commission

Louise Arbour

UN seeks to spearhead strengthening of national systems for protecting human rights

14 March 2005
Under United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's new reform initiatives, the world body seeks to strengthen the protection of civil liberties by Governments, since "the obligation to respect and enforce human rights rests on states," the UN's rights chief said today.

UN women's rights text adopted after US withdraws proposed amendment on abortion

5 March 2005
A United Nations women's rights committee has adopted a declaration reaffirming priorities set ten years ago at an international conference in Beijing after the United States delegation withdrew a proposed amendment to the text.