What are the human rights priorities of world governments in 2022?

by the URG team Blog, Blog, Climate change, Hate speech, HRC, Human Rights Council, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, International human rights institutions, mechanisms and processes, SDGs, Special Procedures, Thematic human rights issues, UPR

An independent analysis of the High-Level Segment of the Human Rights Council The High-Level Segment of the 49th session of the Human Rights Council , held from February 28 to March 3 2022, saw the active participation of more than 120 world leaders, including six heads or deputy heads of State, five heads or deputy heads of Government, and 107 ministers or vice-ministers. In the statements delivered …

Report on the 48th session of the Human Rights Council

by the URG team Blog, Blog, Climate change, HRC, Human Rights Council, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, International human rights institutions, mechanisms and processes, Membership, Special Procedures, Thematic human rights issues, UPR

Quick summary The 48th regular session of the Human Rights Council ( HRC48 ) was held from Monday 13 September to Monday 11 October 2021. On 13 September, H.E. Michelle Bachelet presented her global update on the human rights situation around the world, followed by her report on Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and oral updates on Afghanistan, Nicaragua, and Sri Lanka. An enhanced …

Locked up and locked down: how persons in detention have been left behind during COVID-19

by Kerry Pearson, Universal Rights Group Blog, Blog, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, Special Procedures

While the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated global health disparities, the group that has arguably been impacted the most is persons in detention. As the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), which supervises compliance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture [1] , has pointed out, ‘persons deprived of their liberty comprise a particularly vulnerable group’. Nowhere has this been more …

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, Prensa, Special Procedures, Treaty Bodies, URG News

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 …

Report on the 46th session of the Human Rights Council

by the URG team Blog, Blog, Climate change, HRC, Human Rights Council, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, International human rights institutions, mechanisms and processes, Resolution 16/18, Special Procedures, Thematic human rights issues

Quick summary The 46th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC46) was held from Monday 22nd February to Wednesday 24th March. As it is the main annual session of the Council, HRC46 began with a High-Level Segment (HLS). The 2021 HLS included speeches by 130 States and other dignitaries, including: H.E. Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr …

Argentina passes landmark law to legalise abortion: A step forward to realising women’s sexual and reproductive rights in Latin America

by Renata Politi, Universal Rights Group Blog, Blog, Civil society, Human rights implementation and impact, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, Implementation, Special Procedures, SRHR, SRHR, Thematic human rights issues, UPR

In the last days of 2020, Latin America and the international community at large witnessed a historic moment for women’s rights as Argentina passed a landmark law to decriminalise abortion. With 38 votes in favour, 29 against, and one abstention, the Senate approved a law that made Argentina the largest Latin American country to legalise abortion. Previously, the procedure was only permitted …

Report on the 75th session of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly

by URG-NYC Team Blog, Blog, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, International human rights institutions, mechanisms and processes, New York City, Special Procedures, Third Committee, Universal Rights Group NYC

Quick summary During the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the Third Committee, tasked with addressing human rights issues and concerns, ran from 5 October – 20 November at UN Headquarters in New York, and online (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). This year’s Third Committee featured presentations by a number of senior UN officials, including Ms. Michelle Bachelet, the High Commissioner for Human …

Report on the 45th session of the Human Rights Council

by the URG team Blog, Blog, EHRD, HRC, Human Rights Council, Human rights implementation and impact, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, Implementation, International human rights institutions, mechanisms and processes, Prevention, Prevention, accountability and justice, Special Procedures, Thematic human rights issues, UPR

Quick summary The 45th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC45) was held from Monday 14th September to Wednesday 7th October 2020. On 14th September, H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet, presented her oral update on the global human rights situation. In the wake of the violent response by the Belarusian authorities to peaceful demonstrations that occurred in the aftermath of President …

How UN recognition of the right to water and sanitation has informed efforts to secure universal recognition of the right to a healthy, clean and sustainable environment

by Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group Blog, Blog, Contemporary and emerging human rights issues, Human rights implementation and impact, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, R2E, R2E, Special Procedures, Thematic human rights issues

At the end of July, the world celebrated the tenth anniversary of the universal recognition of the right to water and sanitation by the UN General Assembly (GA). To mark the occasion the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Léo Heller, issued a statement (which can be read here) in which he hailed this …

UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights goes out guns blazing against failure to address poverty

by Steven L. B. Jensen, Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for Human Rights Blog, Blog, By invitation, By invitation, Contemporary and emerging human rights issues, HRC, Human rights implementation and impact, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, Inequality, SDGs, Special Procedures, Thematic human rights issues

‘The world is at an existential crossroads.’ These are the opening words in the outgoing UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Philip Alston’s final report to the UN Human Rights Council submitted in July 2020. Professor Philip Alston, one of the world’s most distinguished human rights experts, used his five-year tenure to put a spotlight on the …