Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR
“It is clear that we won’t solve the problem of police brutality against people of African descent until we deal with the broader manifestations of systemic racism that permeate every aspect of their lives. The racial abuse faced once again by Real Madrid football player Vinicius Junior in Spain just this past Sunday, is a stark reminder of the prevalence of racism in sport,” the High Commissioner said.
“I call on those who organise sporting events to have strategies in place to prevent and counter racism. Much more indeed needs to be done to eradicate racial discrimination. And it needs to start with listening to people of African descent meaningfully involving them, and taking genuine steps to act upon their concerns,” he said.
“I think I would like to provide a guide to those who are organisers of sporting event, which is so important because of course sport is also I mean, it brings people together. There are so many positive things that are engrained in sport events. And that's why we want to put forward a number of ideas, ideas of human rights standards and sport events,” Türk added.
“Very deeply troubling reports of sexual violence in Darfur have emerged. We are aware of at least 25 cases, but we also know how difficult it is to document these cases. So we are sure that the real number of cases is much higher. General al Burhan, General Dagalo, you must issue clear instructions in no uncertain terms to all those under your command that there is zero tolerance for sexual violence, that perpetrators of all violations must be held accountable. Civilians must be spared, and you must stop this senseless violence now,” the UN Human Rights Chief said.
“Nowhere is the devastating impact of human rights violations more stark than in the midst of conflict and in the aftermath of natural disasters. And I would like to refer in particular to cyclone Mocha, which has cast a swathe of destruction throughout particularly western parts of Myanmar. It is the latest, disturbing, painful manifestation of a manmade disaster resulting from the climate event for decades. As you know so well, the authorities have deprived the Rohingya of their rights and freedoms, they have relentlessly attacked other ethnic groups, eroding their capacity to survive in the face of adversity peacefully. Communities have subsisted, for example, in temporary bamboo structures, some since 2012, with Myanmar’s military repeatedly denying requests of humanitarian agencies to build more sustainable living conditions in areas that are less prone to flooding, that I saw myself. on my several visits to Myanmar, especially to the West and to Rakhine State,” the High Commissioner said.
“In Afghanistan, the Taliban continue aggressively to seek to erase half of the population from everyday life. Such a system of gender apartheid ruins the development potential of the country as a whole. I would never understand how anyone can trample so cruelly upon the spirit of girls and women. Chipping away at their potential and driving one's country deeper and deeper into abject poverty and despair. It is crucial for the sake of the people of Afghanistan, the future of the country and the wider region that these repressive policies against women and girls are immediately overturned,”Türk said.
For more information and media requests, please contact:
Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or
Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
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“It is clear that we won’t solve the problem of police brutality against people of African descent until we deal with the broader manifestations of systemic racism that permeate every aspect of their lives. The racial abuse faced once again by Real Madrid football player Vinicius Junior in Spain just this past Sunday, is a stark reminder of the prevalence of racism in sport.”
“I call on those who organise sporting events to have strategies in place to prevent and counter racism.Much more indeed needs to be done to eradicate racial discrimination. And it needs to start with listening to people of African descent, meaningfully involving them, and taking genuine steps to act upon their concerns.”
“I think I would like to provide a guide to those who are organisers of sporting events, which is so important because of course sport is also, I mean, it brings people together. There are so many positive things that are engrained in sport events. And that's why we want to put forward a number of ideas, ideas of human rights standards and sport events.”
“Very deeply troubling reports of sexual violence in Darfur have emerged. We are aware of at least 25 cases, but we also know how difficult it is to document these cases. So we are sure that the real number of cases is much higher. General al Burhan, General Dagalo, you must issue clear instructions - in no uncertain terms - to all those under your command that there is zero tolerance for sexual violence, that perpetrators of all violations must be held accountable. Civilians must be spared, and you must stop this senseless violence now.”
“Nowhere is the devastating impact of human rights violations more stark than in the midst of conflict and in the aftermath of natural disasters. And I would like to refer in particular to cyclone Mocha, which has cast a swathe of destruction throughout particularly western parts of Myanmar. It is the latest, disturbing, painful manifestation of a manmade disaster resulting from the climate event for decades. As you know so well, the authorities have deprived the Rohingya of their rights and freedoms, they have relentlessly attacked other ethnic groups, eroding their capacity to survive in the face of adversity peacefully. Communities have subsisted, for example, in temporary bamboo structures, some since 2012, with Myanmar’s military repeatedly denying requests of humanitarian agencies to build more sustainable living conditions in areas that are less prone to flooding that I saw myself on my several visits to Myanmar, especially to the West and to Rakhine State.”
“In Afghanistan, the Taliban continue aggressively to seek to erase half of the population from everyday life. Such a system of gender apartheid ruins the development potential of the country as a whole. I will never understand how anyone can trample so cruelly upon the spirit of girls and women, chipping away at their potential and driving one's country deeper and deeper into abject poverty and despair. It is crucial for the sake of the people of Afghanistan, the future of the country and the wider region that these repressive policies against women and girls are immediately overturned.”
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Edited News | OHCHR
A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
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Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Organization for Migration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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Edited News | WMO
As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.
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Press Conferences | WMO
Launch of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s Air Quality and Climate Bulletin 2024.
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Press Conferences | OHCHR
The UN disability rights committee (CRPD) presented the findings of its 33rd session on DPRK, Finland, Kiribati, Maldives and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
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Press Conferences | HRC
UN Human Rights Council President Ambassador Jürg Lauber briefs the press in Geneva ahead of the Council's 60th session.
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Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
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Edited News | OHCHR
The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017.
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Press Conferences | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR , OHCHR , UN WOMEN , UNFPA
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Federation of the Red Cross.
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Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR
Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’
In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
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Edited News | UNRWA
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, repeated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, amid increased military Israeli activity in the enclave’s largest city.
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Edited News | OCHA , WHO
Amid reports of increased Israeli military operations across Gaza City on Friday, UN aid agencies repeated urgent warnings of ongoing famine and a likely rise in preventable disease, linked to the dire living conditions in the war-shattered enclave.