Quick summary The 58th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC58) was held from Monday, 24 February 2025 to 4 April 2025. As the main session of the Council, HRC58 began with a High-Level Segment (HLS). The 2025 HLS included speeches by around 70 high-level dignitaries and officials. The discussions revolved around pressing global human rights challenges, reaffirming commitments …
Two recent court rulings from South Africa and Kenya have set powerful precedents for the promotion and protection of the right to a healthy environment (R2E) across the African continent. The cases, South Africa’s African Climate Alliance & Others v. Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy & Others (December 4, 2024) and Kenya’s Metal Refinery (EPZ) Ltd v. Owino Uhuru Residents (6 December 2024) , highlight …
The 3-day High-Level Segment of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, held from 24 to 26 February 2025, saw the active participation of over 70 high-level dignitaries and officials. The session was opened by the President of the Human Rights Council, H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber. Following the opening, statements were delivered to the Council by H.E. Mr. Philémon …
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States seemed less interested in upholding human rights worldwide – in 2018 President Donald Trump’s decided to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council. Chinese diplomacy used the opportunity to promote its competitive vision of the concept of human rights to the fullest. Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. returned as the sitting member …
Introduction On 7 February 2025, the Human Rights Council convened its 37th special session to address the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The session was requested by the Permanent Representative of the DRC and the request was supported by the following 27 States Members of the Council: Algeria, Belgium, …
On 25 October, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) launched its General Recommendation 40 , on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems. The General Recommendation culminates a process that began in February of 2023, and that aims to provide States with guidance, based on the premise that the achievement of gender equality is a fundamental …
Representatives of the international community compile first universal guidance framework for national mechanisms for implementation, reporting, and follow-up – the Marrakech Guidance Framework (MGF) From 16-17 October, around 100 representatives of the international community, including State representatives, as well as UN agencies, intergovernmental organisations, NHRIs, and civil society, met in Marrakech to discuss ‘Transforming universal norms into local reality – …
Quick summary The 57th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC57) was held from Monday 9th September to Friday 11th October 2024. On 11 September, the High Commissioner Volker Türk opened HRC57 by presenting a global update on the situation of human rights around the world. In his intervention, the High Commissioner emphasised that it is a critical moment …
The equal enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights is fundamental to sustainable development leaving no one behind, to democratic resilience, and to the prevention of instability and crisis. Without equal and adequate access to quality education, quality healthcare, food, water and sanitation, and housing, grievances grow, and society becomes fractured. This is especially the case for groups living in …
‘Human rights are intrinsic to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and meeting the promise of leaving no one behind.‘ United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres As the world reached the halfway point along its journey to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, late last year (18-19 September) heads of State and ministers gathered at the four-yearly SDG Summit in New York, to …
