Experts demand better measures to protect children caught in conflict

Experts demand better measures to protect children caught in conflict

Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, who is currently preparing her latest report, said data gathered so far reveals that trends showing high levels of violations are continuing.  Nearly 24,000 grave violations were verified in 2021, the last reporting year.  Most involved killing and maiming, as well as recruitment and…

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China: Tibetan children forced to assimilate, independent rights experts fear

China: Tibetan children forced to assimilate, independent rights experts fear

“We are very disturbed that in recent years the residential school system for Tibetan children appears to act as a mandatory large-scale programme intended to assimilate Tibetans into majority Han culture, contrary to international human rights standards,” they said in a statement.  Erosion of identity  Residential schools provide educational content and an environment centred around…

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Spain: Rights experts call for probe into claim Catalan leaders were spied on

Spain: Rights experts call for probe into claim Catalan leaders were spied on

“Spanish authorities must conduct a full, fair, and effective investigation into these allegations, publish the findings and stop any unlawful interference into the fundamental rights of the Catalan minority activists in Spain,” they said in a statement.  Top leaders arrested  Following the October 2017 independence referendum, Spain arrested leaders of the Catalonian independence movement on charges…

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UN experts laud International Olympic Committee for considering admission of Russian, Belarusian athletes

UN experts laud International Olympic Committee for considering admission of Russian, Belarusian athletes

Against the backdrop of the ongoing and deadly Russian invasion of Ukraine, the experts urged the IOC to adopt a decision in that direction, and to go further.  Level playing field needed  Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights and Ashwini K.P., Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia…

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Mali: Independent rights experts call for probe into Wagner Group’s alleged crimes

Mali: Independent rights experts call for probe into Wagner Group’s alleged crimes

The rights experts – who include the UN Working Group on Mercenaries – said that a “climate of terror and complete impunity” has surrounded Wagner’s activities in the northwest African country. Systematic killings “We are particularly worried by credible reports that over the course of several days in late March 2022, Malian armed forces accompanied…

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Systemic racism within UK criminal justice system a serious concern: UN human rights experts

Systemic racism within UK criminal justice system a serious concern: UN human rights experts

“We have serious concerns about impunity and the failure to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system, deaths in police custody, ‘joint enterprise’ convictions, and the dehumanising nature”, of the so-called ‘stop and search’ policing strategy, the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent said in a statement at the end of an official…

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