Derechos Humanos / Human Rights

Istanbul, May 31 (DP.net).─ The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) gathered in Istanbul 400 human rights defenders from its members organisations and partners around the world from May 23 to May 27, 2013.

Since 2009, FIDH has singled out certain areas of prime concern, for which it has determined action priorities:

• Freedom and capacity to act of human rights defenders,
• Universality of rights, in particular those of women and migrants, whose - inequitable treatment constitutes a major obstacle for the progress of mankind,
• Effectiveness of Human Rights, to put an end to the impunity of authors of violations, who are not called to account, be they individuals, States or business enterprises,
• Respect for Human Rights and the Rule of Law in times of conflict, emergency or political transition.

Several resolutions were adopted on this occasion [the following links open PDF documents], especially regarding the situation in:

• Central African Republic
• Cuba [texto en Español AQUÍ]
• Nicaragua [only in Español]
• Syria
• Russia
• Guatemala (in Español or François only)

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued the fourth in its series of Practical Guides for Civil Society, focusing this edition on Human Rights Funds, Grants and Fellowships. The guide aims to assist prospective applicants by briefly describing the menu of funding sources, grants and fellowships administered by or with the participation the OHCHR. The guide is available in a variety of languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish.

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR)
• Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Geneva, Oct. 2 (DP.net).

Sixty-three countries sponsored the landmark human rights resolution on "The Rights of Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association," the result of a drawing to an end a hard-fought campaign by civil society groups. The resolution calls upon States to ensure the rights of individuals to assembly and association by taking all necessary measures to abide by obligations under international human rights law. Most importantly, the resolution also calls for the appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur to monitor and study trends, developments, and challenges in relation to the exercise of these rights, and to make recommendations on ways and means to ensure the promotion and protection of these rights. Among other duties, the Special Rapporteur will report on violations and discrimination, as well as threats or use of violence, harassment, persecution, intimidation, or reprisals directed at persons exercising these rights.

The resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council establishes the mandate of a Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and extended the mandates of the Working Group on arbitrary detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia. The Council also adopted a statement on religious intolerance.

With regard to the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, the Council decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

[ Full text of the Resolution ]
[ More about the resolution ]
[ Other perspectives ]