Category: Human Rights

The warning comes from UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata, who presented his first report to a virtual session of the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday.  “Historical levels of underemployment or unemployment, loss of livelihoods and uncertain economic perspectives are some of the complex consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic which have hit the most vulnerable… Read More

The Commission’s 25-page report documented continuing violations by nearly every fighting force controlling territory across the country. It also highlighted an increase in patterns of targeted abuse, such as assassinations, sexual and gender-based violence, and looting or appropriation of private property.   3/7 COI Chair Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro: suffering is compounded by the deepening economic crisis, tightening sanctions and the #COVID-19… Read More

Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underlined the importance of democracy for ensuring free flow of information, participation in decision-making and accountability for the response to COVID-19.  Well before #COVID19, frustration was rising & trust in public authorities was declining. Governments must do more to listen to people demanding change. On this #DemocracyDay, let’s seize… Read More

The Special Rapporteurs raised the alarm on Monday that Navid Afkari’s execution marks the latest in a series of death penalty sentences handed down in relation to protests in 2018 and 2019. “Such flagrant disregard for the right to life through summary executions is not only a matter of domestic concern”, they said in a statement. “We call on the… Read More

Addressing the Council on the opening day of the session, Ms. Bachelet also appealed for global solidarity to confront COVID-19, just as the World Health Organization (WHO) announced more than half a million new cases of coronavirus infection, including more than 307,000 on Saturday alone, a record daily figure. No country spared pandemic “The world has rarely experienced a simultaneous,… Read More

In its new report, Safety of Journalists Covering Protests – Preserving Freedom of the Press During Times of Civil Unrest, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural agency (UNESCO) said that between January and June this year, journalists have been increasingly attacked, arrested and even killed. Launching the report, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay underscored that the freedom to inform citizens on… Read More

In its new report, Safety of Journalists Covering Protests – Preserving Freedom of the Press During Times of Civil Unrest, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural agency (UNESCO) said that between January and June this year, journalists have been increasingly attacked, arrested and even killed. Launching the report, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay underscored that the freedom to inform citizens on… Read More

Youth representatives are set to address the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the UN 75 anniversary on 21 September 2020, sharing a summary and outcome of the discussions. Ahead of the event, UN News spoke to some prominent youth leaders, to find out what kind of world they want, how they see the UN’s role in the coming decades,… Read More

Investigate torture claims Secretary-General @antonioguterres concerned about Belarus situation and reports of intimidation tactics against civil society, media and opposition figures. He calls on authorities to refrain from use of force against those engaging in peaceful assembly. https://t.co/LcQceMzngU — UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) September 11, 2020 In a statement, the UN chief also expressed concern over reports of intimidation against civil… Read More

“Yemen has been ravaged in ways that should shock the conscience of humanity,” said Melissa Parke, member of the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen (GEE).   “Yemen has now experienced some six years of unremitting armed conflict, with no end inside for the suffering of the millions of people caught in its grip.”  The collective failure… Read More