UN rights expert condemns ‘systematic’ war-time mass destruction of homes

Independent Commission reports war crimes by both sides in Gaza war

This was among the conclusions listed in the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, released on Wednesday. “Amid months of losses and despair, retribution and atrocities, the only tangible result has been compounding the immense suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis, with civilians,…

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UN rights chief urges comprehensive action against religious hatred and discrimination

UN rights chief, independent experts denounce Georgia’s new ‘foreign agents’ law

The Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence requires media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other nonprofits to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad. It was adopted on Tuesday. The adoption has sparked protests in the capital, Tbilisi, and has been…

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UNRWA committed to implement independent review recommendations

UNRWA committed to implement independent review recommendations

Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini briefed journalists in New York a day after the independent review panel published its findings.  Former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna spearheaded the report, which found that UNRWA has put in place a large number of mechanisms and procedures to ensure its commitment to the principle of neutrality and outlines some 50…

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Independent review group on UNRWA may request Gaza visit

Independent review group on UNRWA may request Gaza visit

Appointed by the Secretary-General in early February following Israeli allegations that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel in October, the group also aims to meet Palestinian Authority officials and may request a visit to Gaza, said its chair, former French former minister Catherine Colonna, who spoke outside the Security Council after…

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World News in Brief: Russia’s LGBT ban condemned, unprecedented Africa malnutrition crisis, health after childbirth

After Navalny death, independent expert on rights in Russia asks ‘who is next?’

Speaking exclusively to UN News, she said her office had raised repeated concerns over the past months, among them, over Mr. Navalny’s deteriorating health. Arrested in 2021, the 47-year-old anti-corruption activist was serving multiple sentences on charges, including extremism. “It’s very shocking that this happened today less than a month before the Russian presidential election,…

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Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel

Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel

The independent Review Group – appointed in consultation with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini – will examine whether the agency is doing everything it can to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they arise. It will be led by former French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna, who will work with three research organizations: the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in…

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USA: Slavery has left a deep and long-lasting legacy on the country, UN experts say

US ‘at a critical juncture’ in fight against racism: Independent expert

She travelled across the US between 31 October and 14 November, from Detroit in Michigan to the Louisiana coast, also visiting Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington DC. Ashwini K.P., UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance, said following her 14-day fact finding mission that mainstream America was now more aware…

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Israel-Palestine crisis has ‘reached an unprecedented level of dehumanisation’: Independent rights expert

Israel-Palestine crisis has ‘reached an unprecedented level of dehumanisation’: Independent rights expert

In an interview with UN News, UN Human Rights Council-appointed expert Francesca Albanese, said it was “impossible to describe the pain and suffering that Israelis are going through because of what happened to them…because there are not only those who were killed, those who were taken hostage, but there is an entire population that was…

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UN independent experts ‘unequivocally condemn’ violence against civilians in Israel, Gaza

UN independent experts ‘unequivocally condemn’ violence against civilians in Israel, Gaza

In a news release, the experts denounced the ruthless attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians starting 7 October. They also stressed their concern for the victims of subsequent counter-terrorism measures by Israeli forces. “We decry the scale of the brutal assault on mothers, children, babies, the elderly and ordinary citizens going about their daily lives…

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