News by topic: Human Rights

UN expert group urges new Icelandic authorities to sustain gender empowerment efforts

24 May – As the world’s top performer on gender equality, Iceland needs to sustain its achievements and bridge remaining gaps on employment and gender based violence, a group of independent United Nations experts today urged as the country’s newly formed Government took office.

UN human rights office urges trial to be decided on merits after Guatemalan court overturns Ríos Montt conviction

24 May – The United Nations human rights office today said it was “concerned” about the legal rights of Guatemalans after a high court overturned the 80 year prison sentence against former military leader, Efrain Ríos Montt.

UN rights experts call for stronger protection of victims of caste-based discrimination

24 May – More than 260 million people across the world are still victims of human rights abuses due to caste-based discrimination, United Nations independent experts warned today, urging South Asian countries to strengthen legislation to protect them.

UN official encourages Kyrgyzstan to tackle causes of 2010 inter-communal violence

23 May – A senior United Nations official has encouraged Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to address the causes of the inter-communal violence that erupted in 2010, while stressing that they must be fully in line with human rights standards.

UN official highlights positive trends in Africa to protect indigenous people’s rights

23 May – A United Nations official today stressed that Africa has taken positive steps to protect the rights of indigenous people, adding that the continent must continue making progress and avoid repeating mistakes made by other regions.

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.

UN human rights chief welcomes signing of Bangladesh work safety accord by major companies

17 May – The United Nations human rights chief today welcomed the decision of dozens of international companies to sign on to an fire-and-safety agreement in the aftermath of the deadly factory collapse in Bangladesh, while calling for additional actions to overhaul the entire garment sector.

Nigerian rebels could face war crimes charges for ‘population cleansing’ – UN rights office

17 May – Members of Boko Haram and other extremist groups in Nigeria could face war crimes charges for deliberate acts leading to ethnic and religious cleansing, the top United Nations human rights official said today.

Countries must repeal laws that discriminate against LGBT individuals – UN officials

17 May – Marking the International Day Against Homophobia, United Nations officials today issued a call on Governments worldwide to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals, and strike laws that discriminate against them.

Papua New Guinea’s plans to resume death penalty ‘major setback’ – UN

17 May – The United Nations human rights office today expressed serious concern over Papua New Guinea’s announcement that it will resume the death penalty more than half a century since it last carried out an execution, stressing this would represent “a major setback” for the country.