In progress at UNHQ

Human rights

13 May 2014

HR/5179

Urging Alignment of Good Governance Principles with Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, Speakers in Forum Highlight Gains but Say More Needed to ‘Right the Wrongs’

State-designed policies and laws that exacerbated the marginalization of communities must be reviewed, overhauled and transformed into inclusive and transparent legislation that ended the “nefarious underbelly of colonization”, delegates heard today as the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues continued its thirteenth session.

12 May 2014

HR/5177

Indigenous Peoples Still Face Discrimination, Exploitation, Other Social Ills, Secretary-General Says as Permanent Forum Opens Thirteenth Session

While important progress had been made in advancing rights and expanding opportunities for indigenous peoples, many around the world still faced discrimination, exploitation and the disproportionate impacts of societal ills, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

18 February 2014

HR/5168

Meeting of States Parties to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Replaces Member of Human Rights Committee

The thirty-third Meeting of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights elected Andrei Paul Zlătescu (Romania) to the Human Rights Committee until today, replacing Iulia Antoanella Motoc, who resigned on 4 November 2013, and whose term would have expired on 31 December this year.

5 December 2013

HR/5164

Selection Committee Announces 2013 Winners of United Nations Human Rights Prize

The winners of the prestigious United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights for 2013 have been announced today by the selection committee. They are: Biram Dah Abeid, Hiljmnijeta Apuk, Liisa Kauppinen, Khadija Ryadi, the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico and Malala Yousafzai.

19 July 2013

HR/5152

As Conference of States Parties to Disabilities Convention Concludes, President Tells Delegates that Lessons Learned Must Be Implemented

Closing the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today, its President told delegations that the lessons learned over the last three days needed to be taken home and implemented.

18 July 2013

HR/5151

Millennium Development Goals Framework Overlooked Disability Issues, Conference of States Parties Told during Panel Discussion

Many international development frameworks, including the Millennium Development Goals, overlooked disability, and the post-2015 period must provide equal opportunity for every person, Israel’s Permanent Representative said today as he co-chaired a round table discussion on disability-inclusive development.

17 July 2013

HR/5150

Despite 132 Convention Ratifications, Millions with Disabilities Still Lack Protections, Conference of States Parties Told

Many of the 1 billion disabled people around the world lacked the protections to which they were entitled, even though 132 countries had ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a senior official of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs said as the Conference of States Parties to that treaty opened its 2013 session today.

16 July 2013

HR/5149

Conference of States Parties to Focus on Expanding Social Protection, Reducing Poverty for Persons with Disabilities

Improving living standards and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities will be a major focus of attention when the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities convenes at New York Headquarters from 17 to 19 July.

13 June 2013

HR/5145

Preparatory Meeting in Norway Declares Common Position for 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, to Be Held at Headquarters, 22-23 September

Indigenous peoples from around the world today issued a common position for the high-level plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, also known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, to be held at New York Headquarters from 22 to 23 September 2014.

31 May 2013

HR/5142

Closing Session, Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Reaffirms Unswerving Desire to Preserve Identity, Secure Fully Fledged Place on Global Stage

In a call to action, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues approved a draft decision today recommending that the Economic and Social Council rename it as the “Permanent Forum on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, at the close of a two-week session marked by a dynamic effort to preserve those peoples’ identity, ensure their rights and secure a fully fledged place on the global stage.