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Nigeria: Ground-breaking victories for torture victims
Open Science Appeal
Forensic work in the DR Congo
Sudan expert’s final report
Stand Up for Human Rights

Justice for Nigerian complainants supported by the UN fund for torture victims

In Nigeria, Avocats sans Frontières France, an organization supported by the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, achieves redress for three victims of torture and arbitrary detention in seminal court cases.
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Open Science: the power to unite nations

Open Science “can help to unlock vital keys to recovery, and a better world.” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet was speaking at an event to launch the Joint Appeal for Open Science.
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Forensic investigators hope to bring victims closer to justice in the DR Congo

A Technical Assistance Team was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to support judicial investigations into serious crimes in the Kasai provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We follow them on one of their visits to a location where a massacre took place.
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Sudan: Considerable reforms but major challenges remain- independent expert

In his last report, the UN independent expert on the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, urges continued international support and engagement with the Sudan to help guide the country through a challenging transition period.
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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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Myanmar elections We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Myanmar ahead of its general elections, including violations of the right to political participation, particularly of minority groups.

Côte d’Ivoire elections We urge the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to ensure accountability for the casualties caused by inter-communal clashes and confrontations between security forces and supporters of opposition parties in the run-up to the 31 October elections.

Tanzania elections Concerns about the shrinking democratic space and increased repression in Tanzania in the lead up to the elections.

Cameroon Violence Serious human rights violations and abuses continue to be reported in Cameroon, involving both security and defense forces and armed separatist groups

Colombia: Transitional Justice Bachelet urges the Colombian authorities to unconditionally support and cooperate with the transitional justice system and to guarantee the full independence of its mechanisms

Nigeria: army killings Bachelet strongly condemns the use of excessive and disproportionate force by Nigerian armed forces in Lagos, and calls for “root and branch” reform of the security forces.

Brazil leprosy A UN human rights expert says Brazil has a unique opportunity to redress the injustice of six decades of separating children from parents affected by Hansen’s disease.

Israel - Occupied Territories Israel should release detained Palestinian hunger striker and end practice of detention without charge, says UN human rights expert.

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Tanzania elections Concerns about the shrinking democratic space and increased repression in Tanzania in the lead up to the elections.

Cameroon Violence Serious human rights violations and abuses continue to be reported in Cameroon, involving both security and defense forces and armed separatist groups

India: restrictive laws Bachelet draws attention to three different laws that are being used to restrict foreign funding for NGOs and stifle civil society voices, and have led to arrests of human rights activists.

Bolivia elections Bachelet urges Bolivia’s authorities, political and other actors to refrain from any actions that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the general elections taking place on Sunday

Rape – a monstrous crime Bachelet stands in solidarity and outrage with survivors of rape, and those demanding justice. Tempting as it may be to impose draconian punishment, she urges instead a victim-centred approach to preventing sexual violence and ensuring justice.

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Israel – Occupied Territories UN expert calls for "more than mere criticism" as Israel accelerates approval of illegal settlements.

Poland – abortion Outlawing abortion will have devastating consequences for women and teenage girls, and violates Poland’s international human rights obligations, say UN experts

OPT report UN expert calls for international community to impose accountability measures on Israel to inforce resolution to be adopted.

Belarus judiciary For almost three decades, Belarus has failed to ensure the independence of its judiciary, implying that the rule of law remains unguaranteed, and human rights unprotected, UN expert highlights.

Protecting minorities A minority’s existence does not depend on a State’s approval, its ‘popularity’ or the whims of a government, UN expert says as he proposes conceptual framework to ensure minorities’ protection in international law.

Iran crackdowns UN experts calls on Iran to conduct an independent, impartial, and transparent inquiry into the violent crackdown against protests in November 2019 and January 2020, and bring human rights violators to justice.

Debt crisis UN expert warns of looming debt crisis for some low- and middle-income countries because of COVID-19, and urges States and international financial institutions to provide debt relief and reform the international debt architecture.

Israel - Occupied Territories Israel should release detained Palestinian hunger striker and end practice of detention without charge, says UN human rights expert.

