2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CONCLUDES ITS GENERAL DEBATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE THE COUNCIL’S ATTENTION
13 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
The Human Rights Council this morning concluded its general debate on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention.
The first part of the debate was held on Tuesday, 12 March, and can be read here.
In the discussion, speakers expressed concern about the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in many countries. Anti-conversion and anti-blasphemy legislation had to be repealed. There was flagrant violation of freedom of expression and an alarming situation concerning freedom of the press, as well as a…
2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HOLDS AN INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON MINORITY ISSUES
13 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
The Human Rights Council in a midday meeting held an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes.
Mr. de Varennes said he would provide an update on his first thematic report on statelessness as a minority issue, and also report on his country visits. More than three quarters of the world’s 10 million stateless persons were members of minorities. It was necessary to implement awareness raising because statelessness was too often ignored, and even the world’s largest group of stateless persons, the…
2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HOLDS GENERAL DEBATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES AND MECHANISMS
13 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
Hears Address by Haitian Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Presentation of Reports of the Forum on Minority Issues, the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, the Social Forum, and the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures
The Human Rights Council this afternoon held a general debate on human rights bodies and mechanisms, after hearing the presentation of reports of the Forum on Minority Issues, the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, the Social Forum, and the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures. The Council…
2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DISCUSSES THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTH SUDAN
12 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
The Human Rights Council this morning held an interactive dialogue with the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.
Yasmin Sooka, Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, noted that the signing of the revitalized agreement of the conflict in South Sudan had led to an overall improvement in terms of security and peace, despite the volatile situation in the Equatorias. The protracted conflict in the country had had the most profound impact on women and girls, who had suffered sexual violence at the hands of both Government forces and the…
2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DISCUSSES THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN SYRIA
12 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
The Human Rights Council in a midday meeting held an interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.
Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chairperson of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, reminded that an agreement between Turkey and the Russian Federation to establish a demilitarized zone in the north-west of Syria had averted the looming all-out military assault on Idlib. A reduction in fighting as a consequence of the Government’s recapturing vast swaths of territory in 2018 did…
2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HOLDS INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON BURUNDI
12 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
The Human Rights Council in a midday meeting held an interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Burundi.
Doudou Diène, Chairperson of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, assured the Council that as the only international mechanism with a mandate to independently investigate the human rights situation in Burundi, which remained of great concern, the Commission of Inquiry would continue to focus on its mission. The Commission was rigorous and impartial in its…
2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL BEGINS GENERAL DEBATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE THE COUNCIL’S ATTENTION
12 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
Hears the Presentation of the Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
The Human Rights Council this afternoon held a general debate on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention, after hearing the presentation of the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the implementation of recommendations made by the Group of Independent Experts on Accountability for Human Rights Violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Kate Gilmore, United…
2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE ON THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS
11 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
Holds Minute of Silence to Honour Victims of Plane Crash in Ethiopia, who included United Nations Employees
The Human Rights Council this morning concluded its general debate on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development. At the beginning of the meeting, the Council held a minute of silence to honour the victims of a plane crash in Ethiopia on Sunday, 10 March, who included United Nations employees.
The summary of the first two parts of the…
2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HOLDS ENHANCED INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ERITREA
11 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
Human Rights Council this afternoon held an enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.
Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that this year’s dialogue came at a pivotal moment for Eritrea, as, after a 20-year military stalemate, the signing of the peace agreement with Ethiopia could lay down foundations for resilient peace. Despite these positive developments, the Office of the High Commissioner had not seen any improvements in the actual situation of human rights. This…
2 years 5 months ago
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DISCUSSES THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR
11 March 2019
Meeting Summaries
The Human Rights Council held an interactive dialogue with Yanghee Lee, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.
In her presentation, Ms. Lee underlined that repeated attempts to engage with the Government of Myanmar had been fruitless. She noted that thousands of people living in rural areas in Myanmar might be charged with criminal trespass under the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management Law, if they continued to use their lands as they had done for generations, but without a permit from the Government. There was a serious downplaying of…
