Statement by Dr Ahmed Shaheed, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Mr Marc Limon Executive Director, Universal Rights Group on the passing of Prof. Christof Heyns

by the URG team and URG Chair Human rights institutions and mechanisms, News BORRAR, Prensa BORRAR, Special Procedures, Treaty Bodies, URG News BORRAR

Everyone at the Universal Rights Group (URG), board members and staff, are shocked and greatly saddened by the news that our friend and colleague, Professor Christof Heyns, passed away yesterday (28 March 2021). Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Christof was a giant of the human rights world. He allied a brilliant mind with a fierce determination …

URG officially opens New York office

by the URG team Blog BORRAR, News BORRAR, Prensa BORRAR, URG News BORRAR

On 1st July, Universal Rights Group New York (URG NYC) was formally incorporated, with the primary aims of strengthening URG’s engagement with States, UN officials and NGOs active at UN headquarters, and more effectively covering and analyzing developments in key New York-based UN bodies and organizations, including the General Assembly (especially the Third Committee), the Security Council, the High Level …

Pablo de Greiff joins URG Board of Trustees

by the URG team Blog BORRAR, News BORRAR, Prensa BORRAR, URG News BORRAR

The Universal Rights Group is pleased to announce that renowned human rights expert Pablo de Greiff (Colombia) has joined the organisation’s Board of Trustees upon the invitation of the Board. Pablo de Greiff has over 20 years experience in global policy development of country level initiatives to prevent and recover from mass atrocities and human rights violations. His work focuses …

New policy paper demonstrates the impact of corruption on internationally protected human rights

by the URG team Contemporary and emerging human rights issues BORRAR, News BORRAR, Prensa BORRAR, URG News BORRAR

5 June, 2018 Corruption has major negative implications, both direct and indirect, for the enjoyment of human rights and the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals’ ‘leaving no one behind’ Findings from new policy paper presented in Geneva on 22 May provides policymakers and other stakeholders with an empirical basis to tackle corruption from a human rights perspective Corruption is …

URG Latin America officially incorporated in Colombia

by the URG team Blog BORRAR, News BORRAR, Prensa BORRAR, URG News BORRAR

17h May 2018, Bogota One of the primary purposes of the Universal Rights Group (URG) is to deliver real change and real on-the-ground impact on human rights issues of immediate relevance and importance around the world. With that in mind, in 2015, the URG took the decision to explore opening regional offices in different regions of the world, including Latin …

URG granted UN ECOSOC special consultative status

by the URG team News BORRAR, Prensa BORRAR, URG News BORRAR

On 17thApril the Universal Rights Group (URG) was granted special consultative status by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Consultative status provides NGOs with access to UN bodies that are open to NGOs, including ECOSOC and the Human Rights Council, and the various UN human rights mechanisms. Commenting on the news, URG Executive Director Marc Limon said: ‘It has …

Climate Vulnerable Forum delegation meeting and thematic debate spotlights impact of climate change on human rights

by Geneva Climate, Prensa BORRAR, Thematic human rights issues, URG News BORRAR

14 June 2017  On the margins of the 35th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, a delegation meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) focused on the growing recognition of the impact of climate change on the enjoyment of a wide spectrum of human rights.    The thematic debate, included Ambassadors and other senior officials of the CVF members, and was chaired by H.E. …

Statement from URG Chair

by URG Chair and Geneva Prensa BORRAR, URG News BORRAR

A statement from the Chair of the URG Board of Trustees:  ‘It is with deep sadness that I have the duty to inform you that Sir Nigel Rodley has passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, 25 January. Nigel will be remembered as a founding father of the global human rights movement, a champion of human rights whose efforts touched …

URG launches new UN Human Rights Resolutions Portal, now including GA Third Committee texts

by the URG team Prensa BORRAR, URG News BORRAR

One of the key missions of the Universal Rights Group (URG) is to improve the transparency and accessibility of the work of the Human Rights Council and the wider international human rights system. By providing a window onto the work and decisions of the human rights system, the URG hopes to contribute to better, more accountable and more efficient policymaking; …

UN event marks official launch of URG New York

by the URG team Prensa BORRAR, URG News BORRAR

On Friday 4th November, during an event held on the margins of the UN General Assembly, the Universal Rights Group (URG) officially launched its New York Office. The decision to establish a permanent presence in New York reflects the key role of UN headquarters, especially the General Assembly’s Third Committee, the Security Council and the UN Development Group, in formulating and …