rights

UN Human Rights Council adopts documents on disappearances and indigenous peoples

29 June 2006
The newly established United Nations Human Rights Council today adopted a landmark treaty to prevent and punish the crime of enforced disappearances, estimated to amount to 40,000 cases from 60 countries, and also the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, legislation that had been debated for 11 years.

UN Human Rights Council called upon to adopt convention to prevent disappearances

28 June 2006
The newly established United Nations Human Rights Council was today called upon to adopt an international convention obliging Governments to prevent and punish the crime of enforced disappearances, estimated to amount to 40,000 cases from 60 countries.

UN, African officials mark 25th anniversary of human rights charter for Africa

28 June 2006
Calling the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights “a landmark achievement in the region for the region,” United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour commemorated the 25th anniversary of its adoption, as other UN and African officials honoured the text on the continent itself.
Arbour addresses Human Rights Council

Poverty is the most serious and widespread human rights abuse, UN official says

23 June 2006
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today described poverty as the “most serious, invidious and widespread” human rights violation confronting the world, while calling on all States to keep laws at the forefront of their efforts to fight terrorism, highlighting in particular concerns over the use of torture.
Annan is presented watch by Foreign Minister Calmy-Rey

Swiss watchmaker Swatch issues special Human Rights Council product

19 June 2006
Keeping up with the march of time, the Swiss watch maker Swatch today presented a special edition of its product to Secretary-General Kofi Annan to commemorate the inauguration of the new United Nations Human Rights Council.

New, strengthened UN Human Rights Council holds first session on Monday

15 June 2006
United Nations efforts to promote and protect fundamental freedoms around the world gain added momentum next Monday with the formal inauguration in Geneva of the new, strengthened Human Rights Council to replace the much-criticized UN Human Rights Commission, seen by many as ineffective.
Leandro Despouy

Afghanistan: UN rights expert deplores reported public execution by Taliban

8 June 2006
A United Nations human rights expert today condemned “in very strong terms” the reported public execution by Afghanistan’s ousted Taliban regime of an alleged murderer in Daikundi province.