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South Sudan: Trapped and fearful
Nepal impeachment
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Mass detention and Afro-descendants
Stand Up campaign

War-weary civilians at imminent risk of further violence

Women, children and men who fled violence in the Upper Nile region of South Sudan in the most horrifying circumstances are now trapped in Aburoc town, at imminent risk of gross human rights violations and inter-ethnic violence.
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Moves to impeach Nepal Chief Justice an assault on human rights

Zeid urges the Government in Nepal to respect the independence of the judiciary, and withdraw what appears to be a politically motivated impeachment motion against the Chief Justice, Sushila Karki.
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New mobile app puts human rights at your fingertips

Users who wish to stay informed about human rights can stay better informed directly on their phone via the new UN Human Rights Office app, available for both Apple and Android phones.
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People of African Descent: doing more time for less crime

People of African descent face similar types of rights violations perpetrated by State institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. Their cries for justice can still be heard.
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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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Briefing: China The disappearance of defence lawyer Chen Jiangang, who was reportedly taken by police in southwest China, is deeply alarming, coming amid a continuing pattern of harassment of lawyers.

Nepal judiciary Moves to impeach the Chief Justice of Nepal are an assault on human rights, and suggest a concerted attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary, Zeid says.

S. Sudan: Terrifying journeys Weary, frightened displaced civilians who walked through the bush for up to 150 kilometres in searing temperatures in South Sudan are now at imminent risk of further violence, says Zeid, urging an end to the military offensive.

Philippines / Misinformation The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard, rejects misinformation about her academic visit to Philippines.

Counter-terrorism Saudi Arabia must not use counter-terrorism law to restrict the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly – UN expert Ben Emmerson.

Briefing: Arkansas executions, Cambodia USA: In Arkansas, we are deeply troubled by four executions in eight days, ending 12-year moratorium on the death penalty. We urge Cambodian authorities to release five rights defenders who saw their lengthy pre-trial detention further extended.

Appeal to Venezuela The Government must facilitate peaceful protests and investigate the deaths of at least 25 people in recent demonstrations - UN rights experts.

Press Freedom Day Marking World Press Freedom Day, UN expert David Kaye calls on all governments to end “demonization” of critical media and protect journalists.

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Nepal judiciary Moves to impeach the Chief Justice of Nepal are an assault on human rights, and suggest a concerted attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary, Zeid says.

Briefing: South Sudan, Maldives South Sudan: outbreak of violence caused significant loss of life and displacement of civilians. We urge prompt investigation into violent killing of a prominent blogger and social media activist in the Maldives.

Ethiopia visit UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein will officially visit the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, at the invitation of the Government, from 2 to 4 May 2017.

DRC mass graves UN investigators in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have confirmed the existence of 17 further mass graves in the Kasais, the scene of clashes between soldiers and members of a local militia.

Global challenges The peril of undermining human rights.

Afghanistan: Torture Conflict-related detainees in Afghanistan continue to face torture and ill-treatment, in many cases to extract confessions, UN report finds, noting the Afghan Government’s commitment to eliminating the practice.

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Philippines / Misinformation The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Agnes Callamard, rejects misinformation about her academic visit to Philippines.

Counter-terrorism Saudi Arabia must not use counter-terrorism law to restrict the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly – UN expert Ben Emmerson.

Freedom of Religion Albania’s policies and practices to promote and protect the freedom of religion or belief are to be reviewed by UN expert Ahmed Shaheed (8-17 May).

Enforced disappearances The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances will meet in Geneva to examine more than 600 cases from 29 countries (8-17 May).

Exploitation of children UN rights expert Maud de Boer-Buquicchio will visit the Dominican Republic to assess the scope of the sale and sexual exploitation of children (8 to 15 May).

Mission to Argentina Second visit to Argentina by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to assess the situation of deprivation of liberty in the country (8-18 May).

Eritrea / Dawit Isaak After 15 years, Eritrea must free journalist Dawit Isaak, who has been awarded a prestigious press freedom prize – UN expert Sheila B. Keetharuth.

“Inspiring” on environment “Uruguay has much to be proud of in its record on human rights and the environment, but it still has some challenges ahead” – UN expert John Knox.

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HRC UPR WG to hold 27th session in Geneva from 1 to 12 May 2017marking start of 3rd cycle The twenty-seventh session of the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group will be held in Geneva from 1 to 12 May marking the beginning of the third UPR cycle during which all 193 UN member States will undergo successive reviews.

