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

by the URG team Blog, Blog, Instituciones, procesos y mecanismos de derechos humanos internacionales, Reportes del Consejo de Derechos Humanos

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, Instituciones, procesos y mecanismos de derechos humanos internacionales, Reportes del Consejo de Derechos Humanos

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 …

Realizing rights, changing lives: The impact of the United Nations human rights system on the enjoyment of children’s rights

by Geneva Bajo la lupa: implementación nacional de normas universales, Más allá del Consejo, Policy reports, Reportes

The international community has invested enormous time and energy in building the international human rights system over the past 70 years. Yet for as long as that system has existed, commentators have questioned the degree to which it is capable of, and is succeeding in, securing real-world change – i.e. demonstrable improvements in the on-the-ground enjoyment of human rights. According …

At the Universal Periodic Review in November, the world can also cast its vote for America

by Joshua Cooper, Lecturer, University of Hawai’i, National Universal Periodic Review Task Force Co-Chair, US Human Rights Network Blog, Blog, By invitation

Early November will be an extremely engaging experience for the United States of America, with an election that will determine the future of American democracy. Equally exhilarating, one week later, will be the opportunity the world will have to cast its vote during a 3.5 hour peer review of the US’ human rights record during its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) …

Report on the 45th session of the Human Rights Council

by the URG team Blog, Blog, Instituciones, procesos y mecanismos de derechos humanos internacionales, Reportes del Consejo de Derechos Humanos

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 …

Report on the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council

by the URG team Blog, Blog, Reportes del Consejo de Derechos Humanos

The 43rd regular session of the Human Rights Council ( HRC43 ) was held in two segments, as the session had to be suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first segment took place from Monday 24 February until Friday 13 March. The 43rd session resumed on Monday 15 June and ended on Tuesday 23 June 2020. As it is the …

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

by the URG team Bajo la lupa: implementación nacional de normas universales, Blog, Blog

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 …

Are we seeing a new human rights ‘implementation agenda’?

by the URG team and H.E. Ambassador Choi Kyong-lim, 10th President of the Human Rights Council Blog, By invitation, Instituciones, procesos y mecanismos de derechos humanos internacionales

Note: This article is based on a speech delivered by Ambassador CHOI Kyonglim, President of the Human Rights Council, on Monday 17th October 2016, at an event hosted by the Governments of Norway and Switzerland, supported by the Universal Rights Group, to mark the launch of the report of the third Glion Human Rights Dialogue. I will touch on three …

Towards the third cycle of the UPR: stick or twist?

by the URG team Instituciones, procesos y mecanismos de derechos humanos internacionales, Policy reports

Towards the third cycle of the UPR: stick or twist?

In 2005, Heads of State meeting at the UN’s World Summit resolved to create the Human Rights Council and asked the President of the General Assembly to begin negotiations to establish its mandate, functions, composition and working methods. One of the defining outcomes of those negotiations would be the decision to establish, as a central pillar of the Council’s work, …