Category: Human Rights

States that have not yet abolished the death penalty may only impose it for “the most serious crimes,” the group of eleven experts said in a joint statement, adding that under international law, “only crimes of extreme gravity involving intentional killing” should be considered “most serious”. “Drug offences clearly do not meet this threshold”, they argued. Rights violation The experts… Read More

Amid a mounting number of reports and testimonies pointing to possible war crimes in Ukraine particularly in areas controlled until recently by Russian forces, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said that the pattern of abuses continued to be caused “by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas, such as shelling from heavy artillery, including multiple launch rocket systems,… Read More

“The intergenerational gap in power, influence and trust constitutes one of the biggest challenges of our time”, said UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake. The Be Seen, Be Heard campaign, which partners with The Body Shop International, seeks to create long-term structural changes that foster the inclusion of youth in decision-making. “With the climate crisis, global conflict and generational inequalities running… Read More

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine confirmed that more than 3,380 civilians have been killed since 24 February, and over 3,680 injured.  “We heard about snipers on roofs who would just shoot fairly randomly at civilians when they would cross the road, I assume as a form of trying to keep people in their houses and discourage them… Read More

More than 44 people died, and over a dozen were injured, after riots broke out on Monday at the prison, located in the northern city of Santo Domingo, OHCHR Spokesperson Liz Throssell said, citing the authorities.  The riots were reportedly provoked by the transfer of a prisoner known as ‘Anchundia’, linked to the R7 gang, from La Roca prison in… Read More

“We are deeply concerned that a new law, which came into force in Nicaragua on Friday, make it more difficult for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to register, require them to seek Government approval for their activities, and impose new reporting constraints, including detailing sources of funding, financial statements, activities and beneficiaries,” Liz Throssell told journalists at a regular press briefing in… Read More

Moreover, it added that the country also failed to investigate and prosecute those responsible. “Any use of force must be in line with the fundamental principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality,” said Committee member Carlos Gómez Martínez. Lethal force The Committee issued its findings after reviewing a petition case filed by relatives of Emiliano García Mendoza and Rubén Pariona Camposano… Read More

“We’re anticipating numbers in terms of all forms of violence against children to be in the tens of thousands for sure,” said Aaron Greenberg, UNICEF’s regional child protection advisor for Europe & Central Asia. Since the start of war in Ukraine, we’ve reached over 140,000 children and caregivers with mental health and psychosocial support. But above all, children need peace now.https://t.co/d8FYx8JnZX —… Read More

The study, The Gender Dimensions of Grave Violations Against Children In Armed Conflict, sheds light on the importance of better understanding the various risks they face, and how they can be reduced. “With this first study, we understand that integrating a gender perspective in the implementation of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) mandate can contribute to a better comprehension of the… Read More

The day shines a spotlight on the essential work they do, bringing those in power to account, with transparency, “often at great person risk”, said Secretary-General António Guterres, in a video message. Frontlines of crises “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many media workers have been on the frontlines, providing accurate, science-based reporting to inform decision-makers and save lives”, he said. “At the… Read More