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Backlash against women's rights hurts us all - Zeid

Zeid calls for us all to stand up for women's rights as the world marks International Women's Day on 8 March, warning that advances in women's equality should nowhere be taken for granted.
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A girl's education comes first, marriage will follow later

Thanks to her human rights training, a pupil prevents an early marriage and stands up for girls’ education.
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Attacks on Syrian civilians and aid workers in Aleppo were war crimes

“The scale of what happened in Aleppo is unprecedented,” the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria said, issuing its new report. The Commission found war crimes were committed by government forces and opposition groups in the brutal battle to control Aleppo.
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“We have much to lose” High Commissioner Zeid tells Human Rights Council

Without commitment to fundamental human rights, to the dignity and worth of the human person and to the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, our world will become chaos, misery and warfare.
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“Stand up for someone’s rights today”: A global call to support human rights

“Stand up for someone’s rights today” is the new global campaign that aims to encourage, amplify and support what people do in their everyday lives to defend human rights. It promotes taking action for greater freedom, stronger respect and more compassion.
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News

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Backlash against progress Zeid calls on all to stand up for women's rights, warning in a statement for International Women's Day of the dangers of recent reversals of fundamentally important legislation.

Pesticide Concern Two UN experts call for a new global treaty to regulate and phase out dangerous pesticides in farming, and move towards sustainable agricultural practices.

Sri Lanka justice Slow progress in Sri Lanka on the crucial issue of transitional justice risks derailing the momentum towards lasting peace, reconciliation and stability, report says.

Women's rights in Africa The UN Human Rights Office launches, with the African Union and UN Women, a report into women’s rights in Africa, the first in a planned series about women’s human rights on the continent.

Action on illegal adoptions A UN expert is recommending new measures to combat illegal adoptions, including proposals for tackling the systems in which such practices occur.

UN Women's Day appeal UN experts are urging world States to give the issue of women’s rights to equality high visibility and top political priority to end gender-based discrimination.

Israel Criticised Two UN rights experts denounce Israel's growing constraints on human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Freedom of religion Countries around the world are being urged to act now to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief, by a United Nations expert.

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Briefing: Thailand, Yemen Thailand’s decision not to enact a draft anti-torture and anti-disappearance law is disappointing; troubling reports of the recruitment of children in Yemen for use in the armed conflict.

Sri Lanka justice Slow progress in Sri Lanka on the crucial issue of transitional justice risks derailing the momentum towards lasting peace, reconciliation and stability, report says.

Briefing: Elor Azaria The lenient sentence given to an Israeli soldier convicted of unlawfully killing a wounded Palestinian in an apparent extrajudicial execution of an unarmed man is deeply disturbing.

Libya trial The trial in Libya of 37 members of Col Muammar Gaddafi’s regime was a missed opportunity for justice, Zeid says, as UN report details it fell short of international fair trial standards.

DRC violations DRC defence and security forces committed serious human rights violations when preventing and containing demonstrations in December 2016 - UN report.

DRC killings Zeid calls on the DRC Government to take immediate steps to halt widespread human rights violations, including apparent summary executions, by the country's armed forces.

Funding appeal The UN Human Rights Office launches its most ambitious funding appeal yet, urging States and private donors to bolster the Office’s ability to work and stand up for human rights for all people, everywhere in an uncertain world.

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Action on illegal adoptions A UN expert is recommending new measures to combat illegal adoptions, including proposals for tackling the systems in which such practices occur.

Freedom of religion Countries around the world are being urged to act now to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief, by a United Nations expert.

Pesticide Concern Two UN experts call for a new global treaty to regulate and phase out dangerous pesticides in farming, and move towards sustainable agricultural practices.

UN Women's Day appeal UN experts are urging world States to give the issue of women’s rights to equality high visibility and top political priority to end gender-based discrimination.

USA indigenous UN expert urges consistent policies for US on indigenous peoples’ rights for projects like Dakota Pipeline.

Disability support UN expert says: “States must rethink the way they provide care, to end discrimination and ensure people with disabilities get the support they need.”

Fake news rights Freedom of expression monitors around the world issue a Joint Declaration on dealing with fake news, disinformation and propaganda.

Albinism protection call A UN expert is calling for enhanced oversight of traditional healers to protect people with albinism being attacked and their body parts used in rituals.

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Truth, justice and reparation and freedom of religion The Council held a dialogue with Special Rapporteurs on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, and on freedom of religion or belief.

Rights of the child and 2030 Agenda The Council held a panel discussion on challenges and opportunities to reinforce children’s rights through the 2030 Agenda.

Terrorism, cultural rights, disabilities, albinism The Council concluded its dialogues with the Special Rapporteurs on counterterrorism, cultural rights, disabilities and the Independent Expert on albinism.

