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The tenth Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion X), organised by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Universal Rights Group (URG), in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Mexico, Paraguay, Portugal, The Gambia, Marshall Islands, and Thailand, with the support of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the United Nations Development Programme…
Introduction On 7 February 2025, the Human Rights Council convened its 37th special session to address the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of…
The Human Rights Council in 2024
by The URG TeamWhat were the main developments, achievements and flash-points at the Human Rights Council in 2024? What were the Council’s principle outputs and what kind of impact did the body and…
Guide to the 2024 UN Human Rights Council Elections
by The URG TeamThe tenth annual yourHRC.org Guide to the Human Rights Council elections provides comprehensive at-a-glance information on the 2024 Council elections (which are scheduled to take place on 9 October at…
Realising human rights as a critical contribution to confronting the triple planetary crisis
by The URG TeamFrom March 2023 through March 2024, the Universal Rights Group (URG) conducted an analysis to assess and understand the extent to which the United Nations (UN) human rights system focuses…
States’ human rights obligations should inform national policy in addressing the use and presence of mines, including their removal; education and awareness-raising; victim support, rehabilitation, and reparation; and social reintegration.…
Across the world, environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) have been catalysing actions to safeguard a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Their work has been crucial to the protection and respect…
Understanding human rights related to the environment: exploring their scope and implications
The objective of this document is to provide information about the status and scope of human rights related to the environment to States, United Nations entities, other intergovernmental organizations, civil…
URG Insights
Report on the 58th session of the Human Rights Council
by Geneva
Quick summary The 58th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC58) was held from Monday, 24 February 2025 to 4 April 2025. As the main session of the Council, HRC58 began with a High-Level Segment (HLS). The 2025 HLS included speeches by around 70 high-level dignitaries and officials. The discussions revolved around pressing global…
by Neville Mupita, Universal Rights Group
Two recent court rulings from South Africa and Kenya have set powerful precedents for the promotion and protection of the right to a healthy environment (R2E) across the African continent. The cases, South Africa’s African Climate Alliance & Others v. Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy & Others (December 4, 2024) and Kenya’s Metal Refinery…
Key human rights priorities of world governments at HRC58: an analysis of the High-Level Segment
by the URG team
The 3-day High-Level Segment of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, held from 24 to 26 February 2025, saw the active participation of over 70 high-level dignitaries and officials. The session was opened by the President of the Human Rights Council, H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber. Following the opening, statements were delivered to the…
Human Rights: Will the US-China Rivalry Over This Critical Issue Fade?
by Dominik Mierzejewski, Professor in Department of Asian Studies, University of Lodz, Paulina Matera, Associate Professor, University of Lodz
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States seemed less interested in upholding human rights worldwide – in 2018 President Donald Trump’s decided to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council. Chinese diplomacy used the opportunity to promote its competitive vision of the concept of human rights to the fullest. Under President Joe Biden, the U.S.…
by the URG team
Introduction On 7 February 2025, the Human Rights Council convened its 37th special session to address the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The session was requested by the Permanent Representative of the DRC and the request was supported by the following 27 States Members…
