Category: Human Rights

Although UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet has recognized the authorities’ efforts to initiate reforms, the report said that she has also expressed deep concern over a number of violations in the country.  Setbacks to accountability  OHCHR noted setbacks to accountability for past human rights violations and the recognition of victims’ rights, Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva.… Read More

The Remedy in Development Finance report gives guidance to development finance institutions to ensure that the projects they finance do not harm people, and that effective remedy is readily available for any potential victims. While development finance institutions are not, and cannot be, responsible for all outcomes, Michelle Bachelet told the launch event in Washington DC that “in their own processes… Read More

“We work specifically with transgender people. We try to integrate them into society, because they usually get thrown out of their homes because of their identity or when they declare their sexual orientation to their parents.  We are very exposed to HIV. So, I think we need to address the problem at the grassroots level, starting with educating parents to… Read More

The appeal from Special Rapporteurs on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan and situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor follows what they have called “relentless misogynistic and sectarian attacks” against Rana Ayyub – including death and rape threats.  Rana Ayyub, independent journalist and defender women’s human rights, continues to be the target of intensifying online harassment by far-right Hindu… Read More

Speaking on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, he also reminded the participants of the challenges which face the so-called Non-Self-Governing Territories which remain around the world.  “Global cooperation is central to addressing its impacts”, he underscored, urging the Committee, also known as C-24, to “commit to making 2022 a year of recovery for everyone”.  ‘A unique platform’   The Special Committee… Read More

This criminalisation has measurable consequences in terms of public health and access to education, says Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the UN’s independent human rights expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Created by the Human Rights Council in 2016 by a majority of States concerned about victims of violence and discrimination, based on their sexual… Read More

In opening comments to the meeting – hosted by the Governments of Norway and Ghana – the UN chief insisted that people with disabilities were often the poorest and most disadvantaged members of society. He said that persons with disabilities were dying “at vastly higher rates”, all because they faced “persistent barriers in health systems”. In developing countries “which are strangled financially”,… Read More

“I am receiving several reports of harassments from human rights defenders who assist migrants and document human rights violations against them, at the Polish-Belarusian border, and I am deeply concerned at this practice”, said Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.  Ms. Lawlor and Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression,… Read More

The head of the three-member delegation from the UN torture prevention body which visited earlier in the month, Suzanne Jabbour, urged the country “to drop its decision to dismantle national torture prevention mechanism”. She also called on Brazil “to respect its international human rights commitments and consolidate its resources and efforts to combat torture.” Deprived of liberty Brazil has more… Read More

The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said on Friday that lack of progress in implementing key provisions of a 2018 peace deal contributes to the persistent insecurity and impunity which allows violations to occur.  “There is consensus amongst key stakeholders that while some progress has been made in implementing the Revitalised Agreement, critical elements involving security sector reform,… Read More