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Post-election Kenya
Missing persons resource centre
Indigenous rights
Venezuela rights violations
Stand Up campaign

Kenya's political leaders should do their utmost to calm a volatile political climate. If there are claims about the conduct of the elections, they should be made through constitutional and legal means. Zeid called for civil society actors and media to be allowed to work without hindrance or fear of retaliation.
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Missing persons receive renewed attention in Kosovo*

The search for missing persons in Kosovo received a boost when the Human Rights Office of the UN Mission in Kosovo reached an agreement with Belgrade and Pristina authorities and the International Committee of the Red Cross to redouble efforts to find and identify remains.
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Bringing the Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples to life

In a speech last month the High Commissioner emphasised that protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, and safeguarding their deep knowledge of ecosystems, are essential to the destiny of humanity.
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Widespread, systematic use of excessive force in Venezuela

A UN human rights team has identified a pattern of human rights violations in Venezuela since April 1, amid mass protests, with a breakdown of rule of law and constant attacks by the Government against the National Assembly and the Attorney-General’s Office. High Commissioner Zeid says the responsibility for these violations lies at the highest levels of Government.
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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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Kenya elections Kenya is at a critical juncture, High Commissioner Zeid says, commending the peaceful voting in Kenya and urging political leaders “to take the responsible path and exercise their leadership to avoid violence.”

Press briefing: Gaza The situation of people in Gaza is increasingly dire and desperate, with Israel, the State of Palestine and the authorities in Gaza failing to meet their human rights obligations.

Venezuela violations Interviews conducted by UN human rights team paint a picture of widespread and systematic use of excessive force and arbitrary detentions against demonstrators in Venezuela, and a pattern of other violations.

Death in the Mediterranean "Italy-EU search and rescue new code of conduct could increase the death of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean," UN expert Agnes Callamard.

Suriname / Judiciary Suriname must respect judicial independence over a murder case in which the country’s president stands accused, says UN expert Diego García-Sayán.

Security in Rakhine State UN expert Yanghee Lee urges Myanmar to exercise restraint and respect human rights in addressing the security situation in Rakhine State.

North Korea / Release UN expert Tomás Ojea Quintana welcomes the release of Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim, who had been detained in North Korea since February 2015.

Iran child execution The UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Asma Jahangir, expresses outrage at the execution of a young man who received the death penalty as a child convict.

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Venezuela arrests High Commissioner Zeid is deeply concerned that opposition leaders Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma have again been taken into custody by Venezuelan authorities.

Briefing: Vietnam, Venezuela We are worried about the intensifying crackdown against human rights defenders in Vietnam who have questioned or criticised the Government. We are also deeply concerned at the risk of further violence in Venezuela ahead of Sunday's elections.

Press briefing Our office in Yemen has gathered more information about a deadly airstrike that took place in a small village in Taizz Governorate in Yemen on Tuesday, 18 July.

Afghans' trauma Zeid highlights Afghanistan's continuing tragedy as a UN report indicates civilian casualties in the first six months of 2017 persisted at the same record high levels as last year.

Press briefing Our concern at reports people detained during protests in Venezuela are being brought before military courts. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab in Bahrain.

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Suriname / Judiciary Suriname must respect judicial independence over a murder case in which the country’s president stands accused, says UN expert Diego García-Sayán.

Death in the Mediterranean "Italy-EU search and rescue new code of conduct could increase the death of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean," UN expert Agnes Callamard.

Security in Rakhine State UN expert Yanghee Lee urges Myanmar to exercise restraint and respect human rights in addressing the security situation in Rakhine State.

Venezuela sanctions “The Government of Venezuela must stop systematically detaining protesters and end the growing use of military tribunals to try civilians” – UN experts say.

North Korea / Release UN expert Tomás Ojea Quintana welcomes the release of Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim, who had been detained in North Korea since February 2015.

Iran child execution The UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Asma Jahangir, expresses outrage at the execution of a young man who received the death penalty as a child convict.

IDPs in El Salvador UN expert Cecilia Jimenez-Damary will assess the situation of people forced to leave their homes in El Salvador due to gang-related violence (14-18 August).

Mission to Sierra Leone UN expert Baskut Tuncak will visit Sierra Leone to assess the country’s human rights record in relation to hazardous substances and waste (14-25 August).

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HRC president appoints Chair of Myanmar Fact-finding Mission The President of the Council, Ambassador Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli decided to establish a new composition of the Fact-finding Mission on Myanmar and appointed Mr. Marzuki Darusman to serve as a member and its Chair.

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.

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Country review The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today concluded its consideration of the combined twenty-first to twenty-third periodic report of Canada on its implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Meeting with civil society organisations The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning held an informal meeting with civil society representatives from New Zealand and Canada, whose reports will be considered this week.

Opening Session The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities this morning opened its eighteenth session, during which it will review measures taken by Panama, Morocco, Montenegro, Latvia, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Roundup Committee against torture concludes sixty first session

Country review The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today concluded its consideration of the combined ninth to eleventh periodic report of Tajikistan on its implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Torture findings UN Committee against Torture publishes its findings on Antigua and Barbuda, Paraguay, Ireland and Panama which were reviewed during the Committee's latest session from 24 July to 11 August.

Disability rights UN experts will meet in Geneva from 14 to 31 August to review the record of the following countries on disability rights: Panama, Morocco, Montenegro, Latvia, Luxembourg and the UK.

Background Release The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will meet from 14 to 31 August in Room XVII of Palais des Nations in Geneva, to hold its eighteenth session and examine measures taken by Panama, Morocco, Montenegro, Latvia, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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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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Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Marking the 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration on rights of indigenous peoples

Missing persons in Kosovo Acknowledging the past is an essential step towards a shared future.

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

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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

Human rights and government budgets

Realizing Human Rights through Government Budgets

Migration

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

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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

Working Group on Communications / 21st Session From: 14-08-2017
To: 18-08-2017
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities / 18th Session From: 14-08-2017
To: 31-08-2017
Palais Wilson Gr

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention / 79th Session From: 21-08-2017
To: 25-08-2017
Palais des Nations Room VIII

Human Rights Council – Organizational meeting From: 28-08-2017
To: 28-08-2017
Palais des Nations XX

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Pre-sessional Working Group / 8th Session From: 04-09-2017
To: 08-09-2017
Palais Wilson Gr

Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families / 27th Session From: 04-09-2017
To: 13-09-2017
Palais Wilson 1st

Committee on Enforced Disappearances / 13th Session From: 04-09-2017
To: 15-09-2017
Palais des Nations Room XVI

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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