Category: Human Rights

The UN chief made the appeal in his message for Human Rights Day, observed on Thursday.  “People and their rights must be front and centre of response and recovery. We need universal, rights-based frameworks like health coverage for all, to beat this pandemic and protect us for the future”, he said.  Violations hurt us all  The pandemic has reinforced two… Read More

In a wide-ranging press conference to mark Human Rights Day, Ms. Bachelet said it was astounding that some political leaders were continuing to play down of COVID-19 and dismissing simple prevention measures such as wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings.  Repairing the frayed system of multilateralism will be essential to #RecoverBetter. Leaders need to recognize that, more than ever, our world… Read More

Speaking at a meeting of the Human Rights Council, High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet shared reports of more than 27,000 arrests since 9 August, when protesters began contesting the result of presidential elections.  “In the last month, hundreds of people continued to be arrested each week during the demonstrations – with reportedly around 1,000 people on 8 November and 700 on… Read More

The group of 10 rights experts, have written to the Government calling for clemency, amidst concerns that she received inadequate legal assistance at the time of her trial in 2007, and that previous trauma and mental health issues were not satisfactorily put before the jury.  She was convicted of murder, under a federal offence of “kidnapping resulting in death”, according… Read More

“These rights touch on every aspect of life: the right to go to school, to live in one’s community, to access health care, to start a family, to engage in political participation, to be able to play sport, to travel – and to have decent work,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message.  When crises such as #COVID19 grip… Read More

“The Compact reflects a growing global understanding of the great benefits of human mobility. But it also recognizes that, if poorly managed, migration can generate huge challenges, from a tragic loss of life to rights abuses and social tensions”, said Secretary-General António Guterres, launching his biennial report on the Compact’s implementation.   While the coronavirus pandemic heightened challenges and negatively affected more… Read More

Slavery is not simply a matter of history. Today, more than 40 million people are still victims of contemporary slavery. I call on countries, civil society & the private sector to strengthen their efforts to end this abhorrent practice. https://t.co/2FtDcsbLd9 pic.twitter.com/4QyYgsv38b — António Guterres (@antonioguterres) December 2, 2020 In a message, Secretary-General António Guterres said that global protests this year… Read More

“Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the already dire humanitarian and socio-economic situation” Secretary-General António Guterres said at the meeting online marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which was on Sunday.   While noting that Israel’s suspension of West Bank annexation plans has removed a critical threat to peace and regional stability, he indicated that the expansion of settlement planning and construction continues.  Moreover, demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures by… Read More

Maxwell Matewere, a Malawian crime prevention expert with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has been active in the anti-human trafficking field for more than two decades. Today, he trains officials throughout Malawi to prevent and combat this crime: this year alone, despite COVID-19 restrictions, his work has led to the rescue of around three hundred human trafficking… Read More