International News and Developments

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Switzerland: Mohamed Wa Baile Wins Ethnic Profiling Case as the European Court of Human Rights Unanimously Condemns Racial Discrimination

Years of campaigning for justice and the tireless engagement of activist Mohamed Wa Baile and supporters have paid off, resulting…

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The Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa releases a Report on the Production, Trade, and use of Tools of Torture in Africa

This thematic report highlights the trade in the tools of torture in Africa, outlines the existing legal framework, provides…

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African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights published a Study on the Use of Force by Law Enforcement Officials in Africa

The current Study is primarily focused on the applicable legal framework, and ways to ensure that domestic legal systems conform…

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European Court of Human Rights deliveres a judgement on the case of Laurijsen and Others v. the Netherlands

The European Court of Human Rights (the Court) delivered a judgement on the case of Laurijsen and Others v. the…

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Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism releases new report (A/78/520)

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur presents the core analysis and findings of the mandate’s Global Study on the…

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Report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances on New technologies and enforced disappearances (A/HRC/54/22/Add.5)

In the present report, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances examines how new technologies are being used against…

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Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment presents new thematic study (A/78/324)

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Alice Jill…

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Omega Research Foundation and Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) issue an Advisory Opinion to IACtHR

The Omega Research Foundation and the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) have presented a written submission to the…

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UNICEF releases a paper “Free and safe to protest – Policing assemblies involving children”

This paper articulates child rights in the context of policing assemblies involving children, framed against States’ more general obligations regarding…

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Comment of the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights: Crackdowns on peaceful environmental protests should stop and give way to more social dialogue

Environmental pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss are among the most urgent existential threats to humankind and to human rights.

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Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

The present report illuminates the ways in which counter-terrorism and security are frequently used to provide political and legal justifications…

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Amnesty International launches global campaign to confront unprecedented worldwide threat to the right to protest

The right to protest is under unprecedented and growing threat across all regions of the world, Amnesty International said today,…

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Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association on peaceful protest in crisis situations

This report, to be presented at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2022, examines key…

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Venezuela: Hard-hitting UN report backs claims of crimes against humanity and identifies possible perpetrators

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, created by the UN Human Rights Council in September 2019, presented its conclusions…

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Philippines: ICC launches probe into deadly “war on drugs”, seeks to end impunity

Responding to the International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial chamber’s announcement that it has opened an investigation into the killings during…

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Artificial intelligence risks to privacy demand urgent action – Bachelet

GENEVA (15 September 2021) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday stressed the urgent need  for…

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UN experts call for an end to police brutality worldwide

Independent United Nations human rights experts* issued the following joint statement, to express their alarm at what they describe as…

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Amnesty International releases 30 rules to curb the use of chemical irritants by police

French Spanish Across the world, from the streets of Thailand to Philadelphia (USA), from Greece to Chile, the police continue to use tear gas and pepper spray unlawfully and unnecessarily, resulting in serious injury and even death.

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Concluding observations and recommendations on outcomes at the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council HRC47

The Human Rights Council (“the Council”) adopted a resolution, led by the African Group of states, creating an independent, international…

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UN Human Rights Chief urges immediate, transformative action to uproot systemic racism

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday issued an urgent call for States to adopt a “transformative…

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UK: Europe’s top court rules UK mass surveillance regime violated human rights

In a landmark judgment, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) today ruled that the…

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European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights – Your rights matter: Police stops

A new paper by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reveals the differences between people’s experiences with police stops.

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Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe calls for greater protection of journalists during public assemblies

Journalism is a dangerous profession. Images of injured journalists on the fringes of protests have unfortunately become commonplace in Europe,…

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Christof Heyns: A tribute to a giant of human rights

This weekend, respected human rights lawyer Professor Christof Heyns passed away, aged 62. Most recently, Professor Heyns…

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United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the enjoyment of human rights around the world including good practices and areas of concern

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights presents an update on the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic…

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Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) Report on Persons Deprived of Liberty in Nicaragua

In October 2020, the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights published a report on Persons deprived of liberty in Nicaragua.

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New CERD General recommendation No. 36 on Preventing and Combating Racial profiling

On 24th November 2020, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination published its General recommendation No. 36 on…

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CoE Commissioner for Human Rights: Challenges to human rights have intensified in Europe

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today her annual activity report covering 2019. The…

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COVID-19 security measures no excuse for excessive use of force, say UN Special Rapporteurs

GENEVA (17 April 2020) – UN Human rights experts have expressed grave concern at the multiplication of accounts of…

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Human Rights Committee 2nd Draft General Comment on the Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly

In November 2019, during its 127th session, the Human Rights Committee finalised its first reading of draft General Comment 37…

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Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) Report on Protest and Human Rights

In September 2019, the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights and its Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression…

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New technologies and their impact on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of assemblies: Submission to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

In October, PHRP in collaboration with the Amnesty’s Law and Policy Programme and Tech Team, responded to a call for…

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CERD Draft General recommendation on Preventing and Combating Racial Profiling

PHRP, in collaboration with colleagues from the Amnesty’s TechTeam and Law-and-Policy Programme, responded to a call for contribution by the…

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Human Rights Committee publishes Draft General Comment on the Right to Peaceful Assembly

After a consultation process in which Amnesty International, including the PHRP team, participated, the Human Rights Committee published the first…

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IACHR Report on Police Violence Against Afro-descendants in the United States

In March 2019, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) published a report on “Police Violence Against Afro-descendants in…

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Human Rights Council Resolution on human rights in peaceful protests

On 6th of July 2018, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution (A/HRC/RES/38/11) on the promotion and protection of…

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Caribbean Human Rights and Use of Force Model Policy published

In June 2018, the Caribbean Human Rights and Use of Force Model Policy was published as the final…

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Amnesty International calls on states to implement African Commission’s groundbreaking guidelines on policing assemblies

Amnesty International welcomes the powerful standards and practices set out in the Guidelines on Policing Assemblies adopted by…

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Council of Europe adopted a Resolution on Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly

On 27th of May 2016, the Standing Committee acting on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe…

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African Commission General Comment on the Right to Life

African Commission General Comment on the Right to Life During its 57th ordinary session from 4th to 18th of November…