Mar 02, 2016, at 03:16 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Marking 50 years since the unanimous adoption of two United Nations human rights treaties – respectively promoting respect for civil and political, and economic, social and cultural rights – a top UN official on Tuesday said the landmark covenants have helped extend rights to people crushed by tyranny and discrimination for generations.
UN officials call for strengthened global partnerships to combat human trafficking
Feb 10, 2016, at 03:28 pm
New York, Feb 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS)While the world clearly has the political will and legal tools to take on human traffickers and their criminal networks, what are needed is more meaningful international cooperation and adequate funding to take effective action, senior United Nations officials said today, warning that the scourge now has victims spread across 152 different citizenships in 124 countries.
Turkey: UN rights chief concerned by actions of security forces
Feb 02, 2016, at 02:13 pm
New York, Feb 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Monday called on the Turkish authorities to respect the fundamental rights of civilians in its security operations and to promptly investigate the alleged shooting of a group of unarmed people after "shocking" video footage of the event.
Incitement to anti-gay killings in Malawi draws concern of UN human rights office
Jan 23, 2016, at 02:18 pm
New York, Jan 21 (Just Eath News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Friday expressed concern over recent developments in Malawi, after the spokesperson of one of the country’s main political parties recently called for gay and lesbian people to be killed, describing them as "worse than dogs."
UN rights experts welcome Iran prisoner releases
Jan 20, 2016, at 02:56 pm
New York, Jan 20 (Just earth News/IBNS): United Nations human rights experts on Tuesday welcomed Iran’s weekend release of four Iranian-Americans in an apparent prisoner swap with the United States, and called on Tehran to pave the way for the freeing of all remaining unlawfully detained prisoners.
Peru will compensate woman in historic human rights abortion case: UN
Jan 19, 2016, at 02:41 pm
New York, Jan 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Nearly a decade after the UN Human Rights Committee agreed that a Peruvian woman’s rights were violated for having been denied an abortion – and recommended that the Government compensate her – the UN human rights office announced on Monday that Peru has said it will pay compensation for having refused her access to a legal medical procedure.
UN refugee agency seeks to protect displaced gays, lesbians
Dec 26, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New York, Dec 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons in forced displacement facing discrimination, prejudice, violence and other hurdles as they seek asylum, the United Nations refugee agency has rolled out the most comprehensive training package of its kind globally to enhance their protection.
Despite progressive laws, gender-based violence ‘pervasive’ in South Africa, UN expert warns
Dec 16, 2015, at 04:00 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Warning that deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes make violence against women “an almost acceptable phenomenon†in South Africa, a United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday urged the Government to strengthen its fight against gender-based violence through awareness and education at all levels of society.
UN rights chief urges Cuba to halt harassment of activists and respect human rights
Dec 16, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The top United Nations human rights official expressed concern today over the extremely high number of arbitrary arrests and short-term detentions of individuals, including human rights defenders and dissidents, in Cuba in recent weeks.
Viet Nam: UN rights office alarmed at series of attacks against human rights defenders
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:23 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Alarmed by the recent spate of violent attacks on human rights defenders in Viet Nam, the United Nations rights agency on Friday expressed concern at the "apparent failure" of the Vietnamese authorities to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators and urged the Government to take measures to ensure security of all human rights defenders.
Women in US lagging behind in human rights, UN experts report
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:12 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): While praising the current United States administration for its commitment to women's equality, United Nations experts warned on Friday that the extreme polarization of US politics is “profoundly†affecting the Government’s ability to guarantee women’s human rights, and even to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Fundamental freedoms inalienable and inherent – now and always: UN
Dec 11, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Marking this year's Human Rights Day amid extraordinary global challenges, the United Nations is calling on the world to recognize and guarantee fundamental freedoms – long recognized "as the birthright of all people" – freedom from fear, freedom from want, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
UN human rights chief hails end of death penalty in Mongolia
Dec 11, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Hailing Mongolia's recent abolition of the death penalty, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, commended the move as a "welcome step in the fight for the human rights of all."
Veteran Australian rights official appointed deputy UN human rights chief
Dec 02, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Dec 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of Kate Gilmore of Australia, a veteran United Nations, Government and non-governmental organization (NGOs) official, as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.
UN expert on DPR Korea warned 'nothing changed' two years after human rights report
Nov 27, 2015, at 01:11 pm
New York, Nov 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A United Nations expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday warned that nothing has changed in the country since the UN Commission of Inquiry on DPRK presented its landmark report to the Human Rights Council two years ago.
