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Men and boys in the fight to eliminate violence against women

“We believe that men and boys are part of the solution (to the problem of violence against women)…and we need them engaged to stop violence against women,” said Lana Wells, a professor at the University of Calgary, Canada during a panel discussion on involving men and boys in the fight for gender equity at the Human Rights Council. One in three women still report experiencing violence in their lifetime.
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Civilians mustn't be sacrificed for rapid military victories

"The intense bombardment of Al-Raqqa over the past three weeks has reportedly left civilians terrified and confused about where they can seek refuge as they are caught between ISIL’s monstrosities and the fierce battle to defeat it,” High Commissioner Zeid says as he appeals for their protection.
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Migrant survivors of torture: A ‘silent epidemic’ of trauma

Two-thirds of the 50,000 torture victims assisted by the UN Fund for Torture Victims are migrants and refugees. Experts stress that migrants and refugees who have experienced torture must be identified and offered treatment as soon as possible upon their arrival in border areas and reception centres.
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Central African Republic: efforts to fight impunity taking shape

Transitional justice is the way to sustainable peace in Central African Republic, say national, regional and UN representatives who discussed recommendations made in a UN report mapping 13 years of rights violations.
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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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Press briefing Our concern at: eviction threats in Iraq against people suspected of ISIL links, demands that Qatar close Al Jazeera, worrying moves against Venezuela’s Attorney General, and displacement of 100 families in Guatemala.

Qatar correction The UN Human Rights Office regrets the appearance of inaccurate accounts in Qatari media that significantly distort Zeid's remarks during his meeting with Qatar's Permanent Representative at the UN in Geneva.

Syria trapped civilians Up to 100,000 civilians are effectively trapped as the air and ground offensive intensifies in ISIL-occupied Al-Raqqa, with escape routes increasingly sealed off. High Commissioner Zeid appeals for their protection.

Viet Nam blogger jailed Viet Nam must end an apparent pattern of targeting environmental rights defenders, UN experts urge, after blogger Mother Mushroom is jailed for 10 years.

International investigation The High Commissioner welcomes the Human Rights Council's creation of an international investigation into serious rights violations and abuses in the Kasai regions of the DRC - violations which have rendered 1.3 million people internally displaced.

Venezuela intimidation A UN expert expresses concern at a court ruling against Venezuela’s Attorney General which freezes her assets and prevents her leaving the country.

Country review UN Human Rights Committee to review Honduras, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mongolia, Pakistan Switzerland and Swaziland.

Global goals, human rights People not profits must come first when businesses help fulfil the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, human rights experts tell a world conference.

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Yemen, Mosul mosque We continue to document civilian casualties in Yemen, where 49 were killed over the past month. We condemn the destruction of Mosul’s al-Nuri mosque in Mosul – an act clearly prohibited under international humanitarian law.

Thailand lèse Majesté At the press briefing in Geneva, we express concern about the rise in the number of lèse majesté prosecutions in Thailand since 2014 and the severity of the sentencing, including a 35-year jail term handed down against one individual.

Qatar crisis Zeid voices alarm at the possible impact on many people’s human rights in the wake of the decision by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain to cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar.

DRC: call for investigation High Commissioner Zeid calls on UN Human Rights Council to launch international investigation into widespread violations and abuses in the Kasais in DR Congo.

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Venezuela intimidation A UN expert expresses concern at a court ruling against Venezuela’s Attorney General which freezes her assets and prevents her leaving the country.

Global goals, human rights People not profits must come first when businesses help fulfil the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, human rights experts tell a world conference.

Viet Nam blogger jailed Viet Nam must end an apparent pattern of targeting environmental rights defenders, UN experts urge, after blogger Mother Mushroom is jailed for 10 years.

Call to resistance Progress on women’s rights is facing an alarming backlash around the world and it’s time for resistance, a group of UN independent experts says.

Middle East media Demands for Qatar to close the Al-Jazeera media network in exchange for the lifting of sanctions strike a major blow against media pluralism, says UN expert.

US privacy Parts of the US system of privacy protection, including surveillance and health data need further reform, a UN expert concludes after an official visit.

EU sanctions call The European Union should do more to ensure its sanctions allow for legal challenges and don’t harm human rights, a UN expert concludes after an official visit.

Ending torture UN experts: Ending torture needs fresh commitment from every UN Member State.

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Council concludes 35th session The Council concluded its 35th regular session after adopting 36 texts, a presidential statement and filling 4 vacancies of special procedures.

Council adopts two resolutions The Council adopted two resolutions and then closed its regular thirty-fifth session.

Council to dispatch team of int'l experts to DRC The Council this morning adopted 11 resolutions and a Presidential Statement, in which it decided to dispatch a team of international experts to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Council adopts 10 resolutions The Council extended the mandates on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and on extreme poverty and human rights.

Council creates mandate on leprosy The Council adopted 13 resolutions in which it also created the mandate of a Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

Technical assistance and capacity building The Council held a general debate on technical assistance and capacity building.

Updates on Ukraine and Georgia The Council heard an update by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the situation of human rights in Ukraine, and on cooperation and assistance to Georgia.

Technical cooperation The Council held its annual thematic discussion on technical cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights.

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Country review UN Human Rights Committee to review Honduras, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mongolia, Pakistan Switzerland and Swaziland.

Country review The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to review women’s rights in Barbados, Costa Rica, Italy, Montenegro, Niger, Nigeria, Romania and Thailand.

Country review The UN Committee on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has published its findings on Australia, Uruguay, The Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Business and human rights New General Comment: States should control corporations across national borders to protect communities from the negative impacts of their activities.

Ending torture UN experts: Ending torture needs fresh commitment from every UN Member State.

Report of Pakistan The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights concluded on 13 June 2017, its consideration of the initial report of Pakistan on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Pakistani civil society The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights heard from civil society organizations on 12 June 2017, on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Pakistan, whose report the Committee will review this week.

Report of Liechtenstein The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights concluded on 8 June 2017, its consideration of the second and third periodic report of Liechtenstein on its implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

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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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Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons Towards multilateral solutions grounded in human rights

Is human rights law under threat A lecture on international day for victims of torture.

Ukraine: A call for rights Latest report to the Human Rights Council

Midwives Stand for Dignity They accompany, heal and guide.

Coordinating counter-terrorism Unprincipled responses damage law enforcement

Urging investigation in the DRC New reports of appalling violations

Assisting States to uphold human rights A report spanning 10 years of technical cooperation.

Comprehensive report on the OPT All parties have failed to implement human rights recommendations

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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 on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women / 67th Session From: 03-07-2017
To: 21-07-2017
Palais des Nations XVI

Human Rights Committee / 120th Session From: 03-07-2017
To: 28-07-2017
Palais Wilson Gr

Working Group on Situations / 20th Session From: 10-07-2017
To: 14-07-2017
Palais Wilson 1st

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous People / 10th Session From: 10-07-2017
To: 14-07-2017
Palais des Nations Rooms XX, XXIII, XXIV, XXV

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Pre-sessional Working Group / 69th Session From: 24-07-2017
To: 28-07-2017
Palais des Nations Room XVI

Committee against Torture / 61st Session From: 24-07-2017
To: 11-08-2017
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination / 93rd Session From: 31-07-2017
To: 25-08-2017
PW Ground floor conference room 31 July-18 August in PW Ground Floor and 21-25 August in Room VII PN

Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council / 19th Session From: 07-08-2017
To: 11-08-2017
Palais des Nations Rooms XX, XXIV, XXV, XXVII

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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
Universal Periodic ReviewOverview Documentation by country