Category: Human Rights

Companies ‘failing’ to address offline harm incited by online hate: UN expert  States and companies are “failing” when it comes to combating online hate, the UN independent rights expert, or Special Rapporteur, on freedom of speech and expression said on Monday, ahead of the launch of a landmark report to reinforce legal standards for internet spaces.   Cautioning that hate speech runs the risk of being… Read More

Cautioning that hate speech runs the risk of being devalued as a term, David Kaye stressed the real dangers posed by a lack of consistent policy when it comes to monitoring and stamping out hate speech in the digital age.   “The prevalence of online hate poses challenges to everyone, first and foremost the marginalised individuals who are its principal targets,” said Mr.… Read More

At least eight people have died and more than 40 have been injured in protests against rising inequality. The demonstrations began last week following a proposal to increase public transportation fares, which was later scrapped. I’m deeply disturbed and saddened to see violence, destruction, deaths & injuries in #Chile. I urge the Govt to work with all sectors to find solutions to address… Read More

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) report, Scaling Fences: Voices of Irregular African Migrants to Europe, sets out to find out why those who put themselves in the hands of people smugglers, and put themselves in other vulnerable positions to cross borders, make the decision to leave home avoiding formal immigration procedures, in the first place   The report, which interviewed 1,970… Read More

Civil society groups report more than 2,000 people were detained before, during and after the protests on 20 September, which prompted the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to express concern about reports of lack of due process. On Friday her office reported that the arrests are continuing, with a number of well-known and respected civil society figures… Read More

The Council, which meets throughout the year at the UN Office in Geneva, is an international body, within the UN system, made up of 47 States, and is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. It has the power to launch fact-finding missions and establish commissions of inquiry into specific situations. Three times a year, it reviews… Read More

Continuing its debate on the promotion of human rights, which opened at headquarters in New York on Monday, the Third Committee of the General Assembly heard from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachet, about the growing problem of inequality across a multitude of sectors.   “We are witnessing an increase in xenophobia, hate speech, push backs on women’s equality and the rights of minorities,”… Read More

Day of the Girl Child spotlights 25 years of progress, with more on the horizon The world’s one billion young girls, were celebrated on Friday as an “unscripted and unstoppable” force for change, with 11 October designated each year the International Day of the Girl Child.   Every day, girls under-18 are challenging stereotypes, breaking barriers, and leading movements to tackle the issues that affect… Read More

Every day, girls under-18 are challenging stereotypes, breaking barriers, and leading movements to tackle the issues that affect them, and beyond, Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for the Day.   “As the theme of this year’s observance underscores, they are proving to be unscripted and unstoppable” in their undertakings, from eliminating child marriage, to closing the education gap, addressing violence and standing strong against the climate crisis.   The Day… Read More

Speaking at a meeting in Geneva aiming to convince more countries to assist the many millions of people around the world who live in nationless limbo, Mr. Grandi warned that much more action was needed, five years since UNHCR launched its #IBelong campaign to end statelessness. “The progress is far from assured: damaging forms of nationalism and the manipulation of… Read More