Policy report

Realising human rights as a critical contribution to confronting the triple planetary crisis

From March 2023 through March 2024, the Universal Rights Group (URG) conducted an analysis to assess and understand the extent to which the United Nations (UN) human rights system focuses on the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss,…

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Policy report

Harnessing human rights towards a mine-free world: Restoring victims' rights, promoting sustainable development and peace

Once an armed conflict ends, its impacts on human life and rights go beyond the casualties and destruction caused during hostilities. Explosive ordnance is left behind, often for decades. Landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) are, in the words…

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Policy report

Protecting the Frontline: Good practices for Recognising and Supporting Environmental Human Rights Defenders

Across the world, environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) have been catalysing actions to safeguard a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Their work has been crucial to the protection and respect of their human rights, the rights of their communities, and,…

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Policy report

Understanding human rights related to the environment: exploring their scope and implications

The objective of this document is to provide information about the status and scope of human rights related to the environment to States, United Nations entities, other intergovernmental organizations, civil society, and the private sector. It aims to support their…

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Policy report

The emergence and evolution of National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up

This report addresses one great unanswered question: how do States implement the recommendations they receive from the three main UN human rights mechanisms, thereby bringing national laws, policies, and practices into ever greater alignment with their obligations under IHRL?

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Policy report

From reaction to prevention: report of transatlantic roundtable on prevention

Meeting report

This report summarises the transatlantic dialogue on prevention organised by International Crisis Group and the Universal Rights Group, in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 20th February 2023.

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Policy report

For people; for planet: The long and winding road to UN recognition of the universal right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment

This report seeks to tell the story of the journey towards the recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment (R2E) and address the three interlinked environmental crises facing the planet – the climate, biodiversity, and pollution…

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Policy report

Advancing Rights, Transforming Lives

This report reviews how the UN human rights system has taken up women’s rights, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights and the degree to which these recommendations have been translated into action, with UNFPA’s support.

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Policy report

Unpacking the Right to a Healthy Environment: How national and regional laws and jurisprudence clarify the scope and content of the universal right

This report examines this body of practice, namely the features and best practices associated with the global implementation of the right to a healthy environment.

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Policy report

'A diamond in the rough’: how to strengthen the Human Rights Council's delivery of technical assistance and capacity building (Item 10 reform)

The policy brief provides thoughts on how the Council might strengthen the delivery of domestic capacity-building support in the future – how it might ‘reset and revitalize item 10.’

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Tool

What is the state of human rights and democracy around the world?

Is the situation of human rights around the world getting better or worse? Which UN member States are fulfilling their human rights obligations, and which are routinely violating the rights of their people? Is democracy really in retreat around the…

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Video

The urgent need to defend Environmental Human Rights Defenders

This video is a compilation of the voices and personal journeys of brave EHRDs from Latin America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

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URG Insights

Landmark Court Rulings in Kenya and South Africa: Advancing the Right to a Healthy Environment in Africa

by Neville Mupita, Universal Rights Group

Two recent court rulings from South Africa and Kenya have set powerful precedents for the promotion and protection of the right to a healthy environment (R2E) across the African continent. The cases, South Africa’s African Climate Alliance & Others v. Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy & Others (December 4, 2024) and Kenya’s Metal Refinery (EPZ) Ltd v. Owino Uhuru Residents (6 December 2024), highlight the critical role of judicial systems in upholding constitutional and environmental rights. Together, they signal a growing recognition of the intersection between human rights and environmental justice in Africa. South Africa: Youth-Led Climate Justice Triumphs…

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previous URG Insights

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Key human rights priorities of world governments at HRC58: an analysis of the High-Level Segment

Key human rights priorities of world governments at HRC58: an…

The 3-day High-Level Segment of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, held from 24 to 26 February 2025, saw the active participation of over 70 high-level dignitaries and officials. The session was opened by the President of the Human Rights Council, H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber. Following the opening,…

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Human Rights: Will the US-China Rivalry Over This Critical Issue Fade?

Human Rights: Will the US-China Rivalry Over This Critical Issue…

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States seemed less interested in upholding human rights worldwide – in 2018 President Donald Trump's decided to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council. Chinese diplomacy used the opportunity to promote its competitive vision of the concept of human rights to the fullest. Under…

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Report of the 37th special session of the Human Rights Council on the Human Rights Situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Report of the 37th special session of the Human Rights…

Introduction On 7 February 2025, the Human Rights Council convened its 37th special session to address the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The session was requested by the Permanent Representative of the DRC and the request was supported by…

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Latest policy report

February 2025

Glion X: Transforming universal norms into local reality

Glion X: Transforming universal norms into local reality report cover

The tenth Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion X), organised by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Universal Rights Group (URG), in partnership with the Permanent…

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Previous policy reports

Report of the 37th special session of the Human Rights Council on the human situation Situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction On 7 February 2025, the Human Rights Council convened its 37th special session to address the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the east…

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The Human Rights Council in 2024

What were the main developments, achievements and flash-points at the Human Rights Council in 2024? What were the Council’s principle outputs and what kind of…

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Guide to the 2024 UN Human Rights Council Elections

The tenth annual yourHRC.org Guide to the Human Rights Council elections provides comprehensive at-a-glance information on the 2024 Council elections (which are scheduled to take…

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future events

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past events

Pre-Glion X Policy Dialogue with the Commonwealth Small States Office and the Permanent Missions of The Gambia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands on ‘Key characteristics and good practices in the establishment and development of NMIRFs.’

The Permanent Missions of The Gambia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, with the Commonwealth Small States Office, will host the last of three preparatory Policy Dialogue ahead of the 2024 Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion X). The overall...

  • June 10, 2024 - 14:30 - 17:30
  • Commonwealth Small States Office / Geneva
  • By invitation only

Pre-Glion X Policy Dialogue with the Permanent Missions of Thailand and Mexico on the ‘Geneva’s’ contribution to the General Assembly’s 2021-2026 review of the Human Rights Council: an opportunity to reflect on the Council’s effectiveness and on-the-ground impact.’

The Permanent Missions of Thailand and Mexico will host the second of three preparatory Policy Dialogue ahead of the 2024 Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion X). The overall theme of this year’s Glion is: ‘Transforming universal norms into local reality...

  • June 5, 2024 - 9:00 - 15:45
  • Permanent Mission of Thailand / Geneve 1202
  • By invitation only

FX 22 - How to operationalise the Human Rights Council’s prevention mandate - the eyes, ears, and outreached hand of the UN system

GA resolution 60/251 founding the Council and setting out its mandate makes clear that it shall ‘contribute, through dialogue and cooperation, towards the prevention of human rights violations and respond promptly to human rights emergencies,’ (operative paragraph 5f). However, for...

  • May 31, 2024 - 13:00 - 15:00
  • The Danish UN Residence / Chambésy
  • By invitation only
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The Istanbul Process is a mechanism for follow-up on the implementation of the Human Rights Council plan to combat religious intolerance.

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The Inside Track: HRC58

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Impact OSS is a data management tool that helps States manage recommendations received from UN human rights mechanisms.

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ALLIED is a network of civil society actors (83 organisations and 180 individuals) working to protect, celebrate, recognise and support ILEDs throughout the world.

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