One of the key missions of the Universal Rights Group (URG) is to improve the transparency and accessibility of the work of the Human Rights Council and the wider international human rights system. By providing a window onto the work and decisions of the human rights system, the URG hopes to contribute to better, more accountable and more efficient policymaking; …
Geneva, 18th January 2017 UN Member States have long recognised the importance, under certain circumstances, of addressing country-specific human rights situations. Where a given country’s government is unable or unwilling to protect the rights of its people, or indeed, where a government is actively complicit in serious human rights violations; then the international community must be ready to step in. …
On Friday 4th November, during an event held on the margins of the UN General Assembly, the Universal Rights Group (URG) officially launched its New York Office. The decision to establish a permanent presence in New York reflects the key role of UN headquarters, especially the General Assembly’s Third Committee, the Security Council and the UN Development Group, in formulating and …
Friday 28th October 2016, Fiji On 27-28 October 2016, the Universal Rights Group supported the organisation of a Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI) workshop for Pacific Island States in Natadola, Fiji. The regional workshop, entitled ‘Benefits of, and challenges to, the ratification and implementation of the UN Convention against Torture in the Pacific region: sharing experiences and building capacity,’ represented …
The world is currently experiencing an unprecedented demographic revolution to an ageing population, and no regions are exempt. Globally, there are approximately 700 million persons aged 60 years old and over, and this figure will double by 2025. By 2050, older persons will constitute 20%of the global population—higher than it has ever been. In light of these projections, in 2013 …
“Albinos are being hunted in Africa!” Headlines like these are not uncommon these days. They sound sensationalist but in fact reflect a grim reality: that in some countries, people with albinism are being attacked—usually with machetes and knives—for the purpose of obtaining their body parts. These attacks are based on a witchcraft-led belief that the body parts of people with …
At the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 17 to 18 July 2016, African Heads of State and Government unanimously adopted the Declaration on ‘The African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women.’ The adoption of the Declaration was inspired by Africa’s continued quest for the …
During the last week of the 32nd session of the Council, the URG, with the support of the Government of Germany and the Canton of Geneva, brought 7 journalists – from Afghanistan, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Ecuador and Kenya – to Geneva to follow developments, especially during voting. During their time in Geneva, the journalists benefited from briefing sessions with URG analysts, key diplomats, …
The Universal Rights Group (URG) is pleased to welcome Professor Christof Heyns, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions , to its Board of Trustees. Commenting on his appointment, Professor Heyns said: “I am very happy to join the URG Board. I am a solid supporter of the URG approach: they facilitate important discussions, conduct relevant and credible research (often with a welcome historical perspective); and offer …
At the initiative of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Permanent Mission of the United States of America, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy will host on Thursday, December 3rd, a Policy Dialogue on “Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism: National Experiences and Best Practices”. Ambassador Mohamed AUAJJAR and Ambassador Keith HARPER will co-chair this important event …
