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September 27, 2012
in News EN

On the 17th of September, the Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic.                                       Mr. Paulo Pinheiro, Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry, expressed concern that the violations of human rights are committed in Syria by both parties: Government forces and anti-Government armed groups. Therefore, he stated that, in compliance with International Criminal Law, perpetrators should be held responsible for such violations...

September 24, 2012
in News EN

An Informal consultation between the Independent Expert on International Solidarity and Human Rights and civil society was held on Friday, September 14th at Palais des Nations. The first panelist, H.E. Msgr. Silvano M. Tomasi, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See highlighted the importance of solidarity as key notion in the social doctrine as well as in human rights system. He also stated that the concept of solidarity has been devalued: “Solidarity must generate a moral and not only a legal obligation” Next to take the floor, Ms. Virginia Dan Dan (IE on International Solidarity and Human...

September 24, 2012
in News EN

On the 13th September the 21st Human Rights Council held a Panel discussion on the issue of intimidation or reprisal against individuals and groups who cooperate or have cooperated with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights. The sad coincidence is that the panel was held the day after the murdered of the U.S. ambassador, Christopher Stevens, by Islamist gunmen who attacked the U.S. consulate in Libya. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, General Secretary of the UN, through a video message, expressed his concern on the issue, reporting that episodes of intimidation and reprisals against those...

September 24, 2012
in News EN

On Monday September 10th the Human Rights Council opened its 21st Session, in Geneva. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, in his opening speech, encouraged the Ambassadors, Member State representatives, and NGOs to “use all our tools to shine the light of human rights everywhere”. While recalling main international issues requiring to be addressed, he mentioned his expectations for this Session, which are: To enforce the perspective of Human Rights in every instance of the United Nations. To ensure protection of human rights defenders and avoid impunity. To draw special attention to women’s rights. Next to take the floor, the High Commissioner for...

July 12, 2012
in News EN

On 4th July 2012, the Istituto Internazionale Maria Ausiliatrice (IIMA) organized a side event at Palais des Nations, Geneva, with the support of VIDES International. The event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Haïti, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Holy See and the NGOs Platform on the Right to Education. The event focused on the current situation in Haïti, with special regards to education, and on results of the humanitarian intervention in the country after two years from the earthquake. The panel consisted of representatives of governments, UN and civil society and as such, the issue...

July 9, 2012
in News EN

On the 21st of June, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, presented reports to the Human Rights Council focused upon protecting the rights of journalists.  Both emphasised the unacceptable worldwide level of violence against both professional and unprofessional journalists. They asserted that it was local journalists who were most vulnerable. According to the reports only 10 percent of murders committed against journalists results in any form of conviction.  Mr Heyns highlighted a recent instance in Mexico where a non professional journalist was...

July 9, 2012
in News EN

On the 21st of June, the Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights and a clustered interactive dialogue with both the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises and the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights. María Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights,  expressed gratitude that extreme poverty was being prioritised but criticised...

July 9, 2012
in News EN

On the 20th of June 2012 the NGO Platform on diversity and cultural rights hosted an event on the subject of cultural rights. The main speaker of the side event was the Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights, Ms Farida Shaheed. As the first mandate holder, her job began with identifying cultural rights, based on the assumption that everyone has the right to take part in cultural life. This consists of three elements:  The right to access for culture, the right to participate in, and to contribute to culture. She highlighted the utmost importance of...

July 2, 2012
in News EN

On the 22nd of June the UN conference on sustainable development, Rio +20, came to a close. 191 national delegations produced a final document entitled: “The future we want”. The document contains 283 articles which detail the commitments of the international community to global sustainable development. The document focuses in particular on green economy, which was described as: “one of the important tools available for achieving sustainable development which could provide options for policy making”. The document highlights the pressing need for global governance for sustainable development through the strengthening of the institutional framework. This framework should be inclusive, transparent and effective. In addition, the...

June 28, 2012
in News EN

On the 19th of June, the Human Rights Councils held a clustered dialogue with Mr Kishore Singh, Special Rapporteur on the right to education. Mr Singh reported that, despite the considerable progress made in universalizing access to primary school, education remained of worrying low quality in many areas. He added that it is essential to promote the right to education both as entitlement in terms of universal access to basic education and as a tool of empowerment, enabling the acquisition of values, knowledge, skills and competencies. To conclude, the Special Rapporteur recommended that States accord high priority to...

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