Iran: possible crimes against humanity, absence of accountability - top rights expert

Iran: possible crimes against humanity, absence of accountability – top rights expert

Presenting his report to the Human Rights Council, Mr. Rehman said that the “scale and gravity” of violations committed by Iranian authorities pointed to “the possible commission of international crimes, notably the crimes against humanity of murder, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, torture, rape and sexual violence, and persecution”. The expert slammed “so-called” investigations of Ms. Amini’s…

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Protest of the Sikh community in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Protest of the Sikh community in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Human Rights Council

On the occasion of the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Sikh community living in Europe protested in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Organizers of the protest say attacks and violence against religious minorities have increased in the country since Indian Prime Minister…

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UN rights chief urges Belarus to promptly release political detainees

UN rights chief urges Belarus to promptly release political detainees

The report, covering the period between May 2020 and December 2022, draws on interviews with 207 victims and witnesses and an analysis of more than 2,500 items of evidence, including photographs, videos, medical, and court records. ‘Unacceptable picture of impunity’ “Our report paints an unacceptable picture of impunity and the near-total destruction of civic space…

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Russia’s energy grid attacks, torture in Ukraine, could be crimes against humanity: UN rights probe

Russia’s energy grid attacks, torture in Ukraine, could be crimes against humanity: UN rights probe

According to the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, set up one year ago at the request of the Human Rights Council, Russian troops committed a “wide range” of violations across the country, many of which are war crimes. These included attacks with explosive weapons in populated areas, wilful killings of civilians, unlawful confinement, torture, rape…

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Governments must do more to protect human rights defenders: Expert

Governments must do more to protect human rights defenders: Expert

In a report to the Human Rights Council, Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor, said that “States can and should do more to protect defenders”. She stressed that 25 years after States agreed on a Declaration to promote and protect the work of human rights defenders, their contributions were often ignored. The expert who champions the work of rights defenders…

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Counter-terrorism 'rhetoric' used to justify rise of surveillance technology: human rights expert

Counter-terrorism ‘rhetoric’ used to justify rise of surveillance technology: human rights expert

In a report to the latest session of the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, warned of an alarming increase in the use of “intrusive and high-risk technologies”, according to a press release issued by the UN human rights office (OHCHR). This…

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Syria rights investigators back calls for earthquake ‘failures’ probe

Syria rights investigators back calls for earthquake ‘failures’ probe

The Commission of Inquiry on Syria pointed to “failures that hindered the delivery of urgent and lifesaving aid” to the largely opposition-held northwest region, in the days after the 6 February quakes. Humanitarian assessments point to more than 7,000 people killed in Syria by the natural disaster. Rescue equipment lacking At a press conference in…

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Bahrain canceled the visas of Human Rights Watch representatives

Bahrain canceled the visas of Human Rights Watch representatives

Bahrain International Airport Bahrain canceled visas issued to Human Rights Watch representatives to attend an international parliamentary conference. This would be the first time since 2012 that Human Rights Watch (HRW) representatives would visit the Gulf country. The 146th session of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) will begin in Bahrain from Saturday. HRW has permanent…

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USA: Sanctions against individuals abroad violates due process rights

USA: Sanctions against individuals abroad violates due process rights

UN Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan said the practice raises concerns about rights violations, including the right to due process, as enshrined under a decades-old international treaty.  Longstanding practice  “The United States has for years been imposing sanctions on individuals and entities without national criminal jurisdiction and in the absence of universal jurisdiction,” she said.  …

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Impunity drives cycles of ‘horrific’ crimes in South Sudan, Human Rights Council hears

Impunity drives cycles of ‘horrific’ crimes in South Sudan, Human Rights Council hears

“It is hard to imagine peace while State actors continue to be involved in gross human rights violations,” said Commission member Barney Afako, presenting the latest report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. “A true demonstration of the Government’s stated commitments to peace and human rights would involve dismissing the responsible officials and initiating…

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