This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

Mexico’s 100,000 ‘disappeared’ is a tragedy, says UN rights chief Bachelet

The news that more than 100,000 people in Mexico are now officially registered as “disappeared” is a tragedy, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday, in a call for action to tackle this longstanding scourge.

A national database has listed all those who’ve been reported missing in the country since 1964, and the tally continues to climb, amid ongoing drug gang violence and the lack of effective investigations to tackle the crimes.

To date, only 35 of the disappearances recorded since then have led to the conviction of the perpetrators, a “staggering rate of impunity”, said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Here’s UN rights office spokesperson Liz Throssell, speaking in Geneva:

“The crime of enforced disappearances is one of the worst things, for the families, precisely because they never get closure and rarely sadly are bodies found…what is really important in what has happened is of course the steps that have been taken by the Mexican authorities, but as I have said, the High Commissioner is at pains to stress how important the role of families of the victims have been to keep this issue at the forefront.”

According to Mexico’s database on disappeared individuals, about a quarter are women, and around a fifth were under 18 when they went missing. 

COVID-19 outbreak in DPRK sparks UN rights office warning over impact on population

Staying with the UN rights office, OHCHR, which has issued an alert over new restrictions prompted by North Korea’s first COVID-19 outbreak.

The development followed an update from the State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that, as of Monday, 56 people, including at least six children, had died from the coronavirus in this first official outbreak. 

More than 660,000 are also undergoing medical treatment to treat fever in North Korea, which is also commonly called DPRK.

The UN rights office said that it was “deeply concerned” about the “likely” human rights impact of COVID-19 in DPRK, and the lockdown that’s been imposed.

In the absence of any available vaccinations, there’s concern that the pandemic could have a devastating impact on the human rights situation in the country, as healthcare is limited and lacks testing capacity, essential medicines and equipment.

Those most at risk include children, lactating mothers, older people, the homeless and those living in rural and border areas, according to OHCHR, which noted that the latest restrictions include putting people under stricter isolation and imposing further travel restrictions. 

UN refugee agency chief Grandi highlights dangers for LGBTIQ+ on international day

Tuesday 17 May is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and to mark the date, UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi has highlighted that “in too many countries”, same-sex relationships are still illegal.

In some countries, same-sex couples even face the death penalty, Mr Grandi warned, noting that others “refuse or are unable to protect those who suffer or are at risk of violence” from gangs, their communities and even their own families.

“Confronted with this reality, many LGBTIQ+ people have no choice but to flee,” the UN agency chief said, referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer people. 

And even when they flee their homes, discrimination continues; “in many cases it follows them across borders as they continue to face barriers” to finding a safe place to live, find a job, or even see a doctor, Mr. Grandi explained, before pledging a redoubling of his agency’s commitment to protecting the autonomy, agency, and rights of all forcibly displaced and stateless LGBTIQ+ people.

Daniel Johnson, UN News.