Can President Biden’s Infrastructure Bill help the US build back better on economic, social and cultural rights?

by Daniela Kyle, Universal Rights Group NYC Blog, Blog, HRC, Human Rights Council, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, New York City, SDGs, Universal Rights Group NYC, UPR

On 10 August, the United States Senate approved the $1 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that had been proposed and supported by President Biden as the first phase in his Build Back Better agenda. The bill will be the largest long-term investment in American infrastructure in nearly a century, and is expected to make the American economy ‘more sustainable, resilient and just.’ The White House stated that …

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 …

Are States racing to the top in the third cycle of UPR? A view from the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission

by Lorna McGregor and Geneva By invitation, By invitation, Human rights implementation and impact, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, Implementation, International human rights institutions, mechanisms and processes, UPR

9th October, London  The third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) began in April of this year and will continue until 2021. At the end of the second cycle, the then President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Choi Kyong-lim, delivered a video message calling on member States to ‘ensure that the third cycle is one of follow-up and implementation’. Earlier this …

NMRFs – A key State structure for effective reporting, coordination and implementation of human rights recommendations

by Beatriz Balbin Chamorro, Shahrzad Tadjbakhsh, Ibrahim Salama and the URG team Beyond the Council, Beyond the Council, Blog, By invitation, By invitation, Human rights implementation and impact, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, Implementation, UPR

The international human rights system has expanded significantly over the past twenty years, both in terms of new human rights treaties, as well as the mechanisms established to monitor and advise States on human rights promotion and protection. It has empowered individuals worldwide, including the most marginalised and disadvantaged, to claim their rights and seek redress. At the same time …

Universal Periodic Review

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, …