rights

Radhika Coomaraswamy

This has been a terrible year for children in armed conflict, says independent UN expert

29 September 2006
The new United Nations Human Rights Council should make it a primary duty to protect civilians during armed conflict, an independent UN rights expert urged today, highlighting in particular the suffering of children caught up in warfare across the globe.

Independent UN human rights expert highlights serious transgressions in DPR Korea

27 September 2006
Painting a grim picture of the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), an independent United Nations expert today highlighted egregious transgressions involving the rights to food and life, humane treatment and a host of other freedoms in a report given to the Human Rights Council.

UN human rights expert reports on ‘appalling’ conditions for ordinary Palestinians

26 September 2006
Describing a ‘tragic’ human rights situation for ordinary Palestinians living in the occupied territory, an independent United Nations expert today presented his report to the newly established Human Rights Council, sparking criticism from the Israeli representative that the work was one-sided and imbalanced.

Five trends in counter-terrorism measures risk violating human rights, says UN expert

25 September 2006
Five “current trends” in fighting the global scourge of terrorism risk violating human rights, an independent United Nations expert told the newly established Human Rights Council today as it began the second week of debate on a wide range of issues at its second session in Geneva.

UN Human Rights Council should promote tolerance among cultures, urge rights experts

22 September 2006
The newly established United Nations Human Rights Council should promote tolerance among cultures, and examine whether its strategy on racism and xenophobia was sufficiently detailed to tackle the complexity of the issues involved, experts said today.

Torture widespread in many regions of world, UN Human Rights Council told

21 September 2006
Most States have not taken the necessary legislative measures to ensure that law enforcement officials get the message that torture constitutes a serious crime which can never be justified, an independent expert has told the United Nations Human Rights Council.

UN experts reiterate that torture took place at US detention centre at Guantánamo

21 September 2006
Five independent United Nations human rights experts today rejected United States denials that people were tortured at the Guantánamo detention centre, saying that until the Government revised its policies recently, acts of torture were being carried out there.

UN Human Rights Council hears of violence against women

20 September 2006
A United Nations expert on violence against women today highlighted the problems faced by women in Russia, Iran, Mexico, Afghanistan and Sudan’s Darfur region.

Forced disappearances and minority issues feature as UN Human Rights Council meets

19 September 2006
The enhanced United Nations Human Rights Council today discussed forced disappearances, minority issues, and the fundamental freedoms of indigenous people as it continued its second session in Geneva.

Annan selects Korean diplomat as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

18 September 2006
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today that he has chosen the Korean diplomat Kyung-wha Kang to serve as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.