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Human rights staff in Kenya join forces with partners to support COVID-19 prevention and response

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Li Fung, Senior Human Rights Advisor to the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, and partners have joined forces to keep human rights a priority in Kenya’s COVID-19 response.
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SG calls on strengthening immunity against “virus of hate.”

COVID 19 does not distinguish between people yet “yet the pandemic continues to unleash a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. In a powerful statement against increasing hate speech caused during the pandemic, Guterres said the virus “doesn’t care about any distinction.”
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UN virtual meeting gives victims chance to be heard

The testimony from a woman whose son has been missing more than five years featured at the opening of 18th session of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances. In the first of its kind, the Committee hosted a virtual meeting, which was broadcast online.
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“Seven Actions”: A guide to protect African women’s rights during COVID-19

UN Human Rights’ East Africa Regional Office and the African Union has developed a joint guidance notes for States and civil society actors to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on women, and ensure that a gender lens is included in the responses to the pandemic in Africa.
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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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Syria – civilian killings Bachelet expresses concerns about continuing killings of civilians across Syria, saying the deteriorating situation is “a ticking time-bomb” must not be ignored.

Migrant pushbacks We are deeply concern about reports that Maltese authorities requested commercial ships to push boats with migrants in distress back to the high seas and Libyan Coast Guard is continuing to turn vessels back to its shores.

Americas: Prison conditions We are deeply worried by the overcrowding and lack of basic services in many prisons in the Americas region that are fuelling the spread of COVID-19 and triggering protests.

The new UN experts Media Guide to the new UN experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to its fact-finding and monitoring bodies.

“Free Azimjan Askarov” Kyrgyzstan must uphold its international obligations and release human rights defender Azimjan Askarov – UN expert.

Arbitrary detention COVID-19 is not an excuse for the unlawful deprivation of liberty, says UN expert group on arbitrary detention.

Belarus / COVID-19 UN rights experts urge Belarus to release children and young people jailed for drug offences amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Child exploitation Urgent need for child protection services to mitigate the risk of child sexual abuse and exploitation worldwide

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Syria – civilian killings Bachelet expresses concerns about continuing killings of civilians across Syria, saying the deteriorating situation is “a ticking time-bomb” must not be ignored.

Honouring journalists Sound, evidence-based journalism is more important than ever, today, the High Commissioner noted

COVID-19 and migrants In a video statement, the High Commissioner calls for support and solidarity with migrants amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lebanon: Violent protests We are deeply concerned by the renewed violence that has erupted in Lebanon. We call on everyone to exercise utmost restraint, to refrain from violence against other people, and to respect property.

Nepal – Transitional justice Nepal Supreme Court’s decision to stand by its ruling against amnesties for serious human rights violations may be an opportunity to revitalize the long-stalled transitional justice process.

COVID-19: People with disabilities Targeted measures are needed to address the disproportionate risks faced by people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Arbitrary detention COVID-19 is not an excuse for the unlawful deprivation of liberty, says UN expert group on arbitrary detention.

“Free Azimjan Askarov” Kyrgyzstan must uphold its international obligations and release human rights defender Azimjan Askarov – UN expert.

The new UN experts Media Guide to the new UN experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to its fact-finding and monitoring bodies.

Belarus / COVID-19 UN rights experts urge Belarus to release children and young people jailed for drug offences amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Enforced disappearances UN expert group meets by videoconference to review more than 500 cases from 25 countries from all regions of the world.

Crisis in Venezuela Venezuela must offer concrete steps to end the devastating impact of the humanitarian crisis, say UN rights experts.

International solidarity UN expert urges adoption of draft declaration on international solidarity as the world emerges from the COVID-19 crisis.

Child exploitation Urgent need for child protection services to mitigate the risk of child sexual abuse and exploitation worldwide

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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.

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

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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.

Human Rights Committee issues findings The UN Human Rights Committee has published its findings on the civil and political rights record of Central African Republic, Portugal, Tunisia, Uzbekistan and Dominica.

SPT COVID-19 Advice Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has issued detailed advices on actions governments and independent monitoring bodies should take to protect people deprived of their liberty during COVID-19.

Treaty Bodies joint statement The Chairpersons of the 10 UN Treaty Bodies urged global leaders to ensure that human rights are respected in government measures to tackle COVID-19.

Human Rights Treaties Branch The United Nations Human Rights Treaties Branch has postponed all upcoming treaty body committee sessions until the end of May in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

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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-19 and migrants In a video statement, the High Commissioner calls for support and solidarity with migrants amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honouring journalists Sound, evidence-based journalism is more important than ever, today, the High Commissioner noted

COVID-19 and human rights in Latin America The High Commissioner participated in the Inter-American Dialogue Webinar on the impact of COVID on human rights, especially women’s rights, in Latin America

Business and COVID-19 The High Commissioner's recommendations to meet the challenges of massive shifts in demand, supply chains, transportation and mobility and worker protection.

COVID action Michelle Bachelet called for urgent and detailed action to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from creating “ even wider inequalities and extensive suffering”

#FightRacism "Racism is against everything we stand for," the High Commissioner said in a video marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. She said that all of us have a responsibility to fight it, including in times of pandemics.

Ending racism “Racism violates everything we stand for and everything we do,” High Commissioner Bachelet told the Human Rights Council, citing the police violence, racial profiling and structural discrimination in health, employment, education and housing experienced by people of African descent.

Human Rights in Venezuela The High Commissioner updated the Council on the Human Rights situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

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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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Committee on the Rights of Child / 85th Session From: 11-05-2020
To: 29-05-2020
Palais Wilson

Working Group on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises / 26th Session From: 11-05-2020
To: 15-05-2020
XII

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances / 121st Session From: 11-05-2020
To: 15-05-2020
Virtual

Group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action / 7th Session From: 11-05-2020
To: 15-05-2020
Ariana 2

Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice / 28th Session From: 26-05-2020
To: 29-05-2020
New York

Meeting of Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies / 32nd Session From: 01-06-2020
To: 05-06-2020
New York

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

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UN Charter Body Database

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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

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