Human rights experts: Humanity facing ‘unprecedented global toxic emergency’

Human rights experts: Humanity facing ‘unprecedented global toxic emergency’

The fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM-5), organized by UN environment programme UNEP and hosted by Germany, kicks off in Bonn on Monday. “ICCM-5 is expected to be a watershed moment for international cooperation on chemicals and wastes”, said a statement released by the group of more than 30 experts.  …

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UN rights experts ‘deeply alarmed’ at continuing executions of Iran protesters

UN rights experts condemn Iran’s protest crackdown

Protests erupted throughout the country on Saturday marking the one-year anniversary of the 22-year-old Iranian woman’s death after she was detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Crackdown on protesters Iranian authorities briefly detained Ms. Amini’s father on Saturday and beefed-up security nationwide to deter protesters from taking to the…

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Time to revoke death penalty for social media dissent, UN experts urge

Time to revoke death penalty for social media dissent, UN experts urge

Mr. Al Ghamdi was arrested by the Saudi security services on 11 June 2022 and charged with criminal offences for opinions he expressed on social media platforms X and YouTube. The charges included “betrayal of his religion, country, and rulers;” “spreading false rumours with intent to disrupt public order and destabilise security;” and “supporting terrorist…

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Developing countries face $4 trillion investment gap in SDGs

Experts make case for tackling climate and sustainable development together

In the first-of-its kind report launched on Wednesday, a group of independent experts use available data and evidence to outline the steps governments should take to maximize the impact of agreed policies and actions to address the worsening climate crisis and lagging achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The expert panel was set up…

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Conjunctivitis is not caused by looking into the affected person's eyes, experts say

Conjunctivitis is not caused by looking into the affected person’s eyes, experts say

Artificial shortage of eye drops after conjunctivitis epidemic in Karachi Karachi: After the outbreak of conjunctivitis, there has been a material shortage of eye drops in the city, while the prices of the available medicines and eye drops have increased dramatically. The black marketing and hoarding of eye drops has enabled a profiteering market. Medical…

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Record civilian cluster munitions victims as experts urge global ban

Record civilian cluster munitions victims as experts urge global ban

The CMC 2023 report indicates that 1,172 people were killed or injured in 2022, which is the highest number since regular reporting started in 2010.  Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Human Rights Arms Advocacy Director Mary Wareham, emphasised that 95 per cent of casualties reported were civilians. “It is unconscionable that civilians are still dying…

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‘Immense challenges’ block justice for Ukrainian war victims, rights experts warn

‘Immense challenges’ block justice for Ukrainian war victims, rights experts warn

Speaking in Kyiv, Commission Chair Erik Møse pointed to continuing patterns of violations by Russian armed forces, including wilful killings, unlawful confinement, torture, rape, and illegal deportations, many of which qualify as war crimes. According to the Commission, the Ukrainian legal system faced “immense challenges” to provide accountability and justice to the victims and ensure…

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Iran: Draft hijab law tantamount to ‘gender apartheid’ say rights experts

Iran: Draft hijab law tantamount to ‘gender apartheid’ say rights experts

“The draft law could be described as a form of gender apartheid, as authorities appear to be governing through systemic discrimination with the intention of suppressing women and girls into total submission,” the independent experts said. They stressed that the proposed parliamentary Bill to Support the Family by Promoting the Culture of Chastity and Hijab…

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Refusal to waive IP rights for COVID-19 vaccines violates human rights: Experts

Refusal to waive IP rights for COVID-19 vaccines violates human rights: Experts

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) adopted a decision under its “early warning and urgent action” procedures, stating that developed countries’ “persistent refusal” to waive COVID-19 vaccine IP rights – such as patents and trademarks – violated non-discrimination guarantees under international human rights law.  CERD is one of the UN’s human rights…

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