Human Rights 

From the Field: UN human rights officers on the frontline in Somalia

UN Photo/Fardosa Hussein Every day, UN human rights officers are on the frontlines to support them. They are part of the UN’s field work, talking to those most affected by conflict and monitoring how human rights principles and international humanitarian law obligations are being respected in situations of conflict and insecurity; like in Garowe, Somalia, where nearly 75,000 men, women,… Read More
Human Rights 

Ukraine flood disaster: needs grow as long-term impacts loom

Speaking to journalists from Bilozerka, a town on the Dnipro River about 20 kilometres west of Kherson and five kilometres from the frontline, Ms. Brown, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, said that on Friday, the UN brought in a five-truck convoy to the affected areas, with desperately needed drinking water, food and equipment to help repair damaged homes. ‘Distraught’ population… Read More
Human Rights 

Central African Republic: Tanzanian peacekeepers to be repatriated following abuse allegations

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told correspondents that the decision to send the unit home had been made by the Secretariat in New York, following consultations with the peacekeeping mission in CAR, MINUSCA. ‘Credible evidence’ “The decision comes after a preliminary investigation which found credible evidence that 11 members of the unit had allegedly engaged in sexual exploitation and abuse of… Read More
Human Rights 

Arrests and hate speech target Baha’i minority in Yemen

OHCHR said that on 25 May, security forces stormed a peaceful meeting of Baha’is in Sana’a. Seventeen people, including five women, were taken to an unknown location, and all but one, are still being held incommunicado. The UN rights office urged the de facto Houthi authorities in Sana’a, to immediately release the detainees. Call for killings On 2 June, according… Read More
Human Rights 

Draft NY state law a ‘golden opportunity’ to ensure fair debt relief

Olivier de Schutter, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, and Attiya Waris, Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, have welcomed the proposed New York Taxpayer and International Debt Crises Prevention Act, which is currently under discussion.  They urged lawmakers to adopt the draft bill, which compels private creditors to participate in international debt relief efforts on… Read More
Human Rights 

Haiti: UN deeply saddened as latest earthquake kills three, in wake of floods

The 5.5 magnitude quake struck in the department of Grand’Anse, following torrential rains which have displaced more than 13,000 people. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life, destruction of property and suffering of the Haitian people caused by the earthquake”, said UN Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric. “The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes… Read More
Human Rights 

Human rights for all, still ‘work in progress’ warns Türk

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, and its mandate has become a powerful vehicle for change, progress, dignity, and justice, yet “this is far from enough to meet today’s challenges”, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in his keynote address at the +30 Symposium, Vienna World Conference: 30 Years On: Our Rights – Our Future. Common language… Read More
Human Rights 

First Person: ‘Born fighting’ for rights of Black Brazilians

Organized under the theme, Realizing the dream: A UN declaration on the promotion, protection and full respect of the human rights of people of African descent, the Permanent Forum heard from experts and leaders from around the world, including Ms. Nascimento, explaining the challenges they have faced, and the dreams they have for the future. Her dream is for Black… Read More
Human Rights 

315,000 grave violations against children in conflict over 18 years: UNICEF

The UN-verified figures were reported by the agency as States, donors and the humanitarian community meet in Norway, for the Oslo Conference on Protecting Children in Armed Conflict. The 315,000 incidents were recorded in more than 30 conflict situations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. They include more than 120,000 children killed or maimed; at least 105,000 children recruited… Read More
Human Rights 

Regulation essential to curb AI for surveillance, disinformation: rights experts

In a statement on Friday, the experts said that emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence-based biometric surveillance systems, are increasingly being used “in sensitive contexts”, without individuals’ knowledge or consent ‘Urgent red lines’ must be drawn “Urgent and strict regulatory red lines are needed for technologies that claim to perform emotion or gender recognition,” said the experts, who include Fionnuala Ní Aoláin,… Read More
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