UN Syrian Commission condemns Khan Shikhoun attack The Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on the town of Khan Shikhoun in southern Idlib today which reportedly killed scores of civilians.

President of Chile addresses Council Michelle Bachelet, the President of Chile, addressed a special meeting of the Human Rights Council, saying that Chile.

President of Chile to address Council The Council will convene a special meeting as a matter of courtesy on 29 March 2017 on the occasion of the visit of Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile.

Council concludes 34th regular session The Council concluded its 34th regular session after adopting 41 resolutions and a Presidential Statement on a wide range of issues.

Council adopts six texts and closes its 34th session The Council adopted five resolutions and a President’s Statement, appointed Special Procedure mandate holders, and then closed its thirty-fourth regular session.

Council renews mandates on Syria and on racism The Council adopted 11 resolutions, renewing the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria for one year; and the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, and the Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration for three years each.

Council decides to dispatch fact-finding mission to Myanmar The Council adopted 13 resolutions, in which it also decided to dispatch an independent, international fact-finding mission to establish the facts about alleged recent human rights violations by military and security forces and abuses in Myanmar, in particular in Rakhine State.

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Report of Bulgaria The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination concluded on 5 May, its consideration of the combined twentieth to twenty-second periodic report of Bulgaria on its efforts to implement the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Report of Cyprus The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination concluded on 4 May, its consideration of the combined twenty-third and twenty-fourth periodic report of Cyprus on its implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Report of Kenya The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 3 May, concluded its review of the combined fifth to seventh periodic report of Kenya on the progress made in the implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Torture prevention The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture will makes its second visit to Bolivia from 2 to 11 May 2017 to assess the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty.

Torture prevention The Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture highlights pressing issues in meetings with officials during a seven-day visit to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Kenya NGOs The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 1 May, met with representatives of civil society organizations from Kenya to discuss the situation of racial discrimination in this country, which the Committee will review later this week.

General discussion The Committee against Torture on 28 April, engaged in a general discussion on a draft revised General Comment N°1 of 1997 on article 3 of the Convention, which was being considered in the context of article 22 on individual communications.

Report of Armenia The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination concluded on 28 April, its consideration of the combined seventh to eleventh report of Armenia on its implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

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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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Ethiopia and the African Union High Commissioner's mission to Addis

Right to health Protecting health means standing up for rights

Walls are untruths Rights tell us what it means to be human

Global challenges The peril of undermining human rights.

Chile: a Human Rights Advocate Welcoming Pres. Michelle Bachelet to the Human Rights Council

Faith for Rights Exploring links between religious thought and rights

Successes in technical assistance Capacity building for human rights protection

Yemen and Afghanistan Reports on two critical situations

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Annual Appeal 2017

The UN Human Rights Appeal 2017

Protecting LBGTi people

Living Free and Equal: Tackling Violence and Discrimination against LGBTi People

Human rights info. for Parliamentarians

Human Rights: Handbook for Parliamentarians (co-published with IPU)

Traditional justice in Africa

Human Rights and Traditional Justice Systems in Africa

National mechanisms for reporting and follow-up

NMRF: A Practical Guide to Effective State Engagement with International Human Rights Mechanisms

Right to development

FAQs on the Right to Development

Treaty bodies

Handbook for Human Rights Treaty Body Members

Migration

Migration, Human Rights and Governance: Handbook for Parliamentarians (co-published with IPU)

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Committee against Torture / 60th Session From: 18-04-2017
To: 12-05-2017
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination / 92nd Session From: 24-04-2017
To: 12-05-2017
Palais Wilson Gr

Universal Periodic Review / 27th Session From: 01-05-2017
To: 12-05-2017
Palais des Nations Rooms XX, XXII, XXIII, XXIV

Working Group on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises / 17th Session From: 08-05-2017
To: 12-05-2017
Palais des Nations Room XVI

Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances / 112th Session From: 08-05-2017
To: 17-05-2017
Palais des Nations Room IX

Open-ended intergovernmental Working Group on a United Nations declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas / 4th Session From: 15-05-2017
To: 19-05-2017
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice / 19th Session From: 15-05-2017
To: 19-05-2017
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Rights of Child / 75th Session From: 15-05-2017
To: 02-06-2017
Palais Wilson Gr

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