News by region: AMERICAS

Political participation by indigenous peoples in Latin America still low – UN report

22 May – Indigenous peoples in Latin America have undergone an unprecedented mobilization in the past 20 years, but political participation, particularly among women, is still low, the United Nations said in a new report released today.

Justice in Guatemala vital for preventing recurrence of heinous crimes, say UN experts

15 May – Establishing truth and justice in Guatemala is essential to ensuring that heinous crimes such as arbitrary executions, rape and forced displacement – committed during the country’s civil war – do not take place again and to ending impunity, a group of independent United Nations experts said today.

Guatemala: UN rights chief welcomes ‘historic’ genocide conviction of former military leader

13 May – The top United Nations human rights official today welcomed the conviction of José Efraín Ríos Montt, Guatemala’s former de facto head of State, to 80 years in prison for genocide and crimes against humanity.

Mexico must strengthen its protection of human rights, reduce use of military – UN expert

3 May – A United Nations independent expert today urged the Mexican Government to strengthen the national structures that protect human rights, in particular the right to life, and reduce the involvement of the military in policing to reduce the use of force in the country.

US faces gaps in protecting human rights in business activities – UN experts

2 May – Despite progress and innovation in key sectors of the United States’ economy, too many loopholes remain to adequately protect human rights from adverse business practices, a group of United Nations independent experts today warned.

Amid hunger strike, UN rights experts urge US to close down Guantánamo detention facility

1 May – With some 100 prisoners at the Guantánamo Naval Base on a hunger strike, a group of United Nations independent human rights experts today reiterated their calls on the United States to shut down the detention centre.

Argentina must ensure independence of its judiciary – UN expert

30 April – A United Nations expert today called on Argentina to ensure the independence of its judiciary, following reforms passed earlier this month that affect the election process of the Magistrates Council which appoints and removes judges.

Ban welcomes peaceful elections in Paraguay

25 April – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed peaceful general elections in Paraguay that attracted wide participation, reiterating the United Nations’ willingness to work with the newly elected authorities and people in the South American country.

Ahead of Assembly hall renovation, UN honours designers of its iconic headquarters

24 April – With an extensive renovation of the great General Assembly Hall imminent, United Nations officials today paid tribute to architect Oscar Niemeyer and other members of the UN board of design in a ceremony that revisited the inception of the iconic Headquarters project.

Guatemala: UN adviser calls on judges to ensure accountability for atrocities

23 April – A senior United Nations official today urged judicial authorities in Guatemala to ensure that legal proceedings continue without interference against the country’s former head of State and former head of intelligence who stand accused of atrocities committed in the Central American nation over 30 years ago.