Category: Human Rights

Poor children who live and sleep on the open pavements in India’s capital New Delhi. Photo: Rakesh Raman / RMN News Service (Representational Image)
Activities, Human Rights

Global Campaign Calls for a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy

Poor children who live and sleep on the open pavements in India’s capital New Delhi. Photo: Rakesh Raman / RMN News Service (Representational Image)
Poor children who live and sleep on the open pavements in India’s capital New Delhi. Photo: Rakesh Raman / RMN News Service (Representational Image)

Global Campaign Calls for a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy

The democracy rapporteur would be mandated to investigate the state of democracy from a broader perspective.

As the UN celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2023, a global campaign demands the appointment of a dedicated staffer to report on the state of democracy around the world.

The campaign was launched on 20 November 2023 by the Berlin (Germany)-based global network of civil society organizations Democracy Without Borders (DWB). It calls on the United Nations (UN) to appoint a special rapporteur on democracy. read more

A pollution scene in India’s capital New Delhi which is the most polluted national capital in the world. Photo: Rakesh Raman / RMN News Service
Environment, Human Rights

UN and UAE Urged to Protect Human Rights Before Climate Conference

A pollution scene in India’s capital New Delhi which is the most polluted national capital in the world. Photo: Rakesh Raman / RMN News Service
A pollution scene in India’s capital New Delhi which is the most polluted national capital in the world. Photo: Rakesh Raman / RMN News Service

UN and UAE Urged to Protect Human Rights Before Climate Conference

The petition asks the UAE to take meaningful steps to address the human rights crisis.

A slew of civil society organizations has urged the UN, UAE, and state parties to ensure human rights protection before the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference 2023, also known as Conference of Parties (COP28), taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 30 November to 12 December 2023.

Led by CIVICUS — which is a global alliance of civil society organizations — a petition has been signed by various groups asking UAE  to prioritize rights of most affected by climate crisis, allow dissent, and release illegally imprisoned activists.  read more

Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. Photo: UN
Human Rights

UN Expert Demands Release of Human Rights Defender Guo Feixiong in China

Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. Photo: UN
Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. Photo: UN

UN Expert Demands Release of Human Rights Defender Guo Feixiong in China

Guo Feixiong is the pen name of Chinese human rights defender and writer Yang Maodong. 

Chinese authorities can no longer ignore calls for the release of human rights defender Guo Feixiong, whose health has been seriously deteriorating in prison, a UN expert said today (October 18).

“Mr. Guo Feixiong is unjustly imprisoned, and he is in a critical state of health,” said Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. “UN human rights experts have sent 10 urgent letters to authorities about his situation since 2006. He must be released immediately on humanitarian grounds,” she said. read more