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What is the state of human rights and democracy around the world?

Is the situation of human rights around the world getting better or worse? Which UN member States are fulfilling their human rights obligations, and which are routinely violating the rights of their people? Is democracy really in retreat around the…

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Policy report

The Human Rights Council in 2022

A written analysis of the main events and developments at the Council in 2022, with data on the evolution of the body’s work since 2006, infographics on the Council's mechanisms, and an in-depth analysis of the contribution of current members.

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Policy report

'A diamond in the rough’: how to strengthen the Human Rights Council's delivery of technical assistance and capacity building (Item 10 reform)

The policy brief provides thoughts on how the Council might strengthen the delivery of domestic capacity-building support in the future – how it might ‘reset and revitalize item 10.’

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Policy report

Unpacking the Right to a Healthy Environment: How national and regional laws and jurisprudence clarify the scope and content of the universal right

This report examines this body of practice, namely the features and best practices associated with the global implementation of the right to a healthy environment.

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Policy report

Advancing Rights, Transforming Lives

This report reviews how the UN human rights system has taken up women’s rights, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights and the degree to which these recommendations have been translated into action, with UNFPA’s support.

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Policy report

For people; for planet: The long and winding road to UN recognition of the universal right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment

This report seeks to tell the story of the journey towards the recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment (R2E) and address the three interlinked environmental crises facing the planet – the climate, biodiversity, and pollution…

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Policy report

From reaction to prevention: report of transatlantic roundtable on prevention

Meeting report

This report summarises the transatlantic dialogue on prevention organised by International Crisis Group and the Universal Rights Group, in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 20th February 2023.

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Policy report

Guide to the 2023 UN Human Rights Council Elections

The ninth annual yourHRC.org Guide to the Human Rights Council elections provides comprehensive at-a-glance information on the 2023 Council elections (which are scheduled to take place on 10 October at the General Assembly in New York), when States from all…

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Video

The urgent need to defend Environmental Human Rights Defenders

This video is a compilation of the voices and personal journeys of brave EHRDs from Latin America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

URG Insights

CARICOM SIDS lead historic resolution securing technical assistance and capacity-building for the region and demonstrating the value of the Council’s item 10

by Sasha D. T. Dixon, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to The United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva

On 12 October 2023, the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) made history at the Human Rights Council. Not only did they present for adoption their first joint initiative at the Council since its establishment, but they also presented the first item 10 resolution (A/HRC/RES/54/33) that seeks the establishment of a regional office of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). As a clear demonstration of the commitment and priority attached to this undertaking by CARICOM States, the initiative was endorsed by the CARICOM Ministers of Foreign Affairs. By the terms of the…

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Latest policy report

November 2023

Glion IX: Placing new and emerging technologies at the service of human rights and democracy

Glion IX: Placing new and emerging technologies at the service of human rights and democracy report cover

The ninth Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion IX), organised by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations in Geneva and…

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Previous policy reports

Guide to the 2023 UN Human Rights Council Elections

The ninth annual yourHRC.org Guide to the Human Rights Council elections provides comprehensive at-a-glance information on the 2023 Council elections (which are scheduled to take…

Read more

From reaction to prevention: report of transatlantic roundtable on prevention

This report summarises the transatlantic dialogue on prevention organised by International Crisis Group and the Universal Rights Group, in collaboration with the Office of the…

Read more

Building Bridges for At-Risk Indigenous, Land and Environmental Defenders

On 11-13 April 2023, ALLIED - the Alliance for Land, Indigenous, and Environmental Defenders - brought together ALLIED members; donors; indigenous, environmental and land defenders…

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future events

Launch of yourHRC.org report: The Human Rights Council in 2023

On Tuesday 5th December, the Permanent Mission of Norway with the support of the Universal Rights Group will host an event to look back on the work, achievements and challenges of the Council in the past year. The event will...

  • December 5, 2023 - 18:00 - 20:00
  • Norwegian Residence / Geneva
  • By invitation only

past events

Policy Dialogue on a Human Rights-Based Approach to Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence and the Role of the Human Rights Council

Last year, with the support of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea in Geneva, the Universal Rights Group (URG) and the Seoul National University Artificial Intelligence Policy Initiative (SAPI) published a report detailing a Human Rights Based Approach...

  • November 17, 2023 - 10:00 - 11:30
  • By invitation only

Towards a human rights-based approach to global plastic governance

The Regional Government of Catalonia and the Universal Rights Group will organise a working lunch ahead of the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment, which...

  • November 8, 2023 - 13:00 - 15:00
  • Vieux Bois Genève / Genève
  • By invitation only

Launch of the yourHRC Guide to the 2023 UN Human Rights Council Elections

On Thursday 5th October 2023, the Universal Rights Group (URG) will host a digital event to mark the launch of the yourHRC.org Guide to the 2023 UN Human Rights Council Elections. The report is the ninth annual yourHRC.org Guide to...

  • October 5, 2023 - 15:00 - 16:00
  • By invitation only
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Report of the 36th Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights impact of the ongoing conflict in the Sudan

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The Istanbul Process is a mechanism for follow-up on the implementation of the Human Rights Council plan to combat religious intolerance.

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Impact OSS is a data management tool that helps States manage recommendations received from UN human rights mechanisms.

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ALLIED is a network of civil society actors (83 organisations and 180 individuals) working to protect, celebrate, recognise and support ILEDs throughout the world.

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