Rights of the Child and 2030 Agenda The Council held a panel on the protection of the rights of the child in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Disabilities and albinism The Council held a dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism.

Counter-terrorism and cultural rights The Council held a dialogue with the Special Rapporteurs on counter-terrorism and on cultural rights and concluded its dialogue with the Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders and on torture.

Rights of persons with disabilities The Council held a debate on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Human rights defenders and torture The Council held a dialogue with the Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders and on torture.

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CED's report of Cuba The Committee on Enforced Disappearances concluded on March 7th, its consideration of the initial report of Cuba on its implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Italy's review Italy's human rights record to be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Committee on 9 and 10 March.

Women's rights findings The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has published its findings on: Ukraine, Ireland, Jordan, El Salvador, Germany, Sri Lanka, Rwanda and Micronesia

The human rights committee pays tribute The Human Rights Committee opened on March 6th, 2017, paying tribute to their colleague and a long-time Committee Member, Nigel Rodley, who had recently passed away.

Committee on the enforced disappearances opening The Committee on Enforced Disappearances opens its twelfth session, hearing an address by Simon Walker, Chief of the Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section.

Turkmenistan review Turkmenistan's human rights record to be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Committee on 8 and 9 March.

Ecuador review Ecuador to be reviewed by UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances on 8-9 March

CEDAW: Roundup The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concluded its sixty-sixth session after examining the reports of Ireland, Jordan, El Salvador, Germany, Sri Lanka, Rwanda and Micronesia.

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Our priorities

Enhancing equality and countering discrimination

Combating impunity and strengthening accountability and the rule of law

Integrating human rights in development and in the economic sphere

Widening the democratic space

Strengthening international human rights mechanisms

Early warning and protection of human rights in situations of conflict, violence and insecurity

Resources

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Children's Rights and the 2030 Agenda All children have a right to live free of deprivation and violence.

Accountability for crimes in Syria Set-up for an independent investigative mechanism is underway.

The death penalty and prohibition of torture Does capital punishment violate the prohibition on torture?

25th anniversary of the Declaration on Minorities We need more champions to make minority rights a priority.

Opening speech to HRC Without commitment to fundamental human rights, to the dignity and worth of the human person and to the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, our world will become chaos, misery and warfare.

"Strengthening national human rights institutions" Partnerships with UNDP and others are essential to boost impact

Building peace with human rights UN peacebuilding must include more human rights.

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Annual Appeal 2016

The Annual Appeal 2016 provides information about our planned activities and needs for 2016

Right to development

Fact Sheet No. 37 FAQs on the Right to Development

Human Trafficking

Fact Sheet No. 36, Human Rights and Human Trafficking

Forced Evictions

Forced Evictions. Fact Sheet No. 25/Rev.1

Contract Negotiations

Principles for Responsible Contracts: Integrating the Management of Human Rights Risks into State-Investor Contract Negotiations - Guidance for Negotiators

Migrants

The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Migrants in an Irregular Situation

Racial Discrimination

Developing National Action Plans Against Racial Discrimination: A Practical Guide

Transitional Justice

Transitional Justice and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

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Human Rights Council / 34th Session From: 27-02-2017
To: 24-03-2017
Palais des Nations Room XX

Global Alliance of the National Human Rights Institutions / 30th Session From: 06-03-2017
To: 08-03-2017
Palais des Nations Room XVII

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Pre-sessional Working Group / 68th Session From: 06-03-2017
To: 10-03-2017
Palais des Nations Room XVI

Committee on Enforced Disappearances / 12th Session From: 06-03-2017
To: 17-03-2017
Palais Wilson 1st

Human Rights Committee / 119th Session From: 06-03-2017
To: 29-03-2017
Palais Wilson Gr

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Pre-sessional Working Group / 7th Session From: 13-03-2017
To: 20-03-2017
Palais des Nations Room XVII

Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights (TBC) / 44th Session From: 20-03-2017
To: 23-03-2017
Palais Wilson 1-016

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities / 17th Session From: 20-03-2017
To: 12-04-2017
Palais des Nations Room XVII

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UN Charter Body Database

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Universal Periodic Review

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National Human Rights Institutions Website

Find information on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and the International Coordinating Committee for National Human Rights Institutions (ICC).

Universal Human Rights Index

Access country-specific human rights recommendations and information emanating from international human rights mechanisms in the UN system: the Treaty Bodies, the Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Database

Access translations of the UDHR, a milestone document in the history of human rights, into over 460 different languages and dialects.

Anti-discrimination Database

Search for information, policies and measures taken at the international, regional and national levels to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Human Rights Education and Training Database

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Jurisprudence Database

Access jurisprudence emanating from the United Nations Treaty Bodies that receive and consider complaints from individuals.

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