Is the world really ‘backsliding’ on human rights, and is it getting worse with the Covid-19 pandemic?

by the URG team Human rights implementation and impact, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, Special Procedures, Treaty Bodies, Universal Periodic Review

Even before the outbreak of the current COVID-19 pandemic, commentary on the worldwide human rights situation was characterised, to a large degree, by negative assertions of an unfolding human rights crisis. Powered by influential voices at the UN, as well as by civil society and the media, the general public narrative was often one of backsliding in the world’s major …

Guterres insta a los gobiernos a poner los derechos humanos en primer lugar en sus respuestas al COVID-19

by Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group Human rights institutions and mechanisms, Thematic human rights issues

A finales de abril, el Secretario General de la ONU, Antonio Guterres, lanzó un nuevo y relevante informe en el que pedía que se coloquen los derechos humanos en primer lugar en la conducción de la respuesta de la comunidad internacional a y a la recuperación de la pandemia de COVID-19. El informe, titulado “Todos estamos juntos en eso: los derechos humanos y la …

Guterres urges governments to put human rights upfront in their response to COVID-19

by Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group Thematic human rights issues

At the end of April UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched an important new report calling for human rights to be placed upfront in guiding the international community’s response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, entitled ‘We are all in this together: human rights and COVID-19 response and recovery,’ pushes the key message that human rights are critical, not just …

Derechos humanos y democracia: ¿una relación en dificultades?

by Dr. Andrew Fagan, Senior lecturer, University of Essex Law School By invitation, Democracy, Thematic human rights issues

El seminario web Right On del último miércoles consistió en un análisis de expertos sobre la democracia y el Estado de Derecho en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19. Hacia el final de una discusión muy atractiva, se invitó a la audiencia a participar en una encuesta. Introducida como una pregunta del “abogado del diablo”, se les preguntó: ¿son los regímenes …

Human rights and democracy: a relationship in trouble?

by Dr. Andrew Fagan, Senior lecturer, University of Essex Law School By invitation, Democracy, Thematic human rights issues

Last Wednesday’s RightOn webinar consisted of an expert analysis of democracy and the rule of law amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Towards the very end of a highly engaging discussion, the audience were invited to participate in a poll. Introduced as a ‘devil’s advocate’ question, they were asked: are authoritarian or democratic regimes best placed to respond to the pandemic? Given that …

UN Secretary-General report puts human rights at centre of COVID-19 response

by Danica Damplo, Universal Rights Group NYC Thematic human rights issues

Today the UN Secretary-General (SG) Antonio Guterres launched a report on how human rights can and should guide coronavirus response and recovery. This report is intended to be read in conjunction with the SG’s Call to Action on Human Rights (launched this February) and the SG’s other reports and statements related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including his report ‘ Shared responsibility, global solidarity: responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 ’, his appeal for governments to …

Informe del Secretario General de la ONU coloca a los derechos humanos en el centro de la respuesta al COVID-19

by Danica Damplo, Universal Rights Group NYC Thematic human rights issues

Hoy, el Secretario General (SG) de la ONU Antonio Guterres lanzó un informe sobre cómo los derechos humanos pueden y deben guiar la respuesta a y recuperación del coronavirus. El informe debe ser leído conjuntamente con el “ Llamado a la acción por los derechos humanos” del SG (lanzado en febrero) y otros informes y declaraciones del SG relacionados con la pandemia de COVID-19, incluidos …

What are friends for?: ‘Groups of Friends’ and the UN system

by David Joseph Deutch, Universal Rights Group NYC Human rights institutions and mechanisms

Having arisen out of the post Cold War period, the concept of ‘Groups of Friends’ represented a newly found faith and belief in the power of multilateralism as a means of global problem solving. Groups of friends are coalitions of United Nations (UN) member states, who band together in order to further and actualise particular goals and outcomes related to …

¿Para qué están los amigos?: “Grupos de amigos” y el sistema ONU

by David Joseph Deutch, Universal Rights Group NYC Human rights institutions and mechanisms

Surgido en el período posterior a la Guerra Fría, el concepto de “Grupos de Amigos” representaba una fe y creencia recién descubiertas en el poder del multilateralismo como un medio para la resolución global de problemas. Los Grupos de Amigos son coaliciones de Estados Miembros de las Naciones Unidas (ONU), que se unen para promover y actualizar objetivos y resultados …

¿El secretario general de la ONU, António Guterres, está comprometido con los derechos humanos?

by Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group Human rights institutions and mechanisms

Gran parte de las críticas contra el SG de la ONU, Guterres, por su “silencio” en materia de derechos humanos no tienen fundamento; en realidad, está haciendo un esfuerzo de buena fe, junto con la alta comisionada Bachelet, para equilibrar los aspectos diplomáticos públicos y privados de su mandato. ¿El secretario general de la ONU, António Guterres, realmente está comprometido …