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Meaningful participation is "a major asset to governments", High Commissioner Bachelet tells a UN General Assembly event

Speaking at a high-level side event alongside the Secretary-General, High Commissioner Bachelet said strengthening inclusive and effective participation is "a concern of deep global urgency".
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No human rights progress despite new presidency, Burundi inquiry finds

The Commission of Inquiry on Burundi outlines the serious human rights violations occurring in the context of the 2020 elections, including summary executions, arbitrary detentions and arrests, torture and sexual violence.
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High Commissioner calls for States to build smart, universal social protection systems

Every State has an interest in ensuring that no-one is left behind. COVID-19 has once again hammered home that message: we are only truly safe if all of us are safe. Even in a time of crisis – perhaps especially at a time of crisis – social protection systems are relatively small investments that return very powerful dividends.
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High Commissioner calls for stronger education systems to enable national and global recovery

“Poverty harms the poor – but it also harms the rich”, the High Commissioner warned. “The misery and injustice of inadequate schooling does not only harm the children sitting on rickety benches. It harms us all”.
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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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Nagorno-Karabakh: Bachelet worried about resumed hostilities Bachelet calls on all sides to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure

Stimuli must exclude coal As States introduce economic stimulus packages to respond to COVID-19, expert calls on authorities to remain mindful of climate crisis and to exclude support for new coal projects.

Experts’ funding crunch Experts voice concerns about impact of UN funding crisis on their ability to effectively carry out their work.

Iran: Nasrin Sotoudeh Experts express alarm at Nasrin Sotoudeh’s return to prison in Iran despite her deteriorating health condition, and call for her immediate release.

Belarus Prominent opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava, who was secretly imprisoned, must be released, UN human right experts say.

Myanmar violence UN human rights expert calls for immediate end to military assaults on Rakhine villages, and decries mounting death toll of children.

Syria: Turkey violations Bachelet calls on Turkish authorities to respect international law and ensure halt to violations committed in Syria by armed groups under Turkey’s effective control.

Bachelet’s global update The High Commissioner outlines pressing human rights issues in each region of the world, in her opening address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

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Nagorno-Karabakh: Bachelet worried about resumed hostilities Bachelet calls on all sides to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure

Syria: Turkey violations Bachelet calls on Turkish authorities to respect international law and ensure halt to violations committed in Syria by armed groups under Turkey’s effective control.

Cambodia: Rights defenders arrests We call on the Government to immediately and unconditionally release those detained for their exercise of these rights, and to bring an end to the intimidation of civil society actors.

Pakistan: Journalists killings Increasing concern about incitement to violence against journalists and human rights defenders in Pakistan, in particular against women and minorities. Especially worrying are accusations of blasphemy.

Russia: Alexei Navalny Bachelet urges the Government of the Russian Federation to carry out, or fully cooperate with, a thorough, transparent, independent and impartial investigation into the poisoning of the opposition figure.

Algeria misinformation After the publication of a number of articles misrepresenting the UN human rights system in relation to Algeria, the UN Human Rights Office is issuing a clarification.

Sudan peace UN Rights Chief welcomes the signing of Sudan’s peace deal and urges all sides to ensure human rights are kept at the heart of the agreement and its implementation.

Venezuela: Bachelet welcomes pardon to 110 people This decision is a positive step in efforts to open up the democratic space

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Colombia Colombia should suspend some operations at one of world’s largest coal mines because it has seriously damaged the environment and health of the country’s largest indigenous community, expert says.

Experts’ funding crunch Experts voice concerns about impact of UN funding crisis on their ability to effectively carry out their work.

Delhi evictions Expert raises concerns about decision to evict up to 250,000 people living in shacks alongside railway tracks in Delhi.

Nigeria Music is not a crime, UN experts tell Nigeria, in calling for release of singer who share a song on WhatsApp.

Iran: Nasrin Sotoudeh Experts express alarm at Nasrin Sotoudeh’s return to prison in Iran despite her deteriorating health condition, and call for her immediate release.

Belarus Prominent opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava, who was secretly imprisoned, must be released, UN human right experts say.

Mali Release former government officials detained for more than a month, UN expert tells Mali coup leaders.

