Human Rights 

Execution of Gaza prisoners condemned by UN rights office

Five men were executed in the early hours of 4 September 2022, an act which, says the Office, was in stark violation of the State of Palestine’s own domestic law and its obligations under international law. Three were convicted of murder and two of “collaboration” with Israel. According to media reports, the executions were the first in the Occupied Palestinian… Read More
Human Rights 

Visa refusal for UN human rights staff in Palestine part of wider ‘worrying trend’: Bachelet

The development is occurring in a context where Israeli authorities are increasingly limiting what she called human rights “eyes and ears on the ground”.  Search for solutions  Although the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in Palestine has been operating for 26 years, the 15 international staff there “had no choice but to leave” in 2020, said Ms. Bachelet.  “Subsequent requests… Read More
Human Rights 

Enforced disappearance a serious human rights violation, used to spread terror

Enforced disappearances is a crime which is generally committed by State agents through abduction and arrest, with victims often held in secret detention, says the UN. Some are subjected to torture and summary execution, while their fate is kept secret, from families and society at large. The Committee and Working Group on Enforced Disappearances – the UN’s key mechanisms to address… Read More
Human Rights 

INTERVIEW: ‘Break the bonds of shame’ about slavery – UN rights experts

In his message for the day, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said it was an opportunity to “celebrate the diverse heritage and culture of people of African descent and their enormous contribution to our societies throughout history. “Yet, around the world, millions of people of African descent are still subject to racism and deeply entrenched and systemic racial discrimination.  That is why… Read More
Human Rights 

Spain: Former Catalan Parliament leaders’ political rights violated, say UN experts

The findings by the group of independent human rights experts were published after revision of a complaint filed by Oriol Junqueras i Vies, former Vice-President of Catalonia, and three former ministers, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Josep Rull i Andreu and Jordi Turull i Negre.  The four former Catalan separatist leaders were suspended from public duties prior to their convictions over… Read More
Human Rights 

LGBT rights being ‘deliberately undermined’, in some US states: UN expert

“Despite five decades of progress, equality is not within reach, and often not even within sight, for all persons impacted by violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the United States,’’ said Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Mr. Madrigal-Borloz presented his conclusions… Read More
Human Rights 

Russia’s war with Ukraine needs to end, UN’s Bachelet urges Vladimir Putin

Speaking to journalists in Geneva just days before her term as High Commissioner for Human Rights comes to an end, Ms. Bachelet also said that she was still “trying very hard” to finalise publication of her Office’s long-awaited report on the situation of the mainly Muslim Uyghur ethnic minority in China’s Xinjiang province. “We’re working on the report, I had… Read More
Human Rights 

Israeli suppression of Palestinian rights organizations ‘illegal and unacceptable’

During a raid last week, the Israeli army broke into and shut down the offices of seven Palestinian human rights and humanitarian groups operating in Ramallah, located in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).  “These actions amount to severe suppression of human rights defenders and are illegal and unacceptable,” the experts said, encouraging UN Member States to use international law to end… Read More
Human Rights 

Stand in ‘firm solidarity’ with victims of violence based on religion or belief, urges UN chief

During the day set aside to honour the victims who have lost their lives or suffered for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief, Secretary-General António Guterres  issued a statement standing in “firm solidarity”. “Hate speech, online or offline, continues to fuel violence against vulnerable members of society, including ethnic and religious minorities,” he… Read More
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