UN HRC Adopts Resolution Highlighting Role of Environmental Human Rights Activists

On 21 March 2019, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) unanimously brought to attention the important role of environmental human rights defenders by adopting a strong consensus resolution which legitimized the work of these activists. The HRC reaffirmed the need for states to protect the international rights of its citizens, including the protection[…]

Qatar’s 2022 World Cup Littered with Human Rights Abuses

Last month, the exiled Qatari al-Ghufran tribe attended the 39th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) to seek international assistance in regards to their banishment from Qatar. They alleged that Qatar is building the 2022 World Cup stadiums on land taken from the tribe. Towards the end of the Council, the[…]

A review of the Group of Eminent Experts’ report on Human Rights Abuses in Yemen

At the conclusion of the 36th meeting of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) in September 2017, the Council empowered a Group of Eminent international and regional Experts (GEE) to report on the human rights situation in Yemen. Resolution 36/31 – the resolution establishing the GEE – requests the “High Commissioner to establish[…]

New UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Raises Concerns about Bahrain and Saudi Arabia at HRC 39

10 September 2018 – Today, at the opening of the 39th Session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Michelle Bachelet delivered her first opening statement as the new High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her remarks demonstrated a commitment to continue the previous High Commissioner Zeid Raad Al Hussein’s legacy of a[…]

A Review of Two Years of Bahraini and Saudi Trends in UN Complaints

In the United Nations’ (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) Joint Communications Report (JCR) that was released on Friday, 31 August, there was only one case mentioning Bahrain, while two cases dealt with Saudi Arabia. This is something of an anomaly, as over the last two years there have been six JCRs covering 21 Bahraini cases[…]