Video
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
Sisyphean endeavours and unfinished business: UN Secretary-General Guterres lays out his vision for a second term, including a conference on human rights and renewed focus on prevention
by Danica Damplo, Universal Rights Group NYC
On 8 January 2021, UN Secretary-General António Guterres notified the General Assembly (GA) President Volkan Bozkir and Security Council President for January Tarek Ladeb of his intentions to run for re-election. On 23 March, Guterres sent his Vision Statement to Bozkir, and on 7 May, engaged in an informal dialogue with the GA. Given that Guterres will likely succeed in securing a second term, his vision and informal dialogue offer useful insight into his priorities for the UN, which include using his Call to Action for Human Rights as a blueprint for mainstreaming human rights in the UN system, as…
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FinTech’s opportunities and risks, and the importance of regulation for the protection of human rights
by Amanda Gu, Universal Rights Group NYC
Financial technology (FinTech) has been described as a harbinger of change, one that could impose a new regime of streamlined finance. Although there is some merit to the potential of these services to revolutionise finance, reduce inequality and accelerate development, like any other technology, they require regulation to safeguard against abuses that could have serious human rights impacts. The United Nations (UN) has recognised the financial benefits of this emerging technology in helping to achieve the Sustainable Development goals, although the current lack of regulation around FinTech leaves much room for improvement. The uses of FinTech Financial technology (FinTech) describes…
More restrictive demonstration and protest laws risk eroding fundamental democratic values
by Tess Brennan, Universal Rights Group NYC
Republican lawmakers in the United States have recently introduced new legislation at the state level regarding protests and demonstrations. The bills collectively place greater restrictions on individual protest rights and increase the penalties for those charged under such provisions. The majority of laws are currently pending, but send a dangerous message even if they do not pass. This movement indicates a shift in perception as to what constitutes an acceptable level of freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. This worrying trend is prevalent in, but not exclusive to the US, as similar measures have…
Environmental Justice, Climate Change and the Right to a Healthy Environment in the Biden Administration
by Professor Dan Magraw, President Emeritus of the Centre for International Environmental Law
28 April 2021 United States President Joe Biden has prioritized achieving environmental justice and combatting climate change, following up on campaign pledges. The Biden Administration’s focus on climate change is evident in early Executive Orders (EOs)[i] and in the April 22 Climate Summit that he convened. President Biden’s focus on environmental justice (EJ) is manifested in the same EOs. He has also proposed wide-ranging legislation regarding climate change in his American Jobs Plan, which also contains major elements relating to EJ[ii]. Also before Congress is the Environmental Justice For All Act championed by Vice-President Kamala Harris, a law which would…
Recent US report of Russian election interference reveals how disinformation can exploit existing divides to erode trust in democracy
by Amanda Gu, Universal Rights Group NYC
On 16 March 2021, the US National Intelligence Council released a declassified report detailing what they found to be the extent of Russian interference in the 2020 US Presidential Election. US President Joe Biden issued a strong rebuke and one month later on 15 April his administration announced sanctions and other retributory measures. According to the report, Russian disinformation campaigns aimed to sow chaos and delegitimise the election by undermining citizens’ access to quality information - an attack on the foundations of democracy - by playing off pre-existing societal divides and by employing political microtargeting strategies. Russia’s disinformation campaign and…
latest policy report
March 2021
Building a coherent Human Rights Council-Security Council relationship - The prevention of human rights crises, violent conflict and atrocity crimes
previous policy reports
#The time is now - The case for universal recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment
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…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…URG next event
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13 Apr 2021
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13 Apr 2021
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13 Apr 2021
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25 Mar 2021
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05 Mar 2021
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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