On May 30, Ms. Gabriela Knaul, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, presented her report on the right to legal aid to the UN Human Rights Council. Legal Aid as a Human Right In framing the report, the Rapporteur stresses that “[l]egal aid is an essential component of a fair and efficient justice system that
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United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Discusses Health, Education, and Culture at Twelfth Session
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will hold its Twelfth Session between May 20 to 31, 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York City. The UNPFII is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). [UNPFII] Its mandate includes providing expertise and recommendations regarding indigenous issues to ECOSOC and UN programs, agencies, and funds;
Read moreUN High Commissioner Navi Pillay to Present OHCHR Annual Report for 2012
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, will present the 2012 annual report of her office on May 24, 2013 in Geneva. The report provides an assessment of the current state of human rights with respect to six thematic priorities and reviews efforts by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) over the last
Read moreHuman Rights Bodies Call for End to Discrimination, Intolerance on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, celebrated annually on May 17, serves as an opportunity to call attention to the challenges, stigma, and rights violations experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) individuals around the world. Today, many of the major human rights monitoring bodies released statements calling on governments to initiate or increase efforts to put an end
Read moreNominations for 2013 UN Human Rights Prize Due by July 5
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) has opened nominations for the 2013 United Nations Prize for those who have made “outstanding contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights.” The award has been presented every five years since 1968, pursuant to General Assembly Resolution that also established the international year for human rights.
Read moreCommittee on Enforced Disappearances Issues its First Concluding Observations, on State Reports from Uruguay and France
The United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) held its fourth session from April 8 to 19, 2013 and reviewed State reports for the first time. Uruguay and France were the first States to be reviewed by the CED, which has now issued its “concluding observations” on those governments’ compliance with the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from
Read moreNew OHCHR Portal for Resources on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently launched an online portal for tools and information available for economic, social and cultural rights activists. While civil and political rights – like the rights to free speech and a fair trial – are often the center of international attention, the equally critical human rights related to economic, social,
Read moreUniversal Periodic Review: Ongoing 16th Session Includes Colombia, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Russia, Cuba & Others
On April 22, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group commenced its sixteenth session in Geneva. During this two-week session, the Council will review and confirm reports on the human rights situation in Turkmenistan, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Tuvalu, Germany, Djibouti, Canada, Bangladesh, the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, and Cuba. [UN HRC] The fourteen
Read moreHigh Commissioner for Human Rights Seeks Civil Society Input on Nominations and Reports
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is soliciting input on pending reports, feedback on its management plan, and nominations for newly-created special procedures from civil society in April and May. Candidates for Special Rapporteurs for Mali and Haiti OHCHR seeks the proposal of independent experts for nomination to one year Special Rapporteur mandates reporting
Read moreUN Votes to Adopt Arms Trade Treaty, Restricting Export of Weapons that May Be Used for Human Rights Violations
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to adopt an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on April 2, 2013. The treaty regulates international trade of conventional arms, and aims to “[contribute] to international and regional peace, security and stability.” ATT, art. 1. Among other requirements, States Parties must prohibit the international transfer of arms whenever the government has knowledge that
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