Category: Human Rights

More than three generations have passed since the end of the Second World War, but antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia that continue to poison societies around the world, makes the lessons learned then, arguably more important today than ever before.  “Stories of Holocaust survivors are stark reminders of the need to fight injustice and stop hatred”, said Tracey Petersen, Manager… Read More

Addressing the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the UN chief said the vote will give renewed legitimacy to national institutions in Palestine, including a democratically elected Parliament and Government.  .@antonioguterres this morning said the pandemic has had a severe impact on the Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. He reiterated the @UN‘s commitment to support… Read More

Migrants and people without jobs were among the groups most targeted by human traffickers, UNODC added, warning that the economic fallout and job losses due to the coronavirus pandemic have exposed millions more to the risk.  “Millions of women, children and men worldwide are out of work, out of school and without social support in the continuing COVID-19 crisis, leaving… Read More

Since the 2014 landmark UN investigation into human rights in the DPRK, commonly known as North Korea, there have been reasonable indications that crimes against humanity have been perpetrated, the report said.  In collecting and analyzing information relating to these possible crimes, identified by the 2014 probe, the report noted “harsh conditions within the ordinary prison system, which may amount… Read More

Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, explained that Nacilio Macario was slain on 14 November, allegedly killed by settlers while taking water and food to communities protecting their land on Nicaragua’s northern Caribbean coast.   The UN expert urged the Government to investigate his killing, saying it has a responsibility “to ensure a safe and supportive… Read More

The appeal, which came a day before Javid Dehghan was due to be put to death, follows a series of “at least 28” executions in December, including people from ethnic minorities, such as the Baluchi minority, to which Mr. Dehghan belongs. OHCHR strongly-condemned the spate of State-sanctioned killings. ??#Iran: We strongly condemn the series of executions – at least 28 –… Read More

In a decision published on Wednesday, the Human Rights Committee – an independent expert body that monitors States’ compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – said that Italy failed to respond promptly to various distress calls from the sinking boat, which was carrying more than 400 adults and children.  Italy also failed to explain the delay… Read More

Special Representative Virginia Gamba presented her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council, which shows COVID-19 response has made these children more vulnerable to grave violations.    Their rights to education and health, and access to justice, social services and humanitarian aid, have also been restricted.  “I am deeply concerned about the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on… Read More

The comments came after the 6 January conviction by an Israeli military court of the Palestinian human rights defender and founder of Youth Against Settlements, a Hebron-based group, which opposes settlement expansion through non-violent civil resistance.   In a statement from the UN human rights office, OHCHR, issued on Tuesday, the experts said that the country must immediately stop using its array of military security tools “to obstruct the legitimate and indispensable work of human rights… Read More

António Guterres made the impassioned appeal in a video message for the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, observed on Wednesday, which honours the six million Jews and millions of others murdered by the Nazis during the Second World War.   As this year’s anniversary is taking place under the shadow of the pandemic,… Read More