| REPORTS & PUBLICATIONS |
| International |
UNIFEM Annual Report 2005-2006
 The Annual Report documents UNIFEM's work to foster women's empowerment and gender equality around the world. The 2005-2006 report celebrates UNIFEM's 30th anniversary, highlighting the organization's accomplishments over the past "30 Years of Challenge, 30 Years of Change." It provides examples of UNIFEM's initiatives around the world to defend women's human rights promote their political participation, empower them to participate in the global market, and combat gender-based violence.
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Budgeting for Women's Rights: Monitoring Government Budgets for Compliance with CEDAW
The United Nations Funds for Women (UNIFEM) has released a report entitled Budgeting for Women's Rights: Monitoring Government Budgets for Compliance with CEDAW. The report, authored by Professor Diane Elson, a feminist economist, makes a contribution to the advocacy work on the transparency of budgets. It provides arguments for increasing the accountability of government budgets to women's rights. It elaborates on how budgets and budget policy making processes can be monitored for compliance with human rights standards, in particular with the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and has been ratified by 183 countries as of March 2006. According to Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of UNIFEM, "Genuine accountability for women's rights requires the mobilization of resources sufficient to meet the obligations subsequent to the ratification of CEDAW and the constant scrutiny of economic policies and processes from a rights perspective."
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IFJ research findings on reporting HIV/AIDS in six countries in Africa and Asia
HIV/AIDS - the "key story of our time" - is not getting the coverage it deserves in the countries in which the pandemic is most rampant, says the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). In a study examining media coverage of HIV/AIDS in six countries in Africa and Asia , the organisation argues that news media need to institute wide ranging training programmes to improve the quality and quantity of reporting on the pandemic. The study focused on Cambodia, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa and Zambia, and surveyed more than 350 news reports over a two-week period. It found that stories on HIV/AIDS were generally neutral, balanced and fair, but some were tainted by sensationalism. The study also revealed that print media were doing a far better job of covering the pandemic than broadcast media, with 79 per cent of the sampled stories appearing in newspapers and magazines. |
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Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in War and Its Aftermath: Realities, Responses, and Required Resources – A briefing Paper
This briefing paper was prepared for the Symposium on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond held from 21-23 June 2006 in Brussels by Jeanne Ward and Mendy Marsh. The paper is divided into 3 sections - 1)The Nature and Scope of Violence Against Women and Children in Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath; 2) Rising to the Challenge: Combating Violence Against Women and Girls During War and Its Aftermath; 3) Where Are We Now?: Assessing Progress. |
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Towards universal access: assessment by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS on scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support – six requirements
This publication, produced by UNAIDS, provides an update on the status of scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. It is based on consultations and submissions from country members. The document identifies a number of key challenges that stand in the way of universal access. These include: inadequate and unpredictable financing; lack of human resources; unavailable or unaffordable HIV-related commodities; and the need for new technologies. The consultations also highlighted widespread stigma and discrimination, violence against women, homophobia and other HIV-related human rights abuses that discourage people from seeking information and services. The document identifies six major requirements for reaching the goal: (1) all credible, evidence-based, sustainable national AIDS plans should be funded; (2) AIDS funding should be met through greater domestic and international spending, and enable countries to have access to predictable, long-term financial resources; (3) large-scale measures are needed to strengthen human resources to provide prevention, treatment, care, and support, and to enable more effective AIDS responses; (4) major barriers, including pricing, tariffs, research and development, need to be removed to speed up access to affordable, quality HIV commodities; (5) the AIDS-related human rights of people living with HIV, women, children and vulnerable groups need to be protected and promoted; (6) every country should set ambitious AIDS targets to achieve universal access by 2010. |
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Circle of Hope: Children's rights in a world with AIDS
Millions of children throughout the world do not have the means to protect themselves against the spread of HIV infection, according to a new report from international children's organisation, Plan. The report, "Circle of Hope", highlights how despite knowing the risks and how to protect themselves, many young people simply cannot choose safe sexual behaviour because of economic, social, and cultural pressures.
