UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Mr. Juan Méndez, presented last week a controversial report to the UN Human Rights Council asserting that certain acts under national healthcare systems may violate the Convention against Torture (CAT). Special Rapporteur Méndez recognized that the report may arguably extend beyond his mandate as traditionally defined and into the realm of the “right to health,”
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In Celebration of International Women's Day
March 8, 2013 is International Women’s Day, a day when the world reflects on the progress made and obstacles that remain in achieving gender equality and respect for women’s human rights. This year, the UN has planned a variety of events in honor of this day, and its human rights experts have taken the opportunity to highlight the need for continued
Read moreAfrican Court in Session to Consider Cases Involving Journalist’s Assassination, Employment and Political Rights
The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Court) is currently holding its 28th Ordinary Session at its seat in Arusha, Tanzania through March 15, 2013. The Court, whose mandate is complementary to that of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, has announced it expects to focus on several cases during the session. A New Judge Joins the
Read moreInter-American Commission and Court to Address Broad Range of Human Rights Issues in March Hearings
The two bodies of the Inter-American human rights system will be in session this month to consider issues of concern in the Americas and to receive testimony in pending contentious cases. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will hold its 147th Session from March 7 to 22, with public hearings taking place on March 11-12 and 14-16 at the Commission’s headquarters
Read moreUN Compensates Zimbabwe Staffer, but Haitian Victims' Struggle for Justice Continues in Cholera Outbreaks Attributed to UN
At the end of February, the United Nations (UN) issued two decisions concerning its role is the spread of cholera in Haiti and Zimbabwe. In Haiti, victims of cholera and their advocates claim that UN peacekeepers from Nepal introduced cholera to the country, but the UN has stated it will not hear their complaint. [UN] In Zimbabwe, a UN official claims
Read moreOpportunities to Contribute to UN Reports with March Deadlines
This month, civil society organizations and human rights defenders have the opportunity to contribute their comments on three upcoming UN reports on the topics of the right to peace, the relationship between human rights and traditional values, and the death penalty.
Read moreUN Launches the Rabat Plan of Action
On 21 February 2013, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) launched the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. The Rabat Plan aims to provide guidance on how to balance between Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Read moreInter-American Commission's Proposed Rule Changes Adopt Some OAS Recommendations
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has announced proposed changes to its Rules of Procedure, policies, and practices, which are open to public comment through March 1. The proposals are motivated by the Commission’s interest in increasing its transparency and effectiveness, but are also a proactive response to the ongoing reform process through which the General Assembly of the
Read moreIn X and Others v. Austria, ECtHR Finds Discriminatory Restriction on Same-Sex Couple Adoption Violates Convention
This week, the European Court of Human Rights announced the Grand Chamber’s judgment in X and Others v. Austria [GC], app. no. 19010/07, Judgment of 19 February 2013, in which the court considered whether a restriction on a lesbian woman’s ability to adopt her partner’s child violated the European Convention on Human Rights. In finding a violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination)
Read moreUN Publishes Guide for Measuring Human Rights
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at the end of 2012 released a new publication entitled Human Rights Indicators: A Guide to Measurement and Implementation, which is available online in English and Spanish. The Guide supports the identification of objective indicators for measuring countries’ progress in realizing human rights and came about in response to requests
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