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UN Human Rights Report 2018
Tunisia's Fundamental Covenant
HanByeol Lee
World Environment Day 2019
Stand up for human rights

Upholding human rights in a hostile climate

UN Human Rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, highlights the results of her office in 2018 in a report that includes a new format and innovative features.
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Tunisia's Fundamental Covenant, at 150 years old, is a precursor to the UDHR

One of the oldest and most far reaching visions of equality stems from the Arab world.
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From North Korea defector to human rights defender: the story of HanByeol Lee

HanByeol Lee escaped the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) when she was 17. A survivor of severe hardship and famine, she is now living in Seoul, and heads an organisation which fights for human rights and change in North Korea.
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“I am striking for climate”

Hilda Flavia Nakabuye, a Ugandan student and environmental rights activist, has sacrificed her Friday lessons at Kampala International University to protest against lack of action to tackle climate change.
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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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Egypt: Death in custody Circumstances of death of former president Mohammed Morsi must be investigated, says UN Human Rights spokesperson.

Comoros visit suspended Expert on torture suspends Comoros visit and expresses his regrets for not having access to all persons deprived of their liberty as considered necessary to fulfil his mandate.

Australia: Offshore detention centres Experts urge Australia to immediately provide appropriate health care to more than 800 asylum seekers and other migrants who have been held in the country’s offshore facilities for the past five years without durable solutions.

Bachelet to visit Venezuela UN Human Rights Chief is due to visit Venezuela at the invitation of the Government from 19 to 21 June.

UK: Racism report The UK Government’s policies exacerbate discrimination, stoke xenophobic sentiment and further entrench racial inequality, the UN’s expert on racism and human rights says in a report.

Mali: 'Crimes against humanity' ÚN expert urges authorities to take more preventive measures to protect civilians and property in continuing violence.

Maldives ‘at a crossroads’ Expert says culture and traditional knowledge are key in addressing challenges caused by climate change in a human rights respecting manner.

Sudan: Experts call for probe Experts seriously concerned that Sudan is sliding into a “human rights abyss”, and urge independent probe.

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Egypt: Death in custody Circumstances of death of former president Mohammed Morsi must be investigated, says UN Human Rights spokesperson.

Bachelet to visit Venezuela UN Human Rights Chief is due to visit Venezuela at the invitation of the Government from 19 to 21 June.

Botswana: LGBT decision Bachelet welcomes the decision by the High Court of Botswana to decriminalize consensual same-sex relations between adults by striking down relevant provisions of the country’s Penal Code.

Nicaragua: concerns about amnesty law Bachelet alerts against a law in Nicaragua that could prevent accountability for human rights abuses

Libya: Inhuman detention facilities We are deeply concerned about the ghastly conditions for migrants and refugees detained in Libya, and ongoing disappearances and human trafficking following interception at sea by the Libyan Coast Guard.

Anti-semitism in Europe We condemn the anti-Semitic incidents reported in Germany, Austria, France and the United States. We urge all governments to redouble their efforts to combat racism and related intolerance.

Kenya denies LGBT rights High Court of Kenya upholds a ban on same-sex relations that dates back to the colonial-era.

El Salvador New law may benefit people responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

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Algeria UN experts say they are alarmed by the death in custody of a human rights defender after a 53-day hunger strike.

Maldives ‘at a crossroads’ Expert says culture and traditional knowledge are key in addressing challenges caused by climate change in a human rights respecting manner.

Mali: 'Crimes against humanity' ÚN expert urges authorities to take more preventive measures to protect civilians and property in continuing violence.

RightsCon, Tunis UN experts say human rights must be at the forefront of our thinking when considering the present and the future of technology and the internet.

Call to ILO on worker rights Recognition of the right to safe and healthy working conditions as a fundamental principle and right is long overdue, say UN experts.

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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.

Human Rights Council extends mandates The Council adopted 12 resolutions in which it, among other actions, decided to extend mandates.

Human Rights Council adopts 12 resolutions The Council adopted 12 resolutions.

Debate on technical assistance and capacity building The Council held a debate on technical assistance and capacity building after hearing the presentation of reports on technical assistance.

High Commissioner and Secretary-General reports The Council heard the presentation of reports on country situations in Colombia, Cyprus, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, the situation of Rohingya in Myanmar, on Venezuela and Yemen.

Situation in the Central African Republic The Council held a high-level interactive dialogue on the evolution of the human rights situation in the Central African Republic.

Dialogue on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka The Council held a dialogue on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka and concluded an interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Ukraine.

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Child Rights Committee publishes findings The situation for children’s rights in Botswana, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Malta, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Tonga was reviewed by human rights experts.

Arbitrary detention in Turkey Expert committee monitoring civil and political rights found Turkey violated human rights to a fair trial.

Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture to visit Ghana Independent human rights experts will examine the treatment of people deprived of their liberty

Access to justice in Nepal Human rights experts urge Nepal to change its laws to let victims of human rights violations access justice.

Torture is never allowed, including in the fight against terrorism, human rights experts tell Spain The experts called on Spain to end incommunicado detention because it creates a context where it is easier to torture.

Committee Against Torture publishes findings Independent experts reviewed Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Budget shortfalls seriously undermine the work of the Human Rights Treaty bodies Six committees are very likely to have sessions in 2019 cancelled for financial reasons.

Racial Discrimination Committee publishes findings Independent expert committee examined Andorra, Guatemala, Hungary, Lithuania, and Zambia.

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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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The future of work Human rights must guide key policies to achieve decent work for all, the High Commissioner said.

Tunisia's Fundamental Covenant One of the oldest and most far reaching visions of equality stems from the Arab world.

Digital heroes In Tunis, the High Commissioner discusses solutions to digital challenges.

Women and power We still cannot say that women have full access to power, or that the people who hold power consistently use it to advance women’s interests.

“Faith-based actors for rights” Pressure from faith-based actors, and inter-religious dialogue, can unlock action

Struggle for women’s equality Today, women are again mobilising -- not only for our own rights, but in every kind of movement for human dignity

Women’s activism builds rights The advancement of women's rights can lay claim to be one of the most far-reaching social revolutions the world has seen.

Peace, Development, Gender and Rights Dialogue and conviction must be the keystones of our work.

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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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Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture / 38th Session From: 17-06-2019
To: 21-06-2019
Palais Wilson Gr. and 1st

Meeting of special rapporteurs/representatives, independent experts and chairpersons of working groups of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council / 26th Session From: 17-06-2019
To: 21-06-2019
Palais des Nations Room XXII

Working Group on Situations / 24th Session From: 17-06-2019
To: 21-06-2019
Palais des Nations Room XXV

Meeting of Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies / 31st Session From: 24-06-2019
To: 28-06-2019
New York

Human Rights Committee - Working Group on Communications / 126th Session From: 24-06-2019
To: 28-06-2019
Palais Wilson Gr

Human Rights Council / 41st Session From: 24-06-2019
To: 12-07-2019
Palais des Nations Room XX

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Working Group on Communications / 44th Session From: 26-06-2019
To: 28-06-2019
Palais des Nations XVI

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - WG on inquiries / 13th Session From: 27-06-2019
To: 28-06-2019
Palais Wilson Room 1-016

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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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