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Researching Violence Against Women: A Practical Guide for Researchers and Activists – A manual
This manual, written by Mary Ellsberg and Lori Heise from PATH, is a co-publication of PATH and WHO. It draws on the collective experiences and insights of many individuals, and in particular from the implementation of the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women in over 10 countries. Twenty years ago, violence against women was not considered an issue worthy of international concern. Gradually, violence against women has come to be recognised as a legitimate human rights issue and as a significant threat to women's health and well-being. Now that international attention is focused on gender-based violence, methodologically rigorous research is needed to guide the formulation and implementation of effective interventions, policies, and prevention strategies. The manual has been developed in response to the growing need to improve the quality, quantity, and comparability of international data on physical and sexual abuse. It outlines some of the methodological and ethical challenges of conducting research on violence against women and describes a range of innovative techniques that have been used to address these challenges. |
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International Conference - Legislatures and the Protection of Human Rights
An international conference on Legislatures and the protection of human rights was organised recently by the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies in the University of Melbourne . This conference has attempted to look at the role of legislatures vis a vis the protection of human rights as opposed to regular approaches that concentrate on the role of the courts in the protection of human rights. Several papers were presented in this conference examined various organs of legislatures and various legislative processes, including in Commonwealth countries, and analysed them from the human rights angles.
Read Conference papers and presentations |
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Combating Torture – A manual for action
This manual, produced by Amnesty International describes the ideas, the techniques, the achievements, the standards of governmental behaviour and the means of implementing those standards that have emerged from the efforts of anti-torture activists around the world over the past 25 years and more. |
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Refugees and internally displaced people – policy approaches
Current international legal and institutional frameworks for refugees and internally displaced people do not adequately address development aspects. They neither deal with the root causes of conflict nor promote long-term economic and social development. Issues around forced migration should become a key concern of development programming at the same time. A report from the Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford, UK, examines patterns of forced migration; responses by humanitarian actors such as governments, inter-governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations; and policy options. The study focuses on those displaced by conflict, violence and human rights abuses - including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and returnees.
Read the full report |
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The first Human Security Report 2005
The absence of reliable statistics on armed conflict, genocide or human rights abuses has made it hard to track trends in human security issues. The Human Security Report 2005, which was produced by the Human Security Centre at the University of British Columbia, Canada shows that since the end of the Cold War genocides and violent conflicts have declined except international terrorism. The report documents a dramatic, but largely unknown, decline in the number of wars, genocides and human rights abuse over the past decade. It challenges a number of widely-held myths: that terrorism represents the gravest threat to international security; that 90 percent of those killed in today's wars are civilians and that women are disproportionately affected by conflict.
Read the full report |
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5th Inter-Committee Meeting (19-21 June 2006) and 18th Meeting of Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies (22 - 23 June 2006)
The annual Meeting of Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies provides a forum for members of the seven human rights treaty bodies ( Human Rights Committee , Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, Committee against Torture, Committee on the Rights of the Child and Committee on Migrant Workers) to discuss their work and consider ways to enhance the effectiveness of the treaty body system as a whole. Issues addressed at these meetings have included, among other things, the streamlining and overall improvement of human rights reporting procedures, harmonization of the Committee's methods of work, follow-up to World Conferences, and financial issues. Since 2002, an Inter-Committee Meeting, consisting of the chairpersons plus two members of each of the committees, has also been convened to discuss these issues. In response to reports from several of the treaty bodies, the General Assembly, in 1983, called on the chairpersons of human rights treaty bodies to meet in order to discuss how to enhance the work of the treaty bodies. The first meeting of chairpersons took place in 1984. Since 1995, the chairpersons of human rights treaty bodies have met annually. Since 1999, the chairpersons have convened a meeting with special procedures mandate holders (both thematic and country mandates) of the Commission on Human Rights. Their discussions have focused on technical questions, such as increasing the exchange of information between treaty bodies and special procedures. Substantive issues, including the effect of globalization on the enjoyment of human rights (2003) and counter-terrorism measures and human rights (2004), have also been discussed.
