Category: Human Rights

The operation started in the early hours of Thursday when police officers on the ground and in helicopters overhead opened fire across the Jacarezinho neighbourhood – in a operation allegedly aimed at suspected drug traffickers.  In addition to the deaths, an unknown number of people, including bystanders and those inside their homes, were also wounded. ‘Deadliest operation’ in over a decade OHCHR… Read More

The Human Rights Due Diligence Tool, provides a wide-ranging checklist co-developed by the UN Global Compact, the UN Human Rights Office, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), for all businesses involved in the maritime industry. The agencies are warning about a possible surge in the number of crewmembers stranded at sea due to new COVID-19… Read More

“Governments and others in positions of power” including members of parliament and vigilante groups were at the root of the problem in a dozen countries, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said, in a statement. Close ties Alarmed by attempts to undermine national human rights institutions in Latin America & the Caribbean, @mbachelet calls on the authorities to investigate each… Read More

Special Rapporteur Clément Voule said the laws adopted in Florida and Oklahoma appear to be part of an ongoing effort to curtail demonstrations, such as those which took place following the killing of George Floyd last May.  ‘Snowball effect’  He feared they are part of a wave of legislation to restrict racial justice protests in the US, where more than… Read More

Spokesperson Marta Hurtado said that the OHCHR office in Colombia is working to verify the exact number of casualties, and establish how the incident came about in Cali. “We express our profound shock at the events there and stress our solidarity with those who have lost their lives, as well as the injured and their families”, she said. Mr. Hurtado… Read More

In a message on World Press Freedom Day, marked annually on 3 May, Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the importance of reliable, verified and accessible information. . ???? The pen ?? is mightier ?? than the ?? sword ? ??? 3 May is #WorldPressFreedomDay. Stand up for #PressFreedom! — UNESCO ?️ #Education #Sciences #Culture ??? (@UNESCO) May 2, 2021 “During the… Read More

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, said that he understood the “disappointment of the many Palestinians” who had gone nearly 16 years without being able to cast their vote.   Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the postponement of the planned parliamentary elections, amidst a dispute over voting rights in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, according to news reports.  #UN Envoy @TWennesland takes note of postponement… Read More

For over three decades, Ms. Ressa has been involved in many initiatives to promote press freedom and currently manages the online outlet, Rappler. Her work however, also made her a target for attacks and abuse, UNESCO – the UN agency tasked with defending press freedom – said in a news release. Ms. Ressa was chosen for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World… Read More

The UN estimates there are some 476 million indigenous people in more than 90 countries around the world who have been denied the opportunity to control their own political, social, economic and cultural development.  Alexander Khimushin Adults (left to right) from the Omo River, Ethiopia, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala and Taimyr Peninsula, Russia feature in the photo exhibition. The images collected… Read More

“This is a momentous verdict”, said the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, in a statement.  The white former Minneapolis police officer was convicted on Tuesday of murdering the 46-year-old African American man in May of last year.  Mr. Chauvin was filmed kneeling on Mr. Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, sparking mass protests globally against racism.  More… Read More