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Summary of the 45th session of the Council The Council concluded its forty-fifth regular session after adopting 35 resolutions, one Presidential Statement and one decision

Council adopts 6 more resolutions The Council adopted 6 resolutions dealing, among others, with human rights of women and girls, child rights, the prevention of human rights violations, and the Philippines

Council adopts 13 resolutions The Council adopted 13 resolutions renewing, among others, the mandates on Yemen, Burundi, Venezuela, private military companies, and toxic wastes

Council adopts 15 texts The Council adopted 15 texts, including to extend the mandates on enforced disappearances, international order, and unilateral coercive measures

Starvation as a method of warfare in South Sudan Starvation being used as a method of warfare in South Sudan, noted the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan

Council holds debate on item 10 Presentation of the High Commissioner reports on Georgia and Yemen, the Secretary-General report on Cambodia, followed by a general debate on item 10

Council holds dialogue with FFM Libya The Council held an enhanced interactive dialogue with the Fact-finding Mission on Libya, and adopted the UPR outcomes of Guinea-Bissau and Guyana

Human Rights Council discusses Sudan and Somalia The Council held an enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Sudan, followed by an interactive dialogue on Somalia

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Spain: Age assessment procedures Spain’s procedures to determine the age of unaccompanied migrant children violated their fundamental human rights, UN child rights committee has found.

Migrant workers: Safe and dignified return CMW calls for immediate action to address the inhumane conditions of migrant workers who are stranded in detention camps and ensure they can have a safe and dignified return to their home countries.

Enforced disappearance: New date for online dialogue with Iraq The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances has rescheduled its public dialogue with Iraq on how the country is addressing the issue of enforced disappearances.

Spain violates inclusive education right Spain violated the right to inclusive education of a child with Down syndrome who was sent to a special education centre by national authorities, despite his parents’ objections, CRPD has found.

Mexico’s decision on enforced disappearances The unanimous decision by the Mexican Senate to recognize the competence of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances to examine individual complaints is a significant step in the country’s human rights development.

Belarus: Role of women in protests UN women’s rights committee underlined how women voices are not marginal, but central in political processes.

Enforced disappearances: Special dialogue with Iraq CED will hold a special public dialogue with Iraq during its upcoming online session to discuss what the country is doing to address the issue of enforced disappearances.

Argentina: Suspension of deportation The UN child rights committee has applauded Argentina’s decision not to deport a mother of three young children who had already completed her sentence for a drug offence.

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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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COVID and gender In a seminar organized by Göttingen University, the High Commissioner and Professor Amartya Sen discussed gender inequality, the impact of COVID-19 on women and girls and the importance of both policies and research to advance gender equality.

Lessons of COVID COVID-19 is teaching us a number of lessons – and the future of our societies depends on how rapidly and well we grasp and implement them, the High Commissioner said.

Internally displaced Opening an inter-sessional meeting of the Human Rights Council on the human rights of internally displaced people, the High Commissioner called for strong coordination, advocacy and support from the whole UN system, as well as by States, to establish durable solutions. "It is especially crucial to recognise the agency of internally displaced people themselves," she said.

Human rights and a healthy biosphere In a video message, the high commissioner stressed that “all of us depend on a healthy environment for the realisation of our human rights.” She highlighted that intersecting environmental, health and socio-economic crises are reversing global development gains and placing people and planet under stress.

Call for Open Science Speaking with the heads of CERN, UNESCO and WHO, Michelle Bachelet made a "principled, lifesaving and urgent" call to ensure the broadest possible sharing of scientific knowledge, and the broadest possible access to the benefits of scientific knowledge.

International Law Speaking on International Law Day, High Commissioner Bachelet noted that "for the law to remain relevant, to be respected as having binding force, and to shape and channel political decision-making, it must evolve and remain abreast of new and emerging challenges in our society"

Business and rights An international and binding legal instrument to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises is potentially crucial to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, the High Commissioner said – and it is crucial that a future treaty take into account the experiences of those most affected by business activities

Socio-economic rights At an event at Khartoum University to launch a new global series of dialogues, High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet called for "renewed attention to economic, social and cultural rights, and the right to development, in policy making, to ensure that our pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals are firmly grounded in human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, participation and accountability"

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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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Human Rights Committee / 130th Session From: 12-10-2020
To: 06-11-2020
PW Gr and PW 1st

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women / 77th Session From: 19-10-2020
To: 06-11-2020
Ariana 2

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 36th Session From: 02-11-2020
To: 13-11-2020
Palais des Nations Room XX

Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture / 42nd Session From: 09-11-2020
To: 13-11-2020
PW Gr; TBC (11 Nov Dual)

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Pre-sessional Working Group / 79th Session From: 09-11-2020
To: 13-11-2020
Ariana 2

Committee against Torture / 70th Session From: 09-11-2020
To: 04-12-2020
PW 1st floor

Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development / 2nd Session From: 11-11-2020
To: 12-11-2020
Council Chamber

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination / 102nd Session From: 16-11-2020
To: 04-12-2020
PW Ground Floor

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