Read more:
The ICC presented a Recommendations Paper regarding the engagement of National human Rights Institutions in the Treaty Body Process
A discussion paper on the role of National Human Rights Institutions in the Treaty body Process and Draft Guidelines prepared by the National institutions unit |
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Compromised Intentions - 2006 U.N. High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS and Its Failure to Address the Human Rights Abuses Fueling the Pandemic by HRW
During the week of May 29 to June 2, 2006, approximately seventy five thousand people became infected with HIV. Approximately fifty thousand more died of AIDS. During that same week, the United Nations held a High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. This briefing paper by Human Rights Watch seeks to critically review the political declaration : to identify missed opportunities to protect human rights and more effectively address the HIV/AIDS pandemic; and to see where, despite its shortcoming, the political declaration can serve as the basis for future advocacy, focusing on how the Declaration can be used to hold governments accountable and how civil society can continue to participate in the process of goal-setting, monitoring, and national reviews envisioned by the Declaration. It examines the Political Declaration's treatment of five key issues relating to HIV in light of human rights principles: (1) women's rights as they relate to HIV, (2) children and youth, (3) socially marginalized individuals, (4) treatment, and (5) targets and accountability. |
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| Asia- Pacific |
Turning the tide against HIV/AIDS: Targeting Youth
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is urgently calling on Asia-Pacific governments to target young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS. “Young people are the hardest hit – half of all new infections have occurred among youth,” warns the report. Poverty, gender discrimination and lack of access to information and health services have increased youth vulnerability to HIV, the UNESCAP report says. “Focusing HIV prevention on youth offers the greatest hope for containing the spread of HIV in Asia and the Pacific.” The UNESCAP report says the biggest hurdle to providing effective HIV/AIDS prevention services is lack of cohesive policy. Governments must both coordinate their HIV prevention efforts across all departments, and they must actually implement policies. An Asia-Pacific regional initiative is critical to stopping the spread of HIV in the region.
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| Canada |
International Best Practices in Universal Design: A Global Review
The Canadian Human Rights Commission made public a report on international best practices in universal design at the World Urban Forum in Vancouver. Entitled International Best Practices in Universal Design: A Global Review, this report gives an insight into the latest trends in universal design. On a very practical level, it provides architects and designers with the tools and options to design buildings that are accessible to all users. It documents accessibility criteria in building codes and standards in Canada and around the world. It outlines the space requirements to accommodate power wheelchairs and scooters, as well as the requirement for warning systems to alert people who are blind or visual impaired to their environment. It also provides insight into how to design a building utilising colour contrasts and changes in textures to make a building function better for everyone. |
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| Fiji |
Conclusions and Recommendations of the Colloquium and Workshop for Judges and Lawyers on the Justiciability of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Pacific region in Suva, Fiji from 1 to 3 June 2006
The colloquium and workshop for judges and lawyers on the justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights in the Pacific was organised in Suva, Fiji from 1 to 3 June 2006, by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in collaboration with the Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC), Interights and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The event was convened in the context of the United Nations Framework on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asian-Pacific Region, which aims to promote consideration of the establishment of regional and/or sub-regional human rights arrangements for Asia and the Pacific.
