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Gender equality: the need for action and solidarity has never been stronger

In a speech to the Generation Equality Forum event in Paris, the High Commissioner committed to actively promoting, strengthening and supporting women human rights defenders
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"Your skin colour should never be seen as a weapon"

After hearing the testimonies of the families of those who died during or after an encounter with law enforcement, High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet calls on States to"reimagine policing, and reform the criminal justice system, which have consistently produced discriminatory outcomes for people of African descent."
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“Female genital mutilation can be stopped,” says HC

“The silence must be broken — all voices must be heard, all realities known. We must act united against this dreadful practice,” said Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, during a high-level panel on female genital mutilation at the Human Rights Council.
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Greater international solidarity still needed to fight pandemic, says expert

In his latest report to the Human Rights Council, the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity Obiora Chinedu Okafor said that more international cooperation is required to combat the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, now and in the future.
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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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Ramallah protests Bachelet urges Palestinian authorities to ensure the safety of protesters ahead of further demonstrations in Ramallah, following the violent suppression of protests by Palestinian security forces, both uniformed and plain-clothed, and other armed individuals.

Systemic racism report Bachelet calls on all States to stop denying and start dismantling racism, as she publishes a report highlighting violations of human rights suffered by people of African descent – on a daily basis and across different States and jurisdictions.

China: Activists mistreated Expert fears activists in China are being arbitrarily sentenced to long terms in prison or house arrest, and tortured.

Haiti: Prison conditions Report calls for urgent solutions to tackle inhumane and overcrowded prison conditions in Haiti, where prisoners often spend years subjected to ill-treatment and torture, many of them while still awaiting trial.

Tigray killings The High Commissioner is outraged at the brutal murder of three Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) humanitarian workers in Tigray, Ethiopia. Humanitarian and human rights workers are civilians and as such can never be targeted. Perpetrators must be held accountable.

Mali violations Bachelet urges the Malian authorities to break the cycle of impunity and establish prompt, thorough, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of human rights violations and abuses, including those committed by the military.

Iran: Child offender execution Experts urge Iran to halt execution of young Iranian man scheduled for 28 June, saying he was a child at time of crime, and was reportedly tortured to force confession of guilt.

Canada Indigenous Peoples We welcome the adoption of a bill that affirms the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as applicable in Canadian law.

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Canada Indigenous Peoples We welcome the adoption of a bill that affirms the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as applicable in Canadian law.

Yemen fighting We are seriously concerned at the continuing impact of fighting on civilians and the targeting of civilian objects in Marib Governorate in Yemen, as well as missile and drone strikes into Saudi Arabia that have hit civilian infrastructure.

Pakistan: Enforced disappearances We urge Pakistan to take all necessary steps to ensure the timely passage of a bill to criminalize enforced disappearances. This would a major step forward in addressing a key and longstanding human rights concern in the country.

Myanmar violence Bachelet warns that escalating violence in Myanmar must be halted to prevent even greater loss of life and a deepening humanitarian emergency.

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UAE UAE: UN experts condemn forced return of ex-Guantanamo inmate to Russia, say he may face torture and ill-treatment

Guatemala Authorities must protect judges and civil servants against treats, and uphold rule of law -- UN expert

Disinformation Countries should respect human rights and combat damaging disinformation with free media and digital literacy, not Internet shutdowns and repression, says UN expert.

Guatemala UN and OAS experts say Guatemala’s controversial new law targeting non-governmental organisations (NGOs) violates international human rights standards and threatens to turn human rights defenders into criminals

Morocco Morocco must stop targeting human rights defenders and journalists standing up for human rights issues related to Western Sahara, and allow them to work without reprisals, says UN expert.

Freedom of peaceful assembly & association States are increasingly applying measures to prevent access to justice for protesters amid tightening of restrictions on civil society, expert says.

Poverty World needs Global Fund for Social Protection to shield vulnerable people from next pandemic, says UN expert

Trafficking To effectively protect victims of trafficking, States must ensure that victims are not held liable for any unlawful activity carried out as a direct consequence of their trafficking situation, expert says.

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

Singapore Singapore’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review on 12 May

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

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Turkey: Withdrawal from Istanbul Convention Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention is deeply regrettable and should be reversed, CEDAW said.

Vaccination for people deprived of liberty SPT has called on States to ensure that people deprived of liberty are included in national vaccination programmes against COVID-19, and to continue efforts to tackle overcrowding in detention.

Torture Victims of torture and those who help them seek their rights must be protected by governments, say UN experts.

Human Rights Committee to review Togo Human Rights Committee will hold its upcoming session from 28 June to 23 July 2021 during which it will review Togo.

Rights of indigenous women and girls CEDAW will hold a day of general discussion online on 24 June to discuss the rights of indigenous women and girls.

Spain violated the education right Spain violated the right to education of an eight-year old Moroccan boy in Melilla for not immediately admitting him to public school after his residency was confirmed.

CRC findings on Luxembourg and Tunisia Child Rights Committee (CRC) on Thursday issued its findings on Luxembourg and Tunisia

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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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Generation Equality Forum In a speech to the Generation Equality Forum event in Paris, the High Commissioner committed to actively promoting, strengthening and supporting women human rights defenders.

Recovery At the high-level Integration discussions of the UN Economic and Social Council, High Commissioner Bachelet briefly discussed "how – and why – States and the UN should strengthen governance and institutions for greater inclusion, and a more fair recovery, at this crucial time".

Climate change At a discussion of the impact of climate change on the human rights of older people, the High Commissioner noted that a recent study by the Office laids bare the disproportionate impacts suffered by older people – as well as neglect or marginalization of their needs by climate laws and policies

Lessons of COVID Speaking at a Human Rights Summer School in Kazan, in the Russian Federation, the Deputy High Commissioner drew important and universal lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Counter Terrorism “Counterterrorism measures that are not rooted in human rights and rule of law are counterproductive,” the High Commissioner told the UN high Level Conference on Counter terrorism. The session discussed countering and preventing terrorism in the age of transformative technologies.

Business and Human Rights The High Commissioner addressed a Human Rights Council event on the 10th Anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. “As we strive to recover better from COVID-19, I trust the Principles will continue to guide us to the right direction,” she said.

Parliaments At a workshop jointly organised with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the High Commission drew lessons from the pandemic about work Parliamentarians can initiate to resolve and recover from the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19

Recovery Pledge At the launch of a Sustainable Recovery Pledge by States to place human rights at the core of work to overcome the pandemic, the High Commissioner called the Pledge "an important signpost" in navigating recovery – and added "now we all need to walk the talk"

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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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Human Rights Council / 47th Session From: 21-06-2021
To: 13-07-2021
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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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

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Human Rights Education and Training Database

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Jurisprudence Database

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