Europe

From left: OSCE Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, Amb. Ihor Prokopchuk, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.
OSCE/Sarah Crozier

Deputy UN chief calls for action on all fronts to end scourge of human trafficking

25 June 2013
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson today called on all partners – Governments, the private sector, civil society, the media, and ordinary citizens – to help fight human trafficking, stressing that ending this scourge requires action on all fronts.
Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UN expert: former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia must not silence critical media

21 June 2013
An independent United Nations expert today urged the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to allow space for critical media saying the closure of a television station and some newspapers in 2011 sends worrying signals about free expression in the country.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UN rights chief urges broad cooperation to achieve comprehensive settlement in Kosovo

20 June 2013
In Kosovo today, the top United Nations human rights official hailed progress in normalizing relations with Serbia and in carrying out local-level reform initiatives, but also urged broader cooperation to comprehensively heal past wounds and pave the way for an inclusive future.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Senior UN officials urge restraint, dialogue to defuse tensions fuelling protests in Turkey

18 June 2013
Urging “maximum restraint” amid widespread anti-Government protests in Turkey, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Navi Pillay, the world body’s human rights chief, called today for constructive dialogue to defuse tensions in the country.
Credit: OHCHR
OHCHR

Hungary must revoke amendment threatening judicial independence – UN rights chief

18 June 2013
The top United Nations human rights official today urged the Hungarian Government to revoke a constitutional amendment that threatens the judiciary’s independence and endangers the country’s system of checks and balances.
The situation of Roma such as these children in Serbia featured prominently during High Commissioner Navi Pillay's visit to Belgrade.
OSCE/Milan Obradovic

Praising advances in Serbia, UN official urges political will to solidify human rights gains

18 June 2013
Visiting Serbia at “an important and transformative moment” in its history, the United Nations human rights chief today urged a steadfast focus on fundamental rights as she hailed a succession of political advances that augur well for the country itself and for the future of the wider region.
Tens of thousands of people are living in precarious conditions after fleeing the crisis in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia.
UNHCR/Y. Mechitov

Georgia must seize opportunity to improve conditions of displaced persons – UN expert

17 June 2013
A United Nations independent expert today praised Georgia for its commitment to improve the living conditions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and stressed that the country must continue making advancements to ensure they can live in safety and dignity.
Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UN expert urges Montenegro to resolve pending cases of violence against journalists

17 June 2013
Calling for effective accountability in all cases of violence against journalists, the United Nations independent expert on the right to freedom of expression today urged Montenegro to set up an inclusive mechanism to resolve and prevent cases of attacks against reporters and media outlets.
Special Representative Farid Zarif.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

International support key for positive relations between Serbia and Kosovo – UN envoy

14 June 2013
Strong support from the international community is needed to ensure ‘positive momentum’ is sustained between Serbia and Kosovo, a United Nations envoy told the Security Council today.
Special Rapporteur on Belarus Miklós Haraszti.
OSCE/Susanna Lööf

UN expert urges Belarus to cooperate on improving human rights situation

14 June 2013
An independent United Nations expert today urged the Government of Belarus to grant his request for an official visit the country and to engage with his mandate to improve its human rights situation.