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UPR adoptions of Sweden, Grenada, Turkey and Kiribati The Council adopted the UPR outcomes of Sweden, Grenada, Turkey and Kiribati, and started the general debate on human rights bodies and mechanisms

GEE Yemen: Pandemic of Impunity in a Tortured Land The GEE Yemen urges an end to impunity and referral by the UN Security Council of the situation in Yemen to the International Criminal Court

Council holds panel on gender perspective The Council held its annual panel discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout its work and that of its mechanisms

Council adopts more UPR outcomes The Human Rights Council today adopted the Universal Periodic Review outcomes of Lesotho, Kenya and Armenia

Human Rights Council adopts UPR outcomes The Council concluded its general debate on item 4, and adopted the UPR outcomes of Kyrgyzstan, Guinea and Lao PDR

Council continues general debate on item 4 The Council concluded the dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples and continued the general debate on human rights situations

Council holds dialogue with Advisory Committee It also heard a High Commissioner oral update on Venezuela, and started its general debate on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention.

Council holds dialogues on the rights of indigenous peoples It held dialogues with the Expert Mechanism and the Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples, and concluded its dialogue with the FFM Venezuela.

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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.

Justice and Disability Three UN bodies that deal with disability rights team up to issue ground-breaking guidelines to ensure effective access to justice for people with disabilities.

Sexual violence survivors’ rights UN women’s rights committee has found that survivors of sexual violence in armed conflict have been long neglected in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and has called on the government to take immediate action to provide adequate support.

Treaty warning Chairs of the 10 UN Treaty Bodies call on States to properly fund their committees’ work, warning that the current underfunding is a serious concern, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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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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Protest At a General Assembly side event to promote the right to peaceful assembly, the High Commissioner pointed out, "To be effective, Governments need truthful feedback about the measures they are taking. They need ideas – and, yes, criticism too – from the broadest possible range of people. Demonstrations are vital"

Building back Speaking to students at Australia's Monash University, the High Commissioner pointed out, "We're going to have to build back. We may as well build back better. And this will be among the challenges of your lifetimes".

Gender panel The High Commissioner spoke to the Human Rights Council about the intersection of gender-based and other forms of discrimination and its impact on human rights. “Equality and non-discrimination are the foundations of the international human rights system. This Council has a mandate to make these principles a reality and to ensure protection and promotion of human rights for all. Accounting for people’s different experiences and needs is critical to fulfilling this mandate,” she said.

Participation Speaking at a high-level side event alongside the Secretary-General, High Commissioner Bachelet said strengthening inclusive and effective participation is "a concern of deep global urgency"

Venezuela The High Commissioner presented to the Human Rights Council her oral update on the situation of human rights in Venezuela.

Women and the death penalty Women disproportionately face capital charges for conduct not meeting the minimum threshold of “most serious crimes,” or which should not be criminalised – such as adultery or consensual same-sex conduct. When carried out, these death sentences amount to arbitrary deprivation of life.

LGBTI inclusion COVID-19 has heavily impacted LGBTI people. The pandemic has also shown us the unbearable cost of structural discrimination and inequalities. Social and economic systems that perpetuate oppression and exclusion create pockets of vulnerability – harming everyone.

Indigenous peoples Indigenous human rights defenders are guardians of indigenous peoples' land, resources and the knowledge and identity which form the basis for their continued existence as peoples. But protecting these ways of life has increasingly jeopardized defenders’ own lives

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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 Council / 45th Session From: 14-09-2020
To: 07-10-2020
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances / 122nd Session From: 21-09-2020
To: 30-09-2020
XI

Committee on the Rights of Child - Pre-sessional Working Group / 87th Session From: 28-09-2020
To: 02-10-2020
PW 1st floor

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights / 68th Session From: 28-09-2020
To: 16-10-2020
PW Gr and PW 1st

Human Rights Committee - Pre-Sessional WG on Communications / 130th Session From: 05-10-2020
To: 09-10-2020
PW 1st floor

Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families / 32nd Session From: 05-10-2020
To: 16-10-2020
Ariana 2

Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture / 52nd Session From: 05-10-2020
To: 09-10-2020
XXV

Working Group on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises / 27th Session From: 05-10-2020
To: 09-10-2020
Ariana 3

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