World

GENEVA November 21, 2019 – Governments are failing in their duty to protect people from human rights abuses by business and cannot put off action any longer, UN human rights experts have warned ahead of the largest global gathering on business and human rights. “It’s time for governments to act and make real progress on […]

GENEVA November 19, 2019 – The announcement by the US Secretary of State that Israeli settlements do not violate international law is a decisive break with international consensus, and will only further entrench the perpetual Israeli occupation, a UN human rights expert said today. “This is not a step towards peace or justice in the […]

Rio de Janeiro, November 18, 2019 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned a law enacted by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that criminalizes slander under the electoral code. On November 8, Bolsonaro enacted Law 13.834, which added “slanderous denunciation” as a criminal offense under Brazil’s electoral code, according to news reports. The law criminalizes knowingly accusing someone of […]

GENEVA November 18, 2019 – After the deaths of at least five protestors in Sacaba, Cochabamba, in Bolivia on Friday – reportedly mostly as a result of live ammunition fired by the security forces – the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged the authorities to ensure that security forces comply with international […]

Nov. 13, 2019 – Climate change is already damaging the health of the world’s children and is set to shape the wellbeing of an entire generation unless the world meets Paris Agreement targets to limit warming to well below 2 degrees C, according to a major new report published in The Lancet. The Lancet Countdown […]

Nov. 11, 2019 – New Global Witness investigation shows close relatives and accomplices of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad are funnelling money out of Syria into Russia, and possibly beyond. Several members of the Makhlouf family, once considered to be Syria’s richest family and second only to the al-Assads in power and influence, have purchased at […]

GENEVA, Nov. 11, 2019 – The international community must prioritise women’s rights to meet the promisesand commitments on sexual and reproductive health made at a historic global conference 25 years ago, a group of United Nations human rights experts* has said. A tremendous amount of work remains to be done to fulfil the ambitious commitments […]

GENEVA November 8, 2019 – UN human rights experts have condemned the excessive use of force by security forces in Chile during the recent weeks of protests. At least 20 people are reported to have been killed and about 1600 hurt, including police officers, during protests that began in early October over rising transport costs, […]

Beirut, November 4, 2019 – Authorities in Iraq’s Anbar governorate are suppressing the right of residents to show support for demonstrations elsewhere in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. In recent days, they have arrested two men for merely posting messages of solidarity on Facebook, questioned a third, and sent a fourth into hiding. […]

October 29, 2019 – A new study published on the prestigious journal Nature Climate Change highlights how climate-related damages impact on the stability of the global banking system. Climate change will increase the frequency of banking crises while rescuing insolvent banks will cause an additional fiscal burden and an increase of public debt to GDP […]

GENEVA October 29, 2019 – UN human rights experts* today urged the Iraqi authorities to prevent and cease violence immediately against protesters, and ensure that those responsible for unlawful use of force are investigated and prosecuted. The experts said it was of paramount importance that Iraqi authorities take additional steps to prevent violence and enable […]

NEW YORK (29 October 2019) – Reparations for racial discrimination rooted in colonialism and slavery are essential to the fulfillment of human rights, a UN human rights expert said today, calling on States to accept they have obligations and responsibilities to make reparations to victims and their descendants. “Reparations are a vital aspect of a […]

NEW YORK October 29, 2019 – The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, Joseph Cannataci, has unveiled a set of international standards on how health data should be used and protected, warning of enormous threats to privacy if the industry is not regulated. “My recommendations, which I believe are the first of their […]

NEW YORK October 24, 2019 – Under the shadow of the existential threats of climate change and biodiversity collapse lies another, insidious extinction crisis: the toxification of our planet and our bodies, a UN human rights expert told the General Assembly today. “Our incessant exposure to pollution and other sources of toxic substances poses a […]