Policy report

For people; for planet: The long and winding road to UN recognition of the universal right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment

This report seeks to tell the story of the journey towards the recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment (R2E) and address the three interlinked environmental crises facing the planet – the climate, biodiversity, and pollution…

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Policy report

Advancing Rights, Transforming Lives

This report reviews how the UN human rights system has taken up women’s rights, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights and the degree to which these recommendations have been translated into action, with UNFPA’s support.

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Policy report

Unpacking the Right to a Healthy Environment: How national and regional laws and jurisprudence clarify the scope and content of the universal right

This report examines this body of practice, namely the features and best practices associated with the global implementation of the right to a healthy environment.

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Policy report

'A diamond in the rough’: how to strengthen the Human Rights Council's delivery of technical assistance and capacity building (Item 10 reform)

The policy brief provides thoughts on how the Council might strengthen the delivery of domestic capacity-building support in the future – how it might ‘reset and revitalize item 10.’

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Policy report

The Human Rights Council in 2022

A written analysis of the main events and developments at the Council in 2022, with data on the evolution of the body’s work since 2006, infographics on the Council's mechanisms, and an in-depth analysis of the contribution of current members.

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Tool

What is the state of human rights and democracy around the world?

Is the situation of human rights around the world getting better or worse? Which UN member States are fulfilling their human rights obligations, and which are routinely violating the rights of their people? Is democracy really in retreat around the…

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Video

#TheTimeIsNow

#TheTimeIsNow, the time for universal recognition of the right to a clean, safe, healthy and sustainable environment is now

URG Insights

Report on the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council

by the URG team

Quick summary The 53rd regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC53) was held from Monday 19 June to Friday 14 July 2023. On 11 and 12 July 2023, an urgent debate was convened to ‘discuss the alarming rise in premeditated and public acts of religious hatred as manifested by recurrent desecration of the Holy Quran in some European and other countries.’ The voting on draft  resolution 53/L.23 on the ‘countering religious hatred constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence’ took place on Wednesday 12 July when it was adopted by vote (28-12-7). The resolution requests the convening of an…

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previous URG Insights

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Latest policy report

July 2023

For people; for planet: The long and winding road to UN recognition of the universal right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment

For people; for planet: The long and winding road to UN recognition of the universal right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment report cover

On Friday 8 October 2021, member states of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (Council) moved to adopt two historic resolutions. With the first…

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Previous policy reports

Advancing Rights, Transforming Lives

This report reviews how the UN human rights system has taken up women's rights, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights and the degree…

Read more

Unpacking the Right to a Healthy Environment: How national and regional laws and jurisprudence clarify the scope and content of the universal right

On 8 October 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted its historic resolution 48/13 recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable…

Read more

‘A diamond in the rough’: How to strengthen the Human Rights Council's delivery of technical assistance & capacity-building support (Item 10 reform)

GA resolution 60/251 establishing the Human Rights Council and setting out its mandate recognises the primary responsibility of States to promote and protect human rights.…

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future events

No Events are currently planned

past events

HRC training for new diplomats

On 22 August 2023, the Multilateral Dialogue of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)  Geneva and the Universal Rights Group (URG) will provide an in-depth training workshop for diplomats newly arrived in Geneva on the working methods, instruments and mechanisms of the Human Rights...

  • August 22, 2023 - 9:00 - 19:45
  • Château de Bossey / Bogis-Bossey
  • By invitation only

Launch of UNFPA-URG report ‘Advancing Rights, Transforming Lives’

On 11 July 2023, a joint UNFPA-Universal Rights Group report, ‘Advancing Rights, Transforming Lives: UNFPA strategic engagement with the UN human rights system to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights,’ was be launched on the side of the Human...

  • July 11, 2023 - 13:00 - 14:00
  • By invitation only

Reinvigoration of the Human Rights Council’s work on capacity-building and technical assistance under its agenda item 10

On 6th July 2023, the Permanent Missions of Luxembourg and Thailand, and the Universal Rights Group held an informal breakfast meeting with Ambassadors and experts to discuss the reinvigoration of the Human Rights Council’s work on capacity-building and technical assistance under...

  • July 6, 2023 - 9:00 - 10:00
  • By invitation only
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The Istanbul Process is the dedicated mechanism for follow-up on the implementation of the action plan set out in Human Rights Council resolution 16/18 on combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief.

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Impact OSS Is a data management tool designed to help States manage recommendations received from the UN human rights mechanisms, coordinate implementation across government, as well as between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the State; and facilitate streamlined reporting back to the UN.

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environment-rights.org is a resource portal for environmental human rights defenders, inspiring individuals working at the interface of environmental protection and human rights - often at great personal risk. The portal provides access to local support networks and international protection, reminding environmental defenders that they are not alone.

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