The United Nations independent expert on foreign debt and human rights issued a statement today, welcoming the British parliament’s passage of a new law earlier this month which will have the effect of banning ‘vulture funds’ created to profit off the foreign debt of developing countries by essentially buying the debt for a highly reduced price (often when the debt
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Human Rights Council Concludes 13th Session
The U.N. Human Rights Council concluded its 13th regular session last week, having considered a great variety of reports from the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the special procedures, and the Working Group on Universal Period Review (reports on Eritrea, the Dominican Republic, Cambodia, Norway, Albania, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Portugal, Bhutan, Dominica, Democratic People’s Republic
Read moreNew Publication on U.N. Special Procedures' Activities in 2009
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently published its 2009 update on the roles and activities of the Special Procedures established by the U.N. Human Rights Council, which include country-specific and thematic special rapporteurships and working groups. See the report, “United Nations Special Procedures: Facts and Figures 2009” here. See the list of thematic special
Read moreHuman Rights Committee Deplores Executions in Belarus
Following the conclusion of its 98th session, held in New York earlier this month, the Human Rights Committee issued a press release deploring the execution of two individuals whose cases are pending before the Committee and on whose behalf the Committee had issued interim measures. During its session, the Committee had requested clarification from Belarus, which was not forthcoming. The
Read moreThe Week's News
Human Rights Conditions * President Bachelet declares state of catastrophe following powerful earthquake in Chile. [Washington Post] * Interim government organized following Niger coup. [BBC] * Ceasefire signed in Sudan. [Guardian] * Waterboarding defended by former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. [New York Times] * Russia pushed for details on investigation of Chechen human rights defender’s murder in July
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