rights

UN review of first group of countries’ human rights records wraps up

18 April 2008
The United Nations Human Rights Council has concluded its review of the first batch of countries as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – a new mechanism to examine the record of every UN Member State

UN human rights body begins first-ever examination of all countries’ records

7 April 2008
The Universal Periodic Review, a new mechanism to examine the human rights record of every United Nations Member State, was launched today at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Kicking off new review regimes, Human Rights Council nears end of session

28 March 2008
Having initiated the first periodic review of the human rights performance of all States and established rapporteurs on groundbreaking new rights topics, the seventh session of the United Nations Human Rights Council finished the bulk of its work today in Geneva.

UN rights body says States must refrain from profiling while combating terrorism

27 March 2008
The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today passed a resolution calling on States to not resort to racial, ethnic or religious profiling while countering terrorism.

Private security companies lack oversight and regulation – UN working group

10 March 2008
A growing number of private security and military companies are operating domestically and internationally without effective oversight or accountability, the United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries warned today.

Ban Ki-moon calls for equal scrutiny of all countries by UN human rights organ

3 March 2008
Opening the seventh session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on its members to ensure that all nations are held equally accountable for the protection of rights as the new body begins its first-ever universal review of their performance.
Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Arab rights charter deviates from international standards, says UN official

30 January 2008
The Arab Charter on Human Rights contains provisions that do not meet international norms and standards, including the application of the death penalty for children, the treatment of women and non-citizens and the equating of Zionism with racism, the United Nations human rights chief said today.

Wrapping up session, UN Human Rights Council to send expert to Myanmar

14 December 2007
The United Nations Human Rights Council concluded its sixth session today in Geneva, adopting 13 resolutions and decisions, including a request that the independent expert on Myanmar return to the South-East Asian nation for further assessments.
Louise Arbour

UN human rights chief welcomes Rwanda’s abolition of death penalty

11 December 2007
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today lauded the abolition of the death penalty in Rwanda.

Human rights enshrined in UN Declaration apply universally, says Ban Ki-moon

10 December 2007
The freedoms upheld in the historic United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be enjoyed by everyone, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today on the occasion of Human Rights Day.