Human Rights 

G20 countries urged to stop ‘COVID generation’ from being locked out of the classroom

Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education who also served as UK Prime Minister, was one of the signatories asking G20 heads, national Governments and global financial institutions to urgently ramp up funding to “rebuild education better”. “We cannot stand by and allow these young people to be robbed of their education and a fair chance in life”,… Read More
Human Rights 

PROFILE: Taking a lead against genocide, ‘no society is immune’ warns Adama Dieng

While serving in the role he’s helped strengthen the rule of law, fight impunity, and built up the capacity of judicial and democratic institutions around the globe.  Sounding the alarm  The mandate of the Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide was established in 2004 to not only sound the alarm over situations that might lead to genocide but also leverage… Read More
Human Rights 

Coronavirus ‘starkly’ exposes vulnerability of persons with disabilities

In the first online session for the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Ibrahim Salama, head of the Human Rights Treaties Branch in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) lauded the treaty body, which, despite significant challenges posed by the virus, have done “extraordinary work” to implement their mandate. Speaking on behalf of the… Read More
Human Rights 

UN rights experts express ‘outrage’ at Belarus police violence against peaceful protesters

Large numbers of protesters have been detained, and the experts have called on the international community to put pressure on the eastern European nation, where longtime authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko has ruled since 1994, to stop attacking its own citizens. No attempt at dialogue “We are outraged by the police violence towards peaceful protesters and journalists”, the UN experts said.… Read More
Human Rights 

UN rights experts call for accountability following Beirut’s ‘unprecedented’ lethal explosion

“The scale and impact of the lethal explosion are unprecedented”, the UN human rights experts said in a joint statement. “We are deeply concerned about the level of irresponsibility and impunity surrounding human and environmental devastation on this scale”. Overlapping calamities The colossal deadly explosion in #Beirut requires a prompt and independent investigation that:?underscores international human rights obligations?clarifies responsibilities related… Read More
Human Rights 

UN human rights office welcomes moves to curtail spread of hatred and violence online

The statement comes in the wake of a decision by Twitter to flag tweets by United States President Donald Trump earlier this week, which warned against potential electoral rigging this year, through states’ extending voting by mail. In response, President Trump on Thursday signed an Executive Order aimed at preventing online censorship, upholding free speech as “the bedrock of American… Read More
Human Rights 

‘Lockdown generation’ of young workers will need extra help after COVID-19, urges UN labour chief

Those young people who still have a job have seen their working hours cut by 23 per cent, said the head of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder, who also urged Governments to conduct widespread coronavirus testing and tracing of populations to help get economies back on their feet. Countries such as the Republic of Korea and Iceland had… Read More
Human Rights 

US states ‘manipulating’ COVID-19 pandemic to restrict abortion access, rights experts charge

Members of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls issued a statement on Wednesday expressing regret that states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Iowa, Ohio, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee “appear to be manipulating the crisis” to curb women’s reproductive rights. “This situation is also the latest example illustrating a pattern of restrictions and retrogressions in access to… Read More
Leaders Rwanda 

20 years under Rwanda’s ‘benevolent dictator’ Paul Kagame

Written by Antonio Cascais President Paul Kagame marks 20 years at the helm of Rwanda. He’s praised by some as a pioneer for women’s rights and environmentalism but criticized by others for his iron grip on power — which could last a while still. It’s no coincidence that the first “Made in Africa” smartphone comes from Rwanda: The Mara Phone… Read More
Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial

Subscribe