UN report deplores “rapid deterioration” of rights in West Bank
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters A United Nations report published on Thursday deplored what it called a “rapid deterioration” of human rights in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and urged Israeli authorities to end violence against the Palestinian population there. The report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said 300 Palestinians had been […]
UN tally of confirmed civilian deaths in Ukraine approaches 8,500
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Nearly 8,500 civilians are confirmed to have been killed in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a UN body said on Tuesday, with many thousands more unverified deaths still feared. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said it had recorded 8,490 people killed and 14,244 injured between the launch of the […]
Ugandan Government says it won’t renew UN human rights office mandate
Kampala, Uganda The Ugandan Government has said it will not renew the mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda wrote to OHCHR offices in Kampala on 3rd February indicating that it would not renew its mandate. In the letter, the government noted the […]
Russian forces killed hundreds of civilians early in Ukraine war – UN report
Zurich, SwitzerlandReuters Russian forces killed at least 441 civilians in the early days of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday, documenting attacks in dozens of towns and summary executions that it said might be war crimes. The actual number of victims in the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions […]
Iran situation “critical” with more than 300 killed – UN rights chief
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the situation in Iran was “critical”, describing a hardening of the authorities’ response to protests that have resulted in more than 300 deaths in the past two months. “The rising number of deaths from protests in Iran, including those of two […]
Both Russia and Ukraine tortured prisoners of war, UN says
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday that both Russia and Ukraine have tortured prisoners of war during the nearly nine-month conflict, citing examples including the use of electric shocks and forced nudity. The UN’s Ukraine-based monitoring team based its findings on interviews with more than 100 prisoners of war on […]
UN says Russia abuses prisoners in Ukraine
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Russian forces and their armed affiliates have subjected Ukrainian prisoners to extrajudicial executions, sexual violence and other abuses, according to a report from the UN human rights office. The report, issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday, found some rights violations by both sides in the […]
Colombia’s next government must focus on tackling criminal groups, UN says
Bogota, ColombiaReuters Colombia’s next government must prioritise dismantling illegal armed groups and criminal gangs, a report from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday, with rising violence devastating rural communities. Violence in Colombia fell dramatically following the 2016 peace deal between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of […]
UN rights office decries Ethiopia air strikes, says 108 killed this month
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters The UN human rights office on Friday expressed alarm at “multiple, deeply disturbing reports” of air strikes in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, saying at least 108 civilians had been killed since the start of January. A woman stands in line to receive food donations, at the Tsehaye primary school, which was turned […]
At least 78 rights defenders killed in Colombia in 2021 – UN
Bogota, ColombiaReuters At least 78 human rights defenders were killed in Colombia in 2021, the United Nations human rights agency said on Thursday, adding that more cases were still being verified. Violence against human rights defenders, environmentalists and community activists – known collectively in Colombia as social leaders – has become a big challenge for […]