Also read:
Concluding statement - 11th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions in Suva, Fiji Islands 31 July - 3 August 2006 |
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| Malawi |
| A Study into Cultural Practices and the Impact on the Enjoyment of Human Rights
Malawi Human Rights Commission released its extensive study on the impact of cultural practices in May 2006. The study finds that some practices can be very harmful, especially for children, and that many practices impact girls and boys differently. The Commission calls on all Malawians to protect children's rights and to promote neutral and positive cultural practices. It recommends empowerment of women and a leading role for the Ministry of Health in promoting healthy practices. Leader of the research team, Mr Adams Banda, said that more openness around cultural practices would make it easier to discuss practices that may harm women and children. |
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| Maldives |
A Vibrant Media Under Pressure: An Independent Assessment of Press Freedom in the Maldives
From 3 to 7 May 2006, the International Press Freedom Mission - an independent group of international organisations working to promote international standards on press freedom and freedom of expression - undertook a fact-finding mission to the Maldives . Mission participants - the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), ARTICLE 19, (VS Article XIX, International Media Support (IMS), Reporters without Borders (RSF), South Asia Press Commission (SAPC) - met with high officials of the government, diplomats, the media community (including journalists working in opposition, pro-government and government-owned media), civil society representatives, detained journalists and the Human Rights Commission. The Mission found numerous cases of arbitrary arrest, detention, harassment and intimidation of media practitioners and dissenting voices. Journalists covering political and social events and demonstrations, as well as the participants in all such cases, the security forces have acted with impunity for their actions.
Read the full report |
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| South Africa |
6th Economic and Social Rights report launch by SAHRC
The Constitution has tasked the South African Human Rights Commission with a specific mandate to monitor and assess the realisation of economic and social rights. In particular, section 184 (3) requires that “each year the South African Human Rights Commission must require relevant organs of state to provide the Commission with information on measures that they have taken towards the realisation of the rights in the Bill of Rights, concerning housing, health care, food, water, social security, education and the environment.” In pursuance of this mandate, the Commission has produced Economic and Social Rights (ESR) reports since 1997. |
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| Uganda |
| HIV/AIDS Sero-Behavioural Survey reveals Six percent of adults in Uganda are infected with HIV
According to the newly released Uganda HIV/AIDS Sero-Behavioural Survey (UHSBS), approximately 6 percent of men and women age 15-49 in Uganda are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This rate is similar to other reported national estimates of HIV infection. However, the prevalence of another preventable sexually transmitted infection, herpes simplex 2 (HVS-2), is much higher - 44 percent among the population tested. In addition, 10 percent of a sub-sample of respondents is infected with another sexually transmitted infection, hepatitis B. The pattern of HIV prevalence in Uganda is similar to other sub Saharan African countries. Women are more likely to be infected than men. In Uganda 8 percent of women age 15 to 49 carry the virus compared to only 5 percent of men. Urban residents are almost twice as likely to be HIV positive as their rural counterparts. Just over 10 percent of men and women living in cities are infected compared with just under 6 percent of rural residents. For both sexes, rates of infection rise with age, peaking at 12 percent among women in their early 30s and 9 percent among men age 35-44. And, for both men and women, infection rates increase with income. The wealthiest 20 percent of the population is most likely to be infected with the virus. Almost 8,000 children under age 5 were also tested for HIV infection in the Uganda survey.
Read the survey |
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| United Kingdom |
'Simple, speedy, summary justice' at heart of criminal justice shake-up in the UK
Simple, speedy and summary justice is at the heart of Government reforms to rebalance the criminal justice system and increase public confidence, Lord Falconer said . Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor, said this when he published the Criminal Justice System Simple Speedy Summary (CJSSS) review document, Delivering Simple, Speedy, Summary Justice. The document sets out key changes that will shake-up the way the courts handle cases, connect with their communities and improve public confidence. The new measures, published today, include piloting courts on the move to take justice closer to the people and the concept of "next day" justice where specific offences will be heard between 24 and 72 hours. The changes will provide a modern criminal justice system responsive to 21st Century needs and expectations.
Read:
• Review document "Delivering Simple Speedy Summary Justice"
• Rebalancing the Criminal Justice System in favour of the law abiding majority
• UK criminal justice review calls for tougher sentencing rules, more rights for victims |
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Tackling Human Trafficking – Summary of responses to the Consultation on Proposals for a UK Action Plan
The consultation paper “Tackling Human Trafficking – Consultation on Proposals for a UK Action Plan” was published on 5 January 2006 by the Home Office and Scottish Executive. It invited comments on proposals for a UK Action Plan to address all forms of human trafficking. The consultation paper was divided into three key areas as recommended by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). These were; Prevention; Investigation, Law Enforcement and Prosecutions; and Protection and Assistance to Victims. This document summarises the responses to the consultation paper. |
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Denial of HIV treatment to failed asylum seekers `a human rights violation`, says BMJ
Destitute failed asylum seekers are being refused hospital treatment and being hounded by debt collectors if they have received emergency treatment, according to a recent report “First do no harm: denying healthcare to people whose asylum claims have failed” by the Refugee Council. In restricting their access to free secondary healthcare, writes Peter Hall, chair of Doctors for Human Rights, the British government is violating the right of failed asylum seekers to the highest attainable standard of health, guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This report looks at the impact that the NHS Charging for Overseas Visitors Regulations has on failed asylum seekers who need hospital care. Patients denied treatment for cancer and pregnant women forced to give birth alone at home are among the cases highlighted in the report, which calls on the government to restore access to hospital care for asylum seekers whose claims have failed, and on the Health Select Committee to conduct an inquiry into the impact of the regulations across England and Wales.
Read the report “First do no harm: denying healthcare to people whose asylum claims have failed” |
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DRC's Discussion paper on independent living
UK 's Disability Rights Commission is supporting Lord Ashley of Stoke's Disabled Person's (Independent Living) Bill. To promote understanding of independent living issues, DRC has produced a discussion paper. The paper highlights two priorities within the ongoing Disability Debate: ensuring no one is obliged to live in an institution or in a particular living arrangement against their will; and securing rights and entitlements which facilitate independent living across the life course. |
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'Your Human Rights' guides
Your Human Rights' is a series of four plain English, non-technical guides, produced by the British Institute for Human Rights, focusing on the practical relevance of human rights in the UK. They are written directly for people living with mental health problems, disabled people, older people and refugees and asylum seekers who are in situations where they may need information on their human rights. They will also be useful for people working with these groups, or people who would like to know more about the impact of human rights on these groups.
Read the guides:
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Round Table on the role of National Institutions in conflict and post conflict situations
A three-day International Round Table on the role of National Institutions in conflict and post conflict situations was held in Belfast , Northern Ireland from 20 to 22 June 2006. The Round Table was a collaborative venture of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) through the support offered by the European Commission. The Round Table was attended by 30 representatives of 19 national human rights institutions (NHRIs) from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Macedonia, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Palestine, Philippines, South Africa, Timor Leste, and Uganda.
Read the full report |
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This November, the Commission for Racial Equality, UK will host a major international conference in London to mark its 30th anniversary. The Commission for Racial Equality is established by the 1976 Race Relations Act to lead the fight against discrimination and to promote good race relations. It will be a landmark event with high-profile speakers, up-to-the-minute debate, practical workshops, a host of cultural activities and networking opportunities. Convention 2006 will bring together people from all parts of society to debate of some of the most critical issues facing the UK , Europe and beyond. 
The Indian government has announced a ban on children working as domestic servants or in roadside food stalls. The order, which applies to children under 14, will come into effect in October, officials say. It also bans children from teashops, restaurants, hotels, motels, resorts, spas or other recreational centres. There are estimated to be more than 12.6 million child workers in India , many of whom work as domestic helps or in small roadside restaurants. India has laws in place to protect children and bans the use of young workers in hazardous industries, but they remain ineffective in many areas. 
The Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) which was established by the UK's Equality Act 2006 now has its own 
The Uganda Human Rights Commission has appointed Mr. Gordon T. Mwesigye to the post of Secretary to the Commission with effect from 1 July 2006. Mwesigye, as he prefers to be called, brings to the Commission experience in management at the chief executive level spanning over a period of 24 years, both at the local and international level. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Economics from the University of London (UK), a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University and has obtained extensive management training both locally and internationally. Before joining the Commission, Mwesigye was a Local Government and Management Consultant with the World Bank both locally in Uganda and in Sierra Leone.