UN Special Procedures – Page 14 – International Justice Resource Center

In Controversial Landmark Resolution, Human Rights Council Takes First Step toward Treaty on Transnational Corporations’ Human Rights Obligations

July 15, 2014 IJRC civil society, corporate accountability, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, Uncategorized

In a new attempt to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights violations, the United Nations Human Rights Council has decided to establish a working group to prepare a treaty imposing international human rights legal obligations on transnational corporations. [OHCHR Press Release] The mandate of the working group will be to “elaborate an international legally binding instrument to regulate, in

6 Key Takeaways on Protecting Women’s Rights through International Law and Advocacy

June 26, 2014 IJRC children, civil society, Commission on the Status of Women, discrimination, IJRC Updates, international human rights, LGBTI rights, reproductive and sexual rights, U.S. courts, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, women's rights

More than 75 people gathered last Thursday for Protecting Women’s Rights: International Law & Advocacy, a full-day conference for advocates and lawyers organized by the International Justice Resource Center (IJRC). The training, held at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, featured some of the most distinguished human rights and women’s rights practitioners in the world speaking on a variety

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 Establishes Commission of Inquiry and Independent Expert on Central African Republic, as Widespread Human Rights Violations Continue

January 25, 2014 IJRC crime & impunity, international criminal law, international human rights, international humanitarian law, military and humanitarian intervention, right to life, security & rule of law, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN Security Council, UN Special Procedures

Amid ongoing sectarian violence in the Central African Republic, including reported war crimes and crimes against humanity, the United Nations has established two expert mechanisms to monitor the human rights situation, but has so far stopped short of authorizing a UN peacekeeping mission to support the French and African Union troops already in the country. Hundreds have been killed and

Revision of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners to Continue at the Third Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting

December 31, 2013 IJRC crime & impunity, international human rights, liberty & security of person, UN Economic and Social Council, UN General Assembly, UN Special Procedures, Universal system

From January 28 to 31, 2014, the United Nations’ open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Group on the revision of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMRs) will hold its Third Meeting in Brasilia, Brazil in order to continue the process of revising the SMRs. [UNODC: SMRs] The review process is intended to modernize the SMRs to reflect developments in

UN Commission of Inquiry Hears Compelling Witness Testimony in Hearings on Human Rights Conditions in North Korea

August 21, 2013 IJRC International Criminal Court, international human rights, UN Security Council, UN Special Procedures

The curtain of secrecy enshrouding one of the world’s most isolationist States, North Korea, is being partially lifted this week through the testimony of more than 30 witnesses, including several who have fled the country, at public hearings held by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Yesterday, survivors of North Korean prison

UN Working Group Finds Guantanamo Detainee’s Continued Detention to be Arbitrary, Recommends Release

July 17, 2013 IJRC due process & judicial protection, international human rights, liberty & security of person, security & rule of law, UN Special Procedures

Ranjana Natarajan contributes this guest post on a recent notable decision by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding a complaint presented by Guantanamo Bay detainee Obaidullah, who was represented before the Working Group by the University of Texas School of Law‘s National Security Clinic and Human Rights Clinic.

International Community Urges Egyptian Authorities to Respect Rule of Law and Human Rights, amid Mixed Reactions to President’s Ouster

July 15, 2013 IJRC democracy & political rights, due process & judicial protection, international human rights, liberty & security of person, right to life, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, UN Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review

Immediately following the military-led ouster of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, and amidst clashes between authorities and protesters, supranational bodies urged all parties involved to respect human rights and adhere to the rule of law. Morsi, an Islamist politician elected in June 2012 following the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak, faced increasing public opposition as he expanded executive