March 13, 2010 GMT

UN Human Rights

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Updated: 8 hours 47 min ago

Olympics and World Cup soccer must take up cause of right to housing - UN expert

Tue, 03/09/2010 - 05:00
The Olympic Games and the football World Cup must champion the right to adequate housing, with such ‘mega-events' often driving people out of their homes, according to a new United Nations report by an independent human rights expert.
Categories: UN Human Rights

UN expert calls for culturally sensitive reforms for indigenous people in Australia

Tue, 03/09/2010 - 05:00
Despite recent advancements in tackling the human rights of indigenous people in Australia, an independent United Nations expert today called on the country's authorities to develop new social and economic initiatives and to reform existing ones to allow respect for cultural integrity and self-determination.
Categories: UN Human Rights

UN rights chief calls for new approach to end cycle of violence in Nigeria

Tue, 03/09/2010 - 05:00
The United Nations human rights chief said today she was appalled by the latest "massacre" of hundreds of villagers in northern Nigeria, and called for authorities to tackle the underlying causes of the tension in the region.
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UN sets up human rights group to look into situation of Haiti's disabled

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 05:00
A working group comprising United Nations experts has been created to look into the situation of Haitians with disabilities, who have been disproportionately affected by January's catastrophic earthquake.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Honduras: UNESCO head condemns deadly attacks against journalists

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 05:00
The head of the United Nations agency tasked with upholding press freedom today spoke out against a recent shooting two journalists in Honduras, resulting in one of their deaths, calling it an attack against all people of the nation.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Impunity for domestic violence, ‘honour killings' cannot continue - UN official

Thu, 03/04/2010 - 05:00
So-called ‘honour killings' are an extreme symptom of discrimination against women, which - including other forms of domestic violence - is a plague that affects every country, the United Nations human rights chief says, calling on governments to tackle impunity for this crime.
Categories: UN Human Rights

UN human rights chief voices concern about abuses in Iran, Sri Lanka

Thu, 03/04/2010 - 05:00
The top United Nations human rights official today voiced deep concern about the violent crackdown on dissent in Iran and the marred prospects for peace in Sri Lanka, where journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of the Government are being mistreated.
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Regional meeting brings together UN, African nations to discuss mercenaries

Wed, 03/03/2010 - 05:00
The United Nations today kicked off a two-day meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to discuss the presence and activities of mercenaries and private military and security companies in Africa.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Killing of Nepalese media group head sparks UN alarm

Wed, 03/03/2010 - 05:00
The United Nations human rights office in Nepal today expressed its deep concern over the killing of the head of a media group, the latest in a string of murders of journalists in the Asian nation.
Categories: UN Human Rights

UN rights chief deplores Egypt's use of ‘lethal force' against migrants in Sinai

Tue, 03/02/2010 - 05:00
With dozens of unarmed migrants attempting to enter Israel via the Sinai Desert having been killed since mid-2007 by Egyptian security forces, the top United Nations human rights official today called on the nation's Government to call an end to the "deplorable" use of "lethal force."
Categories: UN Human Rights

Global economic crisis exposed human rights violations, says top UN official

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 05:00
The top United Nations human rights official said today that the economic and financial crises have exposed existing violations and increased the number of victims of abuse and hardship.
Categories: UN Human Rights

UN rights experts urge Uganda to redouble efforts to shelve anti-homosexuality bill

Mon, 03/01/2010 - 05:00
Two independent United Nations experts today urged the leaders and Government of Uganda to prevent an anti-homosexuality bill currently before Parliament from becoming law, stressing that it would be in breach of fundamental freedoms and human rights.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Myanmar: Ban disappointed by denial of Aung San Suu Kyi's release

Fri, 02/26/2010 - 05:00
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced disappointment that the continued appeal against her house arrest in Myanmar by prominent pro-democracy and opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was rejected again.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Enforced disappearances turn ‘humans into non-humans,' says UN expert

Fri, 02/26/2010 - 05:00
Enforced disappearances continue to be one of the worst human rights violations, a United Nations independent expert said today, marking the 30th anniversary of the creation of a body to look into the scourge.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Challenges faced by Botswana's indigenous require Government action - UN expert

Thu, 02/25/2010 - 05:00
Botswana's Government must step up efforts to tackle the challenges faced by many indigenous communities, such as land rights, according to a new report by a United Nations independent expert.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Legacy of slavery can be used for good, says Secretary-General

Wed, 02/24/2010 - 05:00
Slavery is an abhorrent practice that still needs to be eradicated in many parts of the world, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed, noting that one way to pursue this goal is by remembering the past and using its lessons to ensure that such crimes never occur again.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Afghanistan: UN official urges steps to prevent child deaths in conflict

Wed, 02/24/2010 - 05:00
A senior United Nations human rights official today called on international troops fighting militants in Afghanistan to follow directives designed to guard against civilian deaths, drawing particular attention to the plight of children caught up in the conflict.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Senior UN official cites evidence of growing support for abolishing death penalty

Wed, 02/24/2010 - 05:00
There is evidence of growing global support for the eventual elimination of the death penalty, a senior United Nations official stated today, while acknowledging that abolishing this practice is a difficult and sensitive process for many societies.
Categories: UN Human Rights

UN rights expert sounds alarm over ‘blood feuds' and domestic violence in Albania

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 05:00
An independent United Nations human rights expert today voiced concern over Albanian society's widespread acceptance of settling personal scores through deadly violence and prevalence of violence in the home.
Categories: UN Human Rights

Tackling impunity key challenge for Central African Republic, says UN rights chief

Fri, 02/19/2010 - 05:00
Addressing impunity for human rights violations is one of the top challenges facing the Central African Republic (CAR), as it enters the final stretch before elections, a senior United Nations official said today.
Categories: UN Human Rights