Category: Human Rights

According to spokesperson Liz Throssell, a judge of the Haitian Cour de Cassation (Supreme Court), was arrested on 7 February, in circumstances that may amount to unlawful or arbitrary arrest and detention. Twenty-two other individuals were also arrested, 17 of whom still remain in pre-trial detention. While the judge was subsequently released, the person along with two others were “forced… Read More

Their call followed the release on 10 February of five human rights defenders and members of the non-governmental  organization (NGO) Azul Positivo, who had been detained since 12 January. However, the charges they faced, relating to money laundering along with terrorism and its financing have not been dropped, according to a news release issued by the experts.  “The arrests and criminal charges are part of a… Read More

After a decade of chaos that has likely taken hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions more, the Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in its latest report that no Syrian family had been left “unscathed”.  Pointing out that “cities have been reduced to rubble, and a constellation of armed actors continue to prey on the population”, the Commission… Read More

“The devastating effect of sanctions imposed is multiplied by extra-territoriality and over-compliance adversely affecting public and private sectors, Venezuela citizens, non-governmental organizations, third country national and companies”, said Alena Douhan, Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights.  Imposed by the United States, European Union as well as other countries, the sanctions have sparked economic, humanitarian and development crises, devastating… Read More

 “This offers profound hope to those who believe that consequences, not condonation, must be the answer to the commission of grave crimes”, said Michael Lynk, the Special Rapporteur for the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.   The judgement, which includes potential war crimes, is a major move towards ending impunity in the 53-year-old occupation of… Read More

Citing concerns for the wives and children of extremists who have been detained in these “squalid” camps in northeast Syria, 57 unnamed countries have been urged to repatriate their nationals immediately. UN experts urge 57 States whose nationals are held in squalid camps in northeast #Syria to return them home without delay. They express serious concerns at the deteriorating security… Read More

“The Biden administration has re-committed the United States to a foreign policy centered on democracy, human rights, and equality”, said Secretary of State, Antony Blinken in a statement on Monday.  “Effective use of multilateral tools is an important element of that vision, and in that regard the President has instructed the Department of State to re-engage immediately and robustly with the UN… Read More

In 2018, it was estimated by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) that globally 68 million girls were at risk; now the figure stands at 70 million. FGM, which many societies consider a cultural tradition, can result in long-term health and psychological problems. The UN says that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected girls and women, resulting in what it calls “a shadow… Read More

After their meeting with the Palestinian Bedouins from Humsa al Bqai’a on Thursday, Sarah Muscroft, head of the UN’s humanitarian agency in the occupied territory, James Heenan, head of the UN Human Rights Office (OCHA) there and Lucia Elmi, UNICEF Special Representative in Palestine, issued a statement calling for demolitions to be halted, and international law respected.  “Sixty people, including… Read More

“Ending the reliance on privately run prisons for federal prisoners is an encouraging step, but further action is needed”, said Jelena Aparac, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries. “Given the magnitude of mass incarceration in the US, this decision will benefit only the very small percentage of federal prisoners who are held in private prisons, and specifically excludes vulnerable… Read More