Note: This article is based on a speech delivered by Ambassador CHOI Kyonglim, President of the Human Rights Council, on Monday 17th October 2016, at an event hosted by the Governments of Norway and Switzerland, supported by the Universal Rights Group, to mark the launch of the report of the third Glion Human Rights Dialogue. I will touch on three …
Human rights scholarship and advocacy claim to be grounded in universality, yet both are anything but in their privileging the Western role in building an international human rights system. A paradox sits at the heart of the human rights movement. For decades it has made strong claims about the universality of human rights but then proceeded to present a discounted …
El proceso de selección y nombramiento del futuro Secretario General de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) entró en su etapa final el pasado 6 de Octubre, cuando el Consejo de Seguridad aprobó (por aclamación) la resolución 2311 (2016) recomendando a la Asamblea General nombrar a António Guterres para este cargo. El siguiente paso, será el nombramiento oficial por …
The selection and appointment process of the future Secretary-General of the UN finally entered its end game on 6th October, when the Security Council adopted (by acclamation) resolution 2311 (2016) recommending that the General Assembly (GA) appoint António Guterres. When the GA moves to do so, Mr Guterres will become the Organisation’s 9th Secretary-General. Mr Guterres’ appointment will mark the …
Basic human rights are universal and integral to human existence and the human experience. They relate to both material concerns such as food, clothing and shelter, and non-material concerns such as dignity, respect and affection. Whether it is denial of economic rights, repression of religious and ethnic identity, or the socio-political exclusion of minority groups, a sustained denial of human …
The process to select the next UN Secretary-General continues today (5th October) with a further straw poll amongst member of the Security Council. For this, the sixth poll, a new name will be on the list: Kristalina Georgieva. Ms Georgieva’s name was officially put forward at the end of September, after Bulgaria withdrew its nomination of Irina Bokova and switched its support …
This article originally appeared in New World magazine , published by the United Nations Association – UK (UNA-UK) Human rights – alongside peace and security, and development – constitutes one of the three pillars of the United Nations. Their interconnected nature is clear: without steps to promote and protect human rights, the international community will be unable to achieve peace and security, while …
In January, a new UN Secretary-General will take over from Ban Ki-Moon. As described in URG’s recent policy brief: ‘ Candidates for the post of Secretary-General: where do they stand on human rights?’ the selection process for the new Office-holder has been the most open and transparent since the founding of the UN. Although the formal inter-governmental decision-making process has not changed (for example, the Security Council does not publish the results of …
5th September 2016, Jakarta On 2nd August I landed back in Jakarta after three-and-a-half years with the Indonesian team at the Human Rights Council. As well as giving me time to readjust to life back home, the intervening weeks have given me time to reflect on the nature and extent of the ‘on the ground’ impact of my work at …
The UN Human Rights Council endorsed the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in 2011. Though an important milestone, the debate continues on the scope, content, and legal status of companies’ responsibility to respect human rights asserted in those Principles. To gain closer insights into this debate, between 2014 and 2015, the Universal Rights Group, together with partners including …
