URG Insights :

Incendios en el Amazonas: los derechos en llamas

by URG LAC Team Thematic human rights issues

El 24 de septiembre, el presidente de Brasil, Jair Bolsonaro dio un discurso de alto nivel durante el debate general de la sesión número 74 de la Asamblea General (AG) de las Naciones Unidas (NU). En este, afirmó que su gobierno está firmemente comprometido con la protección y conservación del medio ambiente, así como con el desarrollo sostenible en el …

URG Insights - The Amazon fires: the burning of rights.

The Amazon fires: the burning of rights

by URG LAC Team Environmental human rights defenders, Thematic human rights issues

On 24th September, the President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, delivered a high-level speech during the general debate of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly (GA). In it, he claimed that his Government is firmly committed to environmental protection and conservation, as well as to sustainable development more broadly. Yet, in the same speech, he questioned claims about the …

yourHRC.org: innovative online platform designed to strengthen the visibility, relevance and impact of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).

How can yourHRC.org help voting States navigate the upcoming Human Rights Council elections?

by Grace Kennedy, former Universal Rights Group NYC Human rights implementation and impact

When it was established in 2006, the Human Rights Council (Council) was given the mandate to ‘promote universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.’ In order to assist the Council in realising this mandate, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Universal Rights Group (URG) launched yourHRC.org , an innovative online tool designed …

Rethinking Africa´s role at the Human Rights Council

by Eduard Jordaan, Research Fellow, Rhodes University By invitation, Human rights implementation and impact, Human rights institutions and mechanisms

In UN human rights forums, African States have a reputation for voting as a bloc, obstructing human rights, and defending the sovereignty of developing countries. Indeed, in 2011, Bertrand Ramcharan, a respected human rights scholar and a former acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, complained that the African and Asian Groups, which together occupy 26 of the Human Rights …

Repenser le rôle de l’Afrique au Conseil des droits de l’homme

by Eduard Jordaan, Research Fellow, Rhodes University By invitation, Human rights implementation and impact, Human rights institutions and mechanisms

Parmi les forums des droits humains à l’ONU, les États africains ont la réputation de voter en tant que bloc, obstruant les droits humains et défendant la souveraineté des pays en développement. En effet, en 2011, Bertrand Ramcharan, un spécialiste respecté des droits humains et ancien Haut-Commissaire en exercice (par intérim), s’est plaint que les groupes africains et asiatiques, qui …

What are the world’s human rights priorities in 2019, and what to look out for in 2020?

by Grace Kennedy, former Universal Rights Group NYC and Danica Damplo, Universal Rights Group NYC Human rights institutions and mechanisms

Human rights analysis of high level speeches during the general debate of the UN General Assembly Each fall, the world leaders descend upon New York to speak at the general debate of the UN General Assembly (GA). The world’s presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and assorted dignitaries are allotted fifteen minutes each to discuss the global crises and trends that …

Report of the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council

Report on the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council

by the URG team Human Rights Council reports, Regular session

Quick summary The 42nd regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC42) was held from Monday 9th September to Friday 27th September 2019. On 9th September, H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet presented her oral update on the global human rights situation. In it she focused extensively on the climate crisis and identified climate change as ‘a rapidly growing and global threat to human rights.’ …

Report of the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council

Rapport sur la 42ème session du Conseil des droits de l’homme

by the URG team Human Rights Council reports, Regular session

Bref aperçu La 42ème session régulière du Conseil des Droits de l’Homme ( CDH42 ) s’est tenue du lundi 9 septembre au vendredi 27 septembre 2019. Le 9 septembre, S.E. Mme. Michelle Bachelet a présenté son compte-rendu oral à propos de la situation des droits humains dans le monde. Sa présentation s’est concentrée principalement sur la crise du climat and a qualifié le …

Do digital technologies hurt or support human rights?

by the URG team Thematic human rights issues

On 14 May this year, the San Francisco city council voted to ban the use of facial recognition technology by local authorities and agencies, including the police. Several other US cities, and even some States, are now considering following suit. These important developments come in the wake of the release of a recent study by Georgetown University, which found that the use …

The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech: tackling discrimination, hostility and violence

by Rodrigo Saad, former Universal Rights Group - NYC Thematic human rights issues

‘Hate speech is a challenge from which no country is immune,’ stated Adama Dieng, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide at the launch event  of the  UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech . The system-wide strategy was launched amid a backdrop of surging levels of xenophobia, racism, and overall intolerance throughout the world. This trend has been amplified by social media and information communication technologies, which have …