Universal system – Page 35 – International Justice Resource Center

UN General Assembly Approves Resolution to Strengthen Human Rights Treaty Body System

April 16, 2014 IJRC civil society, UN General Assembly, UN treaty bodies

During its 68th Session, the United Nations General Assembly last week approved a resolution intended to strengthen the UN human rights treaty body system. The measures and changes called for by the General Assembly seek to improve treaty bodies’ ability to effectively and efficiently monitor States’ implementation of human rights conventions. [OHCHR] This resolution is the next step in the treaty

UN Human Rights Committee Invites Feedback on Draft General Comment No. 35 on the Rights to Liberty and Security of Person

April 14, 2014 IJRC civil society, due process & judicial protection, international human rights, international humanitarian law, liberty & security of person, security & rule of law, UN treaty bodies

During its 110th session last month, the United Nations Human Rights Committee concluded its first reading of Draft General Comment No. 35 on Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the right to liberty and security of person, including the freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention. The Committee invites interested stakeholders to submit

UN Human Rights Council Focuses Attention on Promoting and Protecting Human Rights Defenders, Civil Society Space, and Peaceful Protest during 25th Regular Session

April 4, 2014 IJRC civil society, human rights defenders, international human rights, thought, expression & association, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures

During its 25th regular session last month, the UN Human Rights Council undertook several measures to address the challenges and risks faced by human rights defenders and other civil society actors. On March 11, it held a panel discussion to analyze the factors that reduce civil society space and to evaluate strategies to promote an interactive partnership between States and

Training Registration Now Open: Protecting Women’s Human Rights through International Law and Advocacy

April 3, 2014 IJRC children, Commission on the Status of Women, economic, social & cultural rights, human rights defenders, IJRC Updates, Inter-American System, reproductive and sexual rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, Universal Periodic Review, women's rights

The International Justice Resource Center (IJRC) is pleased to announce an upcoming training seminar on women’s human rights. See the draft agenda for additional details. WHEN: Thursday, June 19, 2014 WHERE: UC Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California WHO: Experts in international human rights law and women’s rights will share insights and examples with advocates and attorneys whose work

UN Human Rights Committee Issues Concluding Observations on State Reports of Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and the United States

April 3, 2014 IJRC civil society, democracy & political rights, discrimination, due process & judicial protection, human rights defenders, immigration & asylum, indigenous communities, international human rights, international humanitarian law, judicial independence, LGBTI rights, liberty & security of person, reparations, reproductive and sexual rights, right to life, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, transitional justice, UN treaty bodies, women's rights

The UN Human Rights Committee held its 110th session from March 10 to 28 to consider the State reports of Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and the United States of America. Following the session, the Committee released its concluding observations, detailing key concerns and recommendations for these States’ improved implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

58th Commission on the Status of Women Closes with Commitment to Pursuing Gender Equality, Women’s Human Rights in Post-2015 Development Agenda

April 1, 2014 IJRC Commission on the Status of Women, discrimination, women's rights

The Commission on the Status of Women held its 58th Session from March 10 to 21 at the UN Headquarters in New York, bringing together States and civil society organizations to discuss the priority theme of “challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls.” The discussion both centered on, and informed revisions to,

International Women’s Day 2014: Equality for Women is Progress for All

March 7, 2014 IJRC Universal system, women's rights

International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, provides opportunities for discussion and engagement around the human rights of women. This year, the United Nations has chosen the theme, “Equality for women is progress for all” to focus on the critical importance of gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights for economic and social development. [UN] Celebration of Women’s Day

International Human Rights Bodies Condemn Violence, Gov’t Responses to Protests in Thailand, Ukraine, and Venezuela

February 25, 2014 IJRC democracy & political rights, European System, extrajudicial executions, Inter-American System, liberty & security of person, thought, expression & association, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Tensions have escalated in Thailand, Ukraine, and Venezuela in recent weeks as political protests have given rise to violent clashes and political upheaval. The United Nations and international human rights bodies have called upon each government to engage in meaningful dialogue to address these conflicts and develop solutions. [OHCHR; COE; UN News Centre] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon emphasized that “there

UN Human Rights Council Holds 18th Session of the Universal Periodic Review

February 3, 2014 IJRC international human rights, UN Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review

From January 27 to February 7, the Human Rights Council is holding its 18th Session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group, to examine the human rights practices of 14 States through an interactive dialogue. [OHCHR] In order of scheduled review, the 14 States are: New Zealand, Afghanistan, Chile, Cambodia, Uruguay, Yemen, Vanuatu, Macedonia, Comoros, Slovakia, Eritrea, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, and Vietnam.