UN Human Rights

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has voiced serious concern about the defamation proceedings against an opposition politician in Cambodia, saying they highlight an "alarming" erosion of fundamental freedoms in the South-East Asian nation.

A United Nations independent human rights expert today urged authorities in Croatia to ensure that justice prevailed in the allocation of housing, ensuring that low-income and other marginalized groups were not denied their right to accommodation as the country transitions to post-conflict recovery.

An Italian draft law on surveillance and eavesdropping for criminal investigations could jeopardize the work of journalists and threaten their freedom of expression, a United Nations independent human rights expert said today, calling for the abolition or revision of the bill.

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has welcomed the announcement that Cuba plans to release 52 political detainees, her spokesperson said today.

The head of the United Nations agency mandated to protect the freedom of expression today strongly condemned the murder of two journalists in Mexico, a crime that reportedly brings to six the number of media professionals killed in that country this year.

An independent United Nations expert today urged Israel to prevent further rights violations in East Jerusalem, warning that population transfers in or from occupied territory are war crimes under international law.

The head of the United Nations agency mandated to protect freedom of expression today condemned the murder of three journalists in the Philippines and the killing of television executive in Honduras this month, urging authorities in both countries to ensure that the perpetrators of the crimes are brought to justice.

Too many countries are still practising or tolerating &#8220cruel, degrading and illegal&#8221 acts of torture, top United Nations officials said today as they pledged the UN&#39s solidarity with the millions of torture victims worldwide.

As the people of the small African nation of Burundi get set to cast their votes in Monday&#39s presidential election, an independent United Nations expert today warned of potential violence and human rights violations, citing a number of recent worrisome developments.

A United Nations human rights working group today urged Member States to back a global pact aimed at protecting people from enforced disappearances that is just two ratifications shy of the number needed to bring it into force.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appointed a panel of experts to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka that ended last year.

Thailand's Ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva was today named as the newest President of the UN Human Rights Council, the panel established in 2006 to tackle human rights violations worldwide.

Iceland deserves credit for eliminating barriers to same-sex marriage, which will become legal in the Nordic country this weekend, the United Nations human rights chief says.

Armenian authorities must take steps to protect human rights defenders, who are often physically attacked, harassed or stigmatized as they try to carry out their work in the Caucasus nation, an independent United Nations expert said today.

A three-member United Nations body has called for an end to human rights violations by Israel in the occupied territories of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the Syrian Golan Heights, after hearing from dozens of witnesses during a recent visit to the region.

Governments, employers and workers meeting at the annual conference of the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) today adopted a new international standard on HIV and AIDS - the first international human rights instrument to focus specifically on the pandemic as a workplace issue.

A United Nations independent human rights expert today urged authorities in Myanmar to immediately release the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other prisoners of conscience, saying this will help create the conditions for inclusive elections in the Asian nation.

An independent United Nations expert today urged Cambodian authorities to strengthen the country's judiciary and improve human rights, saying the nation still has too many shortcomings in its justice system.

A United Nations independent human rights expert today urged authorities in Venezuela to withdraw arrest warrants against a television executive and his son, saying the orders were an attempt by the Government to silence its critics and a sign of deteriorating freedom of the press in the country.

The top United Nations human rights today announced the composition of the independent committee tasked with monitoring Israeli and Palestinian investigations into the deadly conflict in the Gaza Strip that ended early last year.