rights

Thoraya Obaid visits a clinic in Dhaka

Chief of UN Population Fund calls on imams to promote rights of women

19 May 2006
Winding up an official visit to Bangladesh, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Thoraya Obaid addressed thousands of members of the Grand Conference of Imams, urging them to promote the full and equal participation of women in society, and she promised to give computers to a unique health clinic in the capital.
Louise Arbour

New Human Rights Council must work in ‘global interest’ – UN rights chief

10 May 2006
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today called on the members of the new Human Rights Council, who were elected in a landmark vote yesterday, to work in the “global interest” and to act quickly ahead of the first meeting, set to start in Geneva next month.
Member States cast their votes in Council elections

General Assembly elects first members to new Human Rights Council

9 May 2006
The United Nations General Assembly today elected 47 members of the recently established UN Human Rights Council – a move immediately welcomed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan as an opportunity for a fresh start as the new body replaces the much criticized and now defunct Human Rights Commission.

UN rights expert demands release of political prisoners, dialogue in Belarus

2 May 2006
A United Nations rights expert today demanded the immediate release of political prisoners in Belarus, called on the Government “to cease human rights violations” and urged the authorities to engage in dialogue with all sectors of civil society.