United Nations Human Rights

Julian Assange's 50-Week Jail Sentence Dispropotionate, Says UN

World News | Reuters | Friday May 3, 2019

United Nations human rights experts voiced concern on Friday at what they called the "disproportionate sentence" of 50 weeks in prison imposed on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for skipping bail in Britain.

Saudi Trial In Khashoggi Murder Case "Not Sufficient": UN Rights Office

World News | Reuters | Friday January 4, 2019

The United Nations human rights office said on Friday it could not assess the fairness of a trial taking place in Saudi Arabia related to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but that in any case it was "not sufficient".

Need International Inquiry Into "Awful" Khashoggi Murder: UN Rights Chief

World News | Reuters | Wednesday December 5, 2018

United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Wednesday that an international investigation was needed to determine who was responsible for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.

China Orders People "Poisoned By Extremism, Terrorism" To Confess Crimes

World News | Reuters | Monday November 19, 2018

A city in China's far-western Xinjiang region has ordered people who are "poisoned by extremism, terrorism and separatism", in contact with overseas terror groups or act in a conservative Islamic manner, to turn themselves in to authorities.

How Did UN Body Report On Kashmir Without Access? What Top Official Said

India News | Written by Amitoj Singh | Saturday October 20, 2018

When the United Nations Human Rights Office published a report on Kashmir earlier this year, calling for an inquiry into "multiple violations", it evoked sharp rebuttals from the Indian administration. Among the questions raised about the report was: How was it framed without access to the region on either side of the Line of Control?

On 18 New Countries In UN Human Rights Council, Nikki Haley's Critique

India News | Written by Amitoj Singh | Sunday October 14, 2018

While India's election to the United Nations' Human Rights Council was celebrated by several countries, Nikki Haley, the outgoing US ambassador to the UN, criticised the "no competition" electoral process saying "yet again, countries with poor human rights records ran uncontested".

UN Human Rights Chief Praises Supreme Court For Verdict On Section 377

India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday September 26, 2018

The UN's top human rights official cited the "landmark" decision by India's Supreme Court decriminalising consensual gay sex and urged more countries to bring their laws and practices in line with the fundamental equality of all their people.

India Regrets UN Human Rights Chief's Remarks On Kashmir

India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday September 12, 2018

India has voiced regret over the issue of Jammu and Kashmir being raised in the United Nations Human Rights Commission or UNHRC after High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet made a reference to Kashmir during her opening statement to the Council.

US Withdraws From UN Human Rights Council, Cites Bias Against Israel

World News | Carol Morello, The Washington Post | Wednesday June 20, 2018

The Trump administration withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday in protest of what it perceives as an entrenched bias against Israel and a willingness to allow notorious human rights abusers as members.

US Plans To Announce Withdrawal From UN Human Rights Council: Report

World News | Reuters | Tuesday June 19, 2018

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley will announce on Tuesday that the United Sates is withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council, a Trump administration source told Reuters.

Donald Trump Is "Punishing, Imprisoning The Poor", Says United Nations

World News | Amanda Erickson, The Washington Post | Monday June 4, 2018

The United Nations has never been shy about attacking the United States. In recent years, UN officials accused the Obama administration of failing to address police brutality and sexual assault in the military. Also last year, the world body called President Donald Trump's attacks on the media "dangerous."

"Acts Of Genocide" Suspected Against Rohingya In Myanmar: UN

World News | Reuters | Wednesday March 7, 2018

The United Nations human rights chief said on Wednesday that he strongly suspected that "acts of genocide" may have taken place against Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state since August.

Maldives Crackdown An 'Assault On Democracy': United Nations Rights Chief

World News | Agence France-Presse | Thursday February 8, 2018

A crackdown on political dissent in the Maldives is tantamount to "an all-out assault on democracy", the UN human rights chief warned Wednesday, after President Abdulla Yameen appeared to gain the upper hand in a bitter power struggle.

United Nations Human Rights Office Decries Donald Trump's Reported Remarks As "Racist"

World News | Reuters | Friday January 12, 2018

The United Nations human rights office on Friday rejected as "racist" and inciting xenophobia the reported remarks by US President Donald Trump describing immigrants from Africa and Haiti as coming from "shithole" countries.

North Korean Defector Pleads To Return At UN Event

World News | Agence France-Presse | Thursday December 14, 2017

A North Korean defector interrupted a United Nations human rights press conference in Seoul on Thursday to plead tearfully to be allowed to go back to her relatives in Pyongyang.