Articles by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
We found 20 results.
UN Experts Call on International Community to Prevent Genocide in Gaza
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - TRANSCEND Media Service,
20 Nov 2023
16 Nov 2023 – Grave violations committed by Israel in Gaza point to a genocide in the making, UN experts said today. They illustrated evidence of genocidal incitement, intent to “destroy the Palestinian people under occupation”, loud calls for a ‘second Nakba,’ and the use of powerful weaponry resulting in a colossal death toll and destruction of life-sustaining infrastructure.
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UN Expert Calls for Lifting Unilateral Sanctions ‘Suffocating’ Syrian People
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - TRANSCEND Media Service,
14 Nov 2022
10 Nov 2022 – UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights Alena Douhan today urged sanctioning States to lift unilateral sanctions against Syria, warning that they were perpetuating and exacerbating the destruction and trauma suffered by the Syrian people since 2011.
→ read full articleConvention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
10 Jun 2019
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984 – Entry into force 26 June 1987, in accordance with article 27 (1)
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UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar Advances Accountability and Initiates New Investigations
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
25 Mar 2019
14 Mar 2019 – As a result of the serious nature of the findings of the Fact-Finding Mission, the Human Rights Council also established the Independent Mechanism on Myanmar. The new mechanism will build on the important work of the FFM by collecting, consolidating, preserving and analysing evidence of the most serious crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011.
→ read full articleMyanmar: New Land Law Could Have Disastrous Impact on Ethnic Minorities
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
18 Mar 2019
• Law affects traditional communities who passed down land for generations
• Revenues from resource extraction going to army and its allies
• Alleged crimes committed in Myanmar must be referred to ICC
Bachelet: Returning Rohingya Refugees to Myanmar Would Place Them at Serious Risk of Human Rights Violations
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
19 Nov 2018
13 Nov 2018 – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today urged the Government of Bangladesh to halt plans for the repatriation of more than 2,200 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, warning that the returns would be in violation of international law and put their lives and freedom at serious risk.
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Myanmar: UN Human Rights Expert Pleads for Rohingya Returns to Stop, Fears Repeat Abuses May Await
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
12 Nov 2018
6 Nov 2018 – A UN human rights expert has implored Bangladesh to shelve plans to start repatriating Rohingya refugees to Rakhine State this month, saying the Myanmar Government had failed to provide guarantees they would not suffer the same persecution and horrific violence all over again.
→ read full articleStatement by Ms. Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
30 Oct 2017
25 Oct 2017 – What is undeniable is that hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh from northern Rakhine and that hundreds of their villages have been torched and burnt down. Yet Myanmar’s State Counsellor asked us to consider the 50 per cent of Muslim villages that have not been destroyed. The Commander-in-Chief then suggested the number of those who have fled has been exaggerated. And the Minister responsible for the safe return of those who have fled speculated that the hundreds of thousands of people who fled did so as a ploy to give an appearance of ethnic cleansing.
→ read full articleMyanmar Rohingya Abuses May Be Crimes against Humanity, UN Rights Experts Warn
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
9 Oct 2017
4 Oct 2017 – “We are particularly worried about the fate of Rohingya women and children subject to serious violations of their human rights, including killings, rape and forced displacement. Such violations may amount to crimes against humanity,” the experts said in a joint statement issued today.
→ read full articleStatement by Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
19 Jun 2017
There have been a number of alarming incidents of incitement of intercommunal tension and religious violence since my last update. In April, extremist Buddhist nationalists reportedly pressured authorities to close two Islamic schools in Yangon that traditionally have served as a prayer site, with no consultation and investigation. That they remain closed through Ramadan, a sacred month for Muslims when they not only observe the fasting but are also encouraged to conduct additional prayers, has resulted in a sense of greater isolation amongst the community.
→ read full articleStatement by Ms. Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
20 Mar 2017
I want to end this statement by emphasizing that I have absolutely no reason whatsoever to present a biased, one-sided report. However, I have every reason to present the situation to reflect the reality, even if some may not like what I have to say. I believe this Council expects me to do exactly that by entrusting me with this mandate.
→ read full articleEnd of Mission Statement by Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights– TRANSCEND Media Service,
6 Mar 2017
Yet in spite of what they experienced, over and again I heard that what they want is to be accepted as Rohingya, to be able to go back to their home country, to be treated equally, to be treated as human beings. There are some who said they want justice, and when I probed what they meant by justice, most said they want their homes returned to them and to be able to live in peace. One said, “I want justice for those who were murdered and raped; I want those who murdered and raped brought to justice.”
→ read full articleJulian Assange Arbitrarily Detained by Sweden and UK, UN Expert Panel Finds
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
8 Feb 2016
In a public statement, the expert panel called on the Swedish and British authorities to end Mr. Assange’s deprivation of liberty, respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement, and afford him the right to compensation.
→ read full articleSpecial Rapporteur on Occupied Palestinian Territory Resigns Due to Continued Denial of Access by Israel
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
11 Jan 2016
4 Jan 2016 –The independent expert expressed deep regret that, throughout his mandate, Israel failed to grant him access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. “Unfortunately, my efforts to help improve the lives of Palestinian victims of violations under the Israeli occupation have been frustrated every step of the way,” said Makarim Wibisono.
→ read full articleUN Human Rights Council – Opening Statement
Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
8 Sep 2014
My first address to this Council takes place at a time when conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa regions, in particular, are escalating dramatically… My Office will be open to dialogue with all stakeholders; and within the limits of our resources, we will extend every possible assistance to States, to heighten their protection and promotion of human rights.
→ read full articlePrinciples of International Co-Operation in the Detection, Arrest, Extradition and Punishment of Persons Guilty of War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
11 Aug 2014
Adopted by General Assembly resolution 3074 (XXVIII) of 3 December 1973
→ read full articleChild and Forced Marriage – Manifestation of Gender Discrimination
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
14 Jul 2014
“In the absence of viable legal remedies, discriminatory cultural practices based on stereotypical views of women’s roles and sexuality are among the structural causes of child and forced marriage.”
→ read full articleOpen-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on a Draft United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
4 Feb 2013
First Session 18-21 February 2013. Informal discussion on 7 February 2013. Reference is made to the Note Verbale dated 17 January 2013, concerning the establishment of an Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group with the mandate of progressively negotiating a draft United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace.
→ read full articleDec 10, 2012 – Human Rights Day
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
10 Dec 2012
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted on 10 December 1948. The date has since served to mark Human Rights Day worldwide. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has been awarded the Guinness World Record for having collected, translated and disseminated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into more than 380 languages and dialects: from Abkhaz to Zulu. It is thus the most translated document – indeed, the most “universal” one in the world.
→ read full articleBorn Free and Equal
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – TRANSCEND Media Service,
24 Sep 2012
The UN Human Rights Office has released a new publication on sexual orientation and gender identity in international human rights law. It sets out the source and scope of some of the core legal obligations that States have to protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
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