, Bachelet says

Belarus: ‘Stop crackdown’ Experts say scores of arrests connected with the fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly and freedom of opinion and expression have a chilling effect on civil society, independent journalism and dissenting views.

United States: Racism UN experts urge strong action over systemic racism, police violence, impunity and bias in the criminal justice system after a spate of killings of African-Americans.

COVID / India: Workers’ plight The Government has ignored the hardship of millions of internal migrant workers forced to return home by COVID-19 measures and must take urgent action to ensure their wellbeing, say experts.

COVID-19 exposes inequalities Bachelet says rising disparities in how COVID-19 is affecting communities, and the major disproportionate impact it is having on racial and ethnic minorities, is exposing alarming inequalities within our societies.

World Environment Day UN expert says urgent policy changes and preventative strategies are needed to protect the environment and human rights, and address climate disruption, biodiversity loss, toxic pollution and zoonotic diseases.

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Asia: Freedom of expression Bachelet alarmed at the curb on freedom of expression in Asia-Pacific and says actions taken to stop “fake news” must be proportionate.

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

Bachelet condemns killing of unarmed African American Bachelet urges US authorities to take “serious action” to halt US police killings of unarmed African Americans

Iraq: Abduction of protesters UN report on abduction of protesters in Iraq since last October details their ordeals from the time of abduction through interrogation to acts of torture.

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United States: Racism UN experts urge strong action over systemic racism, police violence, impunity and bias in the criminal justice system after a spate of killings of African-Americans.

Spain UN expert urges Spain to widen coverage and eligibility for its new minimum income scheme, which is expected to benefit 1.6 million people living in extreme poverty.

Sudan: Still waiting for justice Experts urge full accountability for a deadly attack on peaceful protesters in Khartoum a year ago and call for justice for the victims and their relatives.

COVID-19: US detentions Experts warn of far-reaching consequences if the US Government fails to reduce numbers in places of detention to prevent major outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus.

COVID-19: United States UN experts are concerned some US states appear to be manipulating COVID-19 crisis measures to restrict access to essential abortion care.

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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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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

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.

COVID19: Raising women's voices Women’s rights committee calls for women’s equal representation in formulating COVID-19 responses and strategies to recover from the crisis.

Hungary's restrictions on people with disabilities Hungary’s guardianship system and institutionalisation on the basis of disability are grave and systematic violations of rights, UN experts found.

Denmark: asylum for Syrian mother of six The UN child rights committee has applauded Denmark’s decision to grant asylum to the mother of six Syrian refugee children living in the country.

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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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Our work in 2019 Presenting the annual report of the Office, the High Commissioner noted many examples of significant human rights progress, despite financial constraints and other challenges

Information and journalism in times of crisis The High Commissioner spoke at a webinar on Access to Information and the Safety of Journalists in times of crisis, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Faith leaders and COVID-19 At a virtual meeting to explore ways to support action by religious actors and faith-based organizations to address the impact of COVID-19, the High Commissioner emphasised the need "to revive and nourish fundamental principles of solidarity, cooperation, compassion and mutual care, (and) restore the primacy of the deep values that connect all of us."

Stand up against hate High Commissioner urges everyone to stand up against hate in remarks for the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May.

COVID-19 Press Conference Michelle Bachelet’s opening remarks at a virtual press conference with the UN correspondents’ association in Geneva on the human rights ramifications of coming out of lock-downs and other human rights issues relating to COVID-19.

COVID-19 and the human rights of older people At a webinar, the High Commissioner called for the rights of older people to be placed front and center in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

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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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Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples / 13th Session From: 08-06-2020
To: 12-06-2020
XX

Meeting of special rapporteurs/representatives, independent experts and chairpersons of working groups of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council / 27th Session From: 08-06-2020
To: 12-06-2020
XXII

Human Rights Council – Organizational meeting for 44th session From: 10-06-2020
To: 10-06-2020

Human Rights Council / 44th Session From: 15-06-2020
To: 03-07-2020
Palais des Nations Room XX

Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture / 41st Session From: 15-06-2020
To: 19-06-2020
PW Gr; PW 1st

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Working Group on Communications / 47th Session From: 17-06-2020
To: 19-06-2020
Ariana 2

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - WG on inquiries / 16th Session From: 18-06-2020
To: 19-06-2020
PW 1st floor

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

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UN Charter Body Database

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Universal Periodic Review

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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

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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

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Jurisprudence Database

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

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