OHCHR – Global Bersih

Malaysia loses bid for seat in UN Human Rights Council

19th October 2017 Lochna Menon

MALAYSIA has lost out to Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan and Qatar in its bid for one of the 15 seats on the United Nation Human Rights Council. This is Qatar’s second consecutive term after winning the re-election vote. A UN statement said the General Assembly election was carried out via a secret ballot among 193 countries. “The newly elected members to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council are Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain and Ukraine. “All will serve three-year…

The OHCHR Report 2016

26th May 201719th September 2017 Lochna Menon

The OHCHR Report 2016 presents results achieved under the Office’s six thematic priorities as set out in the OMP 2014-2017. It also provides information about OHCHR management, funding and expenditure. (If you are unable to view this document, please disable your https safeguards)

UN experts call on Malaysia to stop targeting human rights defenders under national security legislation

11th December 2016 Fadiah Nadwa

GENEVA (9 December 2016) – Malaysia must protect all of its human rights defenders instead of targeting them under national security legislation, said today a group of United Nations human rights experts*. Their call comes after weeks of heightened pressure on BERSIH 2.0 – a coalition of civil society organizations campaigning for clean and fair elections – and the organizers of the Bersih 5 rally, held in three cities across Malaysia on 19 November 2016. “We are particularly concerned at the arrest of Maria Chin Abdullah, the Chairperson of BERSIH…

Ireland: UN experts raise alarm over growing number of homeless people in Cork with no access to water

9th June 2016 Nalina Nair

Ireland: UN experts raise alarm over growing number of homeless people in Cork with no access to water GENEVA (6 June 2016) – Two United Nations experts on the human rights to water and sanitation and adequate housing today expressed concern over the increasing number of homeless people in the city of Cork, Ireland, and their lack of access to water and sanitation. Over 700 people are homeless in the city of approximately 120,000 inhabitants. “Widespread homelessness is evidence of the failure of the State to protect and ensure the…

“Economy should serve the people, not vice versa” – UN expert says after assessing EU adjustment policies

9th June 2016 Nalina Nair

“Economy should serve the people, not vice versa” – UN expert says after assessing EU adjustment policies BRUSSELS / GENEVA (3 June 2016) – Recent austerity policies are hitting the most vulnerable and are undermining economic, social and labour rights within the European Union, today said United Nations Independent Expert Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky at the end of his fact-finding visit* to EU institutions in Brussels. “I am concerned about a policy shift undermining the previously balanced approach of ensuring economic stability, equality and social cohesion, in favour of a disproportionate…

Journalists’ killings: UN experts urge Philippines president-elect to stop instigating deadly violence

9th June 2016 Nalina Nair

Journalists’ killings: UN experts urge Philippines president-elect to stop instigating deadly violence GENEVA (6 June 2016) – Two United Nations independent experts on summary executions, and on freedom of expression today urged Philippines president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to stop instigating deadly violence immediately. The experts strongly condemned Mr. Duterte’s recent statements suggesting that journalists are not exempt for assassination. Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Duterte reportedly stated that most journalists killed in the country have done something wrong. ‘You won’t be killed if you don’t do anything wrong,’ the President-elect…

UN expert deplores harsh sentencing of Tajikistan opposition leaders and warns of radicalization

9th June 2016 Nalina Nair

UN expert deplores harsh sentencing of Tajikistan opposition leaders and warns of radicalization Russian | Tajik GENEVA (7 June 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, today expressed his dismay at the lengthy sentences imposed on 2 June 2016 on the leadership of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT). The deputy party heads, Saidumar Husaini and Muhammad Hayit were sentenced to life imprisonment. According to reports, eleven other high-ranking officials were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 2…

Press briefing notes on Flogging in Iran, unfair restrictions on NGO access to the UN and executions in Gaza

9th June 2016 Nalina Nair

Press briefing notes on Flogging in Iran, unfair restrictions on NGO access to the UN and executions in Gaza Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert ColvilleLocation: GenevaDate: 31 May 2016 (1) Flogging in Iran We condemn the outrageous flogging of up to 35 young men and women in Iran last week, after they were caught holding a graduation party together in Qazvin, north of Tehran. According to State media, the students were arrested on Thursday, interrogated and sentenced by the Prosecutor’s Office to 99 lashes each and then…

Ukraine: after two years of conflict, situation in east remains “grim” – UN report

9th June 2016 Nalina Nair

Ukraine: after two years of conflict, situation in east remains “grim” – UN report French | Russian | Ukrainian GENEVA/KYIV (3 June 2016) – A new report by the UN Human Rights Office shows that, after two years of conflict, the situation in eastern Ukraine remains volatile and continues to have a severe impact on human rights, especially for those living near the contact line and in territories controlled by armed groups. According to the latest report on Ukraine by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights*,…

Iran: Most recent backlash against Baha’is exposes authorities’ extreme intolerance for religious minority group

9th June 2016 Nalina Nair

Iran: Most recent backlash against Baha’is exposes authorities’ extreme intolerance for religious minority group GENEVA (8 June 2016) – Two United Nations human rights experts today said that the current wave of incitement of hatred of the Baha’i community reflected in speeches made by religious, judiciary and political officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran “has exposed the Iranian authorities’ extreme intolerance for adherents of the religious minority group.” “Verbal attacks by state officials against an already vulnerable community like the Baha’is are extremely troubling not only because they directly…