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Serious rights violations in southeast Turkey

The displacement of thousands of people and the wholesale destruction of neighbourhoods in southeast Turkey during Government security operations are detailed in a UN report.
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'We need to protect each other and stand up for what we believe in'

"At times such as these, human rights are too important to be left to governments alone. We must also act, in our own lives, to uphold human rights," High Commissioner Zeid tells the FIDHR film festival in Geneva.
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Children at forefront of climate action urge focus on child rights

“The battle against climate change is one that we can’t afford to lose because it’s the greatest threat to our survival,” 16-year-old Kehkashan Basu told the Human Rights Council.
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High Commissioner delivers his Global Update to the Human Rights Council

“All together – or fall together”: High Commissioner Zeid highlights countries where positive reforms are underway – and warns of others where escalating crises threaten men and women around the world .
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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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Turkey report The report details allegations of massive destruction, killings and other serious human rights violations committed between July 2015 and December 2016 in southeast Turkey.

Ukraine chemicals warning A United Nations human rights expert is warning against the threat of catastrophic chemical disaster due to the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

DPRK rights violations A call to assign responsibility for gross human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) will be made by a UN expert.

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.

Argentina LGBT Argentina commended by a UN expert for being “progressive" with policies to stop attacks on LGBT people but the Government is being urged to do more.

Haiti prisons UN expert welcomes some progress in Haiti but says more needs to be done to reduce the number of people being held in jail without trial.

EU Migration UN experts: New EU recommendation on return procedures is a “slippery slope” to solve European migration challenges.

Namibia older people Namibian Government urged by UN expert to do more to help older people but commended for its political determination and vision to improve citizens' lives by 2030.

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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.

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

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 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.

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Namibia older people Namibian Government urged by UN expert to do more to help older people but commended for its political determination and vision to improve citizens' lives by 2030.

Haiti prisons UN expert welcomes some progress in Haiti but says more needs to be done to reduce the number of people being held in jail without trial.

DPRK rights violations A call to assign responsibility for gross human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) will be made by a UN expert.

Argentina LGBT Argentina commended by a UN expert for being “progressive" with policies to stop attacks on LGBT people but the Government is being urged to do more.

Ukraine chemicals warning A United Nations human rights expert is warning against the threat of catastrophic chemical disaster due to the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

Mali security fears Security threats in northern and central Mali are putting civilians at risk and hampering their access to basic social services, says a UN human rights expert.

Digital surveillance criticised Surveillance legislation around the world is being denounced by a UN expert calling for States to respect privacy as a universal right in the digital age.

Viet Nam urged on blogger Viet Nam is being urged by UN rights experts to release a popular blogger known as Mother Mushroom, who has been held incommunicado since she was arrested last October.

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Promotion and protection of all human rights The Council started its general debate on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.

Human Rights of Migrants The Council held a dialogue on the human rights of migrants in the context of large movements.

Preventable maternal mortality and morbidity The Council held a panel discussion on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity as a human rights priority for all States.

Thematic reports by the SG and the HC The Council heard presentations of the report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on transnational corporations and of a number of thematic reports by the UN Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office.

Dialogue with High Commissioner for Human Rights The Council concluded its interactive dialogue with Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on his annual report.

Panel discussion on access to medicines The Council held a panel discussion to exchange views on good practices and key challenges relevant to access to medicines as one of the fundamental elements of the right to health.

Environment and right to food The Council held a dialogue with the Special Rapporteurs on human rights and the environment, and on the right to food.

High Commissioner presents annual report The Council heard Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, present his annual report. It also concluded its dialogue on the rights to privacy and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina review The human rights record of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Committee on 14 and 15 March.

Report of Italy The Human Rights Committee concluded on 10 March, its consideration of the sixth periodic report of Italy on its implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Report of Turmenistan The Human Rights Committee concluded on 9 March, its consideration of the second periodic report of Turkmenistan on its implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Report of Ecuador The Committee on Enforced Disappearances concluded on 9 March, its consideration of the initial report of Ecuador on its implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

EU Migration UN experts: New EU recommendation on return procedures is a “slippery slope” to solve European migration challenges.

Thailand review Thailand's human rights record to be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Committee on 13 and 14 March.

Serbia report The Human Rights Committee concluded on 8 March 2017, its consideration of the third periodic report of Serbia on its implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

CED: Senegal report The Committee on Enforced Disappearances concluded on March 8th, its consideration of the initial report of Senegal on its implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

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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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Stand up and protect each other All of us deserve understanding, respect and justice

Global Human Rights Update by HC Zeid Escalating human rights crises around the world

Global Alliance Of National Human Rights Institutions National human rights bodies are key actors in prevention.

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 UN Declaration on Minorities A clear case for stronger, less equivocal, leadership on minority 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

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

Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent / 20th Session From: 03-04-2017
To: 07-04-2017
Palais des Nations XXI, XXII

Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families / 26th Session From: 03-04-2017
To: 13-04-2017
Palais Wilson Gr

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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

Search worldwide for institutions, programmes and materials that aim to foster human rights education and training.

Jurisprudence Database

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

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