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The Prevention Council
3 February 2020
For the UN’s prevention agenda to work, it is vital to build a business case for placing human rights at its heart.
URG Insights
What are the human rights priorities of world governments in 2021?
by the URG team
An independent analysis of the High-Level Segment of the Human Rights Council The High-Level Segment of the 46th session of the Human Rights Council, held from February 22 to 24 2021, saw the active participation of more than 130 world leaders, including presidents, prime ministers, ministers, and heads of international organisations. In the statements they delivered to the Council, they addressed both domestic human rights concerns, developments and achievements, as well as their countries international priorities in the human rights sphere for 2021 and beyond. As such, the participation of High-Level representatives presented an opportunity to assess the level of…
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On it’s one-year anniversary, the Call to Action for Human Rights remains a relevant tool for tackling human rights challenges
by Tess Brennan, Universal Rights Group NYC
The anniversary of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ The Highest Aspiration: A Call to Action for Human Rights provides a prime opportunity to reflect on its implementation to date. Launched on 24 February 2020 at the opening of the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council, the Call aimed to bring the human rights pillar of the United Nations’ mandate to the forefront of its agenda. As the challenges of 2020 have carried over into 2021, the importance of achieving full implementation of the Call has become more pressing. And in light of recent updates on the Call to Action from…
Biden’s decision to rescind the Global Gag Rule could have implications for the US approach to sexual health and reproductive rights at the UN
by Tess Brennan, Universal Rights Group NYC
President Biden repealed the Global Gag Rule, which he described as his ‘predecessor's attack on women’s health access’, via Executive Order on 28 January. This move comes as part of the administration’s plan to protect the rights of women both domestically and abroad. The decision serves as a key indicator for how the US may re-emerge on the world stage as a State that prioritises protecting the right of women and girls to access necessary health services, as well as safe-guarding them from gender-based violence. The Mexico City Policy, commonly referred to as the Global Gag Rule, was first introduced…
The French ‘case of the century’ ushers in new era of environmental litigation
by Louis Mason, Universal Rights Group
On 3 February 2021, in a historic decision that confirms the growing trend of civil society led public interest litigation founded on the right to a healthy environment, a French administrative court recognised that the French State could be held responsible for failing to meet its commitments to mitigate climate change. In an unparalleled outpouring of public support for the plaintiffs in the highly mediatised case known as L’Affaire du Siècle (‘The Case of the Century’), the motion filed by four civil society organisations (Greenpeace, Oxfam, la Fondation Nicolas Hulot and Notre affaire à tous) garnered the support of over…
Report of the 29th Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar
by the URG team
On Friday 12th February 2021, the Human Rights Council convened a special session to address ‘the human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar’. The special session was requested via an official letter dated 8 February 2021 and signed by H.E. Mr. Julian Braithwaite, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations in Geneva. This letter, addressed to H.E. Ms. Nazhat Shameem Khan, the recently elected President of the Human Rights Council, was jointly submitted by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom and the Permanent Delegation of the European…
latest policy report
This new policy report tells the story of international discussions on human rights and environment, human rights and climate change, and the push for the right…
previous policy reports
OSLO+Digital – International support for the national implementation of UN human rights recommendations, including as a contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals during the COVID-19 pandemic
On 9 and 10 June 2020, the Permanent Missions of Denmark and The Netherlands to the UN in Geneva, in cooperation with the Universal Rights…The Human Rights Council in 2020
What were the main developments, achievements and flash-points at the Human Rights Council in 2020? What were the Council’s principle outputs and what kind of impact…Realizing rights, changing lives: The impact of the United Nations human rights system on the enjoyment of children's rights
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…Guide to the 2020 Human Rights Council Elections
The sixth annual yourHRC.org Guide to the Human Rights Council elections provides comprehensive at-a-glance information on the 2020 Council elections (tentatively scheduled to take place…URG next event
The spread of conspiracy myths online: what are the implications for human rights?
Public event
In her message for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet reminded us that 'Words have consequences.' Indeed she remarked that 'conspiracy theorists increasingly link extreme political ideologies and antisemitic delusions,' recalled the responsibilities of governments and digital platforms and stressed that we need to push back against lies, ensure that public discourse ...future events
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past events
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23 Feb 2021
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23 Feb 2021
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23 Feb 2021
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28 Jan 2021
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09 Dec 2020
The Istanbul Process is the dedicated mechanism for follow-up on the implementation of the action plan set out in Human Rights Council resolution 16/18 on combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief.
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