Three United Nations (UN) human rights treaty bodies have released new interpretations concerning the rights to liberty and security of the person; harmful practices impacting women and girls; and the effect of gender on the refugee status, asylum, nationality, and statelessness of women. These general comments and general recommendation flesh out States parties’ obligations under three UN human rights treaties. The
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Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Holds Hearings on Racism in U.S. Criminal Justice System, Social Protests in Mexico, the Internet, and Other Human Rights Issues
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is holding its 153rd session from October 23 to November 7, 2014, with public hearings on October 27, 28, 30 and 31. The hearings allow both States and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide the IACHR with information and context on 53 human rights issues, ranging from the impact of mining operations on human
Read moreIn the Case of Dominican and Haitian People Expelled v. the Dominican Republic, IACtHR Finds Multitude of Human Rights Violations
Last week, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights released its opinion in Case of Dominican and Haitian People Expelled v. the Dominican Republic, where it held that the State’s discrimination, detention, and mass expulsion of individuals of Haitian descent violated the rights to: juridical personality, nationality, a name, personal liberty, privacy, fair trial, judicial protection, equal protection before the law,
Read moreCommittee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Focuses on Women and Conditions in Belgium, Denmark, Ecuador, Mexico, New Zealand, and South Korea during its 12th Session
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) held its twelfth session from September 15 to October 3, 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Committee reviewed State reports from Belgium, Denmark, Ecuador, Mexico, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea regarding their implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Additionally, the agenda included the Committee’s review
Read moreUN Human Rights Council Requests Investigation into Islamic State’s Human Rights Abuses in Iraq
The United Nations Human Rights Council held its 22nd special session this week to address human rights violations committed by the Islamic State and associated groups, which have been accused of mass atrocities as they move to take territory and eliminate minority groups in Iraq and neighboring countries. [OHCHR; Amnesty] The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution requesting the
Read moreSeptember 2014 Newsletter: New IJRC Guides and Resources, and Our New Location
Women’s Human Rights Training: Videos and Summary Report Now Available
In follow-up to the International Justice Resource Center’s most recent training, Protecting Women’s Rights: International Law & Advocacy, we are pleased to announce that the video recordings and summary report are now available online. The conference, held at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco on June 19, 2014, featured some of the most distinguished human rights and women’s rights
Read moreInter-American Court of Human Rights: Extrajudicial Killings, Indigenous Land Rights, Racial Profiling, and Extradition Under Review at 104th Regular and 51st Special Sessions
Over the next three weeks, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights will hold two sessions, one at its seat in Costa Rica and the other in Paraguay, to continue its review of six pending cases and one advisory opinion request. These cases challenge a range of human rights problems, including lack of due process in immigration and extradition proceedings, failure
Read moreHuman Rights Council Advisory Committee Discusses the Role of Conflict, Corruption, Sport, Local Government, and Other Issues in the Enjoyment of Human Rights at its 13th Session
The United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee concluded its 13th Session, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland last week. [OHCHR] The Advisory Committee functions as a think-tank for the Human Rights Council, providing it with studies and research-based advice on specific human rights issues. During the session, which lasted from August 11 to August 15, the Advisory Committee
Read moreCommittee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to Review the United States, Peru, Japan, Iraq, Estonia, El Salvador, and Cameroon during Ongoing 85th Session
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) opened its 85th session on Monday, August 11 in Geneva, Switzerland. During this session, which will close on August 29, the Committee’s agenda includes its review of periodic reports from seven States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), consideration of individual complaints
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