Gaza: What human rights mean to displaced youth

In a lively interactive dialogue, OHCHR’s Ajith Sunghay had invited the young students to discuss what human rights means to them. In turn, they shared their pain and hopes, sending messages to the world demanding an end to the war so that they could return to their homes safely. “We want to show solidarity with them, […]

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Guatemala: UN rights chief concerned over polarization, inequality, racism

“It was a priority for me to come to Guatemala at a crucial moment in its history, and to support the country in its efforts to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, to fight against corruption and establish a clear and transformative human rights agenda,” Volker Türk said in a statement.  Preserving democracy The UN rights chief […]

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World News In Brief: UN rights chief on Bangladesh protests, alarm over Gershkovich sentence, Afghanistan floods latest, decriminalising LGBT laws

Volker Türk said the move constituted a restriction on freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive, and impart information. The High Commissioner continues to condemn violence in the South Asian country amid protests and is encouraging students and local authorities to exercise restraint, following reports of dozens of deaths and injuries. Paramilitary units […]

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Stories from the UN Archive: Meet the first Black President of South Africa

When Mr. Mandela addressed the Assembly in October 1994, he received a hero’s welcome. History was unfolding as he took his place on the dais in the white leather chair reserved for Heads of State and Government. Cheers erupted as he approached the podium. A collective standing ovation rose across the Assembly Hall. Indeed, the […]

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Sri Lanka: False Terrorism Cases Enable Repression

(New York) – Sri Lankan authorities continue to use the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to target perceived opponents and minority communities without credible evidence to support the allegations despite repeated pledges to end the practice, Human Rights Watch said today. While some victims have suffered years of arbitrary detention and torture, others are persecuted even […]

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Gaza: US, UK Outliers in Holding Back UNRWA Funding

(New York) – The governments of the United States and the United Kingdom have yet to restore critical funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Human Rights Watch said. Both governments should act immediately to reinstate their support to the agency, the largest relief organization […]

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World Court Reviews 57-Year Israeli Occupation

(The Hague) – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to issue an advisory opinion on July 19, 2024, with significant consequences for human rights protections in Palestine under Israel’s 57-year occupation, Human Rights Watch said today. The expected advisory opinion stems from a December 2022 request by the United Nations General Assembly to the […]

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World News In Brief: Bangladesh student protests, Yemen’s maternal deaths, Mandela Day, honouring LGBT rights at EuroGames 2024

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres expressed concern about the reported deaths and injuries in Bangladesh amid student protests and is calling for a thorough Government investigations into all acts of violence. About two weeks ago, student protests erupted on university campuses in the capital Dhaka and other cities, demanding an end to the Government job quota […]

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World Court Finds Israel Responsible for Apartheid

(New York) –  The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion on July 19, 2024, with significant consequences for human rights protections in Palestine under Israel’s 57-year occupation. The opinion stems from a December 2022 request by the United Nations General Assembly to the court to consider the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. […]

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Books offer novel way to counter prison overcrowding in the Philippines

The initiative supported by the UN office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the Philippines is also expected to help ease chronic overcrowding in detention centres across the Southeast Asian nation. Dave*, who is one month into a six-month sentence, spends up to eight hours a day in the library of the Iligan City Jail. […]

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