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High Commissioner Zeid visits Uzbekistan

High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said the human rights reforms initiated by the new administration in Uzbekistan could, if successfully implemented, have a transformational impact on the country's future.
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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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“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: LGBTI in El Salvador The vulnerability of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in El Salvador is of deep concern. We urge the Government take urgent measures to protect LGBTI activists and individuals who are under threat.

Zeid in Uzbekistan High Commissioner Zeid, during the first visit by a UN Human Rights chief to Uzbekistan, said he was encouraged by the constructive human rights steps, and looked forward to the UN Human Rights Office playing an active role in accompanying the country along its journey.

Torture UN experts issue their findings on how these countries - Afghanistan, Argentina, Bahrain, Lebanon, Pakistan and Republic of Korea - are tackling torture.

Racial discrimination UN experts issue their findings on how these countries - Finland, Moldova, Armenia, Kenya, Cyprus and Bulgaria - are tackling racism and xenophobia.

Squatters on their own land “Peasants are at risk of becoming squatters on their own land as Zambia is turned into Southern Africa’s food basket,” UN expert Hilal Elver warns.

Tax evasion in Panama “Time to focus on tax evasion, with banks doing their share,” says the UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky.

Online ban in India “India must restore internet and social media networks in Jammu and Kashmir, and guarantee freedom of expression for citizens,” UN rights experts say.

Nigeria / Boko Haram A group of UN human rights experts urge Nigeria and the international community to ensure the release of all those still under Boko Haram captivity.

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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.

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.

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.

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Squatters on their own land “Peasants are at risk of becoming squatters on their own land as Zambia is turned into Southern Africa’s food basket,” UN expert Hilal Elver warns.

Online ban in India “India must restore internet and social media networks in Jammu and Kashmir, and guarantee freedom of expression for citizens,” UN rights experts say.

Tax evasion in Panama “Time to focus on tax evasion, with banks doing their share,” says the UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky.

Nigeria / Boko Haram A group of UN human rights experts urge Nigeria and the international community to ensure the release of all those still under Boko Haram captivity.

Call for investigation The Maldives must investigate murder of journalist and rights defender Yameen Rasheed and hold those responsible to account – UN experts.

Mission to Sudan UN expert Aristide Nononsi visits Sudan to follow up the implementation of his recommendations on human rights to the Sudanese authorities (11-21 May).

Women’s rights A group of UN human rights experts call on the Congress of El Salvador to decriminalize the termination of pregnancy in specific circumstances.

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

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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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Racial discrimination UN experts issue their findings on how these countries - Finland, Moldova, Armenia, Kenya, Cyprus and Bulgaria - are tackling racism and xenophobia.

Torture UN experts issue their findings on how these countries - Afghanistan, Argentina, Bahrain, Lebanon, Pakistan and Republic of Korea - are tackling torture.

Child rights record UN child rights committee meets in Geneva 15 May-2 June to review Antigua and Barbuda, Bhutan, Cameroon, Lebanon, Mongolia, Qatar, Romania and USA*.

Torture discussions The Committee against Torture on 9 May, discussed follow-up to concluding observations and recommendations, follow-up to individual communications, and reprisals.

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 the Republic of Korea The Committee against Torture on 3 May, completed its consideration of the combined third to fifth periodic report of the Republic of Korea on the efforts made by the State party to implement the provisions of the Convention against Torture.

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.

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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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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

Human Rights Council – Organizational meeting From: 22-05-2017
To: 22-05-2017
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on regulatory framework of activities of private military and security companies / 6th Session From: 22-05-2017
To: 26-05-2017
Palais des Nations Room XIX

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights / 61st Session From: 29-05-2017
To: 23-06-2017
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Rights of Child - Pre-sessional Working Group / 77th Session From: 06-06-2017
To: 09-06-2017
Palais Wilson Gr

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UN Charter Body Database

Search for documents and information pertaining to UN Charter-based human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures.

Universal Periodic Review

Access information and documents about states that were part of the periodic review of the human rights. It includes documents submitted by countries themselves, UN agencies and external parties.

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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Treaty BodiesSchedule of country reviews Deadlines for the submission of documentation Information by country - ratification status, reporting cycles and documentation Elections of Treaty Body Members
Special ProceduresOverview of visits by Special Procedures Upcoming country visits History of country visits since 1998 Countries with standing invitations
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