Burundi: UN rights chief deplores suspension of human rights groups
Nov 26, 2015, at 01:47 pm
New York, Nov 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The top United Nations human rights official on Wednesday deplored the Burundian authorities' suspension of 10 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including several working on peace and human rights issues, warning against a relapse into "full-fledged civil war."
UN rights office alarmed by Nepal's violation on use of force towards protestors
Nov 26, 2015, at 01:35 pm
New York, Nov 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Alarmed by latest killings in violent clashes over the weekend in Nepal, bringing the death toll to at least 50 since protests against the new Constitution began in August, the United Nations human rights office on Wednesday urged Nepalese authorities to follow international standards on use of force, respect dissenting voices and engage them in a "meaningful, inclusive and open dialogue."
European border restrictions on refugees, migrants violate human rights: Ban
Nov 25, 2015, at 03:48 pm
New York, Nov 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Balkan States on Wednesday that border restrictions based on a refugee’s or migrant’s nationality infringed human rights, with the United Nations refugee agency reporting that 1,000 people are already stranded, 60 of them on hunger strike and 11 reportedly stitching up their mouths in protest.
Somalia: UN official calls for global support to improve human rights situation
Nov 18, 2015, at 03:59 pm
New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS): While noting significant improvement in several sectors in long-troubled Somalia, a senior United Nations official on Tuesday warned that the country's progress is "at risk" without increased support from international partners to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights.
'No turning back in Myanmar,' says UN human rights expert in wake of elections
Nov 17, 2015, at 01:35 pm
New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Welcoming the recent elections in Myanmar as 'a new chapter in the country's history,' United Nations Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee on Monday reaffirmed her commitment to work with all parties in the country to improve the human rights situation there, saying "the people have expressed the will for change. There is no turning back now."
UN human rights experts welcome release of Egyptian journalist and rights defender
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): UN human rights experts on Wednesday welcomed the release of Egyptian journalist Hossam Bahgat but expressed their "grave concern" over the "very difficult environment" for journalists and human rights defenders in Egypt that deters reporting and intimidates writers and activists of all kinds.
UN rights experts urge Iran to stop silencing journalists' dissenting voices
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:22 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Expressing concern over the detention, prosecution and intimidation of journalists and bloggers in Iran before the upcoming parliamentary elections, United Nations human rights experts on Wednesday called on the Government to stop "silencing dissenting voices" and to stand by its international obligation on freedom of expression.
UN urges immediate release of detained Egyptian human rights defender
Nov 11, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations has called for the immediate release of detained Egyptian human rights defender Hossam Bahgat with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon describing as "profoundly worrying" the latest in a series of such detentions.
I will never stop calling for an end to the death penalty: Ban
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:47 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/ IBNS): Vowing to never stop calling for an end to the death penalty, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said studies have proven that those who are poor, mentally disabled, and/or are minorities are at higher risk of receiving the death sentence, regardless of guilt or innocence.
DPR Korea: UN rights expert regrets unchanged human rights situation
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): The international community was strongly urged on Wednesday by a UN rights expert to maintain effective and meaningful efforts to address the continued dire human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
UN condemns attack in Afghanistan that killed two, injured six
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): The top UN official in Afghanistan has condemned the killing of two human rights workers on Monday by a remote-controlled explosive device in the eastern city of Jalalabad, saying "the climate of fear created by such attacks, threatens vital human rights work" being carried out throughout the country.
Burundi: UN warns of 'rapidly worsening' human rights and security situation
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday expressed its concern over the "rapidly worsening" security and human rights situation in Burundi, where at least 198 people have been killed since April, including the execution of at least nine civilians ten days ago.
Children's right to freedom of religion or belief must be protected: UN expert
Oct 24, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Oct 24 (IBNS): The United Nations expert on religious freedom is calling on all Governments represented at the UN General Assembly "to respect religious practices by children and their families and support families in fulfilling their role in providing an enabling environment for the realisation of the rights of the child."
UN human rights chief urges Czech Republic to halt detention of migrants and refugees
Oct 23, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Oct 23 (IBNS): The top United Nations human rights official on Thursday strongly criticized the detention of migrants and refugees in the Czech Republic, drawing attention to the violations of the rights of children among them and to credible reports that authorities are routinely strip-searching migrants to confiscate the $10 a day they are charged for their own detention.
'Silence is too often the only safe option left,' UN report on sources and whistleblowers
Oct 23, 2015, at 01:59 pm
New York, Oct 23 (IBNS): Governments and international organizations are failing to ensure adequate protections to whistleblowers and sources of information, according to a new report by the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression.