Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville
Location: Geneva
Date: 7 June 2013

1) Burundi

We regret the promulgation on June 4 of a press law which could infringe on the freedom of press in Burundi. Back in April, the UN human rights office in Burundi urged that the draft law be revised to ensure its conformity with international human rights standards. Unfortunately their suggestions do not appear to have been taken fully into account.

Geneva, 29 May 2013

Mr. President,
Distinguished Members of the Human Rights Council,
Excellencies,

The situation in Syria reflects a colossal failure to protect civilians. Day after day, children, women and men suffer the brutality of unbridled violence and gross human rights violations by all parties. The increasing number of foreign fighters crossing Syria’s borders to support one side or the other, is further fueling the sectarian violence, and the situation is beginning to show worrying signs of destabilizing the region as a whole.

GINEBRA (13 de mayo de 2013) – La Alta Comisionada de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos, Navi Pillay, aplaudió la condena en primera instancia al ex jefe de estado de facto, José Efraín Ríos Montt, por genocidio y crímenes de lesa humanidad anunciada el viernes pasado.

10 May 2013 (Issued as received) GENEVA (10 May 2013) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Friday that reports of massacres allegedly carried out by Syrian government forces and pro-government militias in recent days should spur the international community to act to find a solution to the conflict and to ensure those responsible for serious human rights violations are made to account for their crimes.

Rapport du Bureau Conjoint des Nations Unies aux Droits de l’Homme sur les violations des droits de l'homme perpétrées par des militaires de forces armées congolaises et des combattants du M23 à Goma et à Sake, Province du Nord-Kivu, ainsi qu'à Minova et dans ses environs, Province du Sud-Kivu, entre le 15 novembre et le 2 décembre 2012

L’ONU dénonce des violences sexuelles, d’autres violations graves dans l’est de la RDC

GENEVA (8 May 2013) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday urged the Egyptian Government to take steps to ensure that the current version of a draft law on civil society organizations is laid open to careful examination by Egyptian and international human rights experts, and, based on their advice, is brought into line with international standards, before it is adopted by the Shura Council.

GENEVA (2 May 2013) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Thursday expressed serious concerns over the crackdown on mass demonstrations across Papua since 30 April, with police reportedly using excessive force and arresting people for raising pro-independence flags.

“These latest incidents are unfortunate examples of the ongoing suppression of freedom of expression and excessive use of force in Papua,” Pillay said. “I urge the Government of Indonesia to allow peaceful protest and hold accountable those involved in abuses.”

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report presents and analyses key elements of the human rights situation in Haiti during the period July to December 2012. It follows a previous report covering January to June 2012, published in October 2012. The second half of 2012 has seen some positive developments in human rights protection, but has also been marked by a lack of implementation and follow-up on important advances identified in the first half of the year.

GENEVA (17 April 2013) – The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Shamsul Bari, condemned in the strongest terms Sunday’s deadly bomb and gun attacks at the Banadir Regional Court and near the airport in Mogadishu. Mr. Bari urged the Somali Government, and the international community, to continue its efforts to strengthen the administration of justice, despite this attack to the justice sector.