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Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- The entry point for the mandate holder is action against violence and discrimination. This is based on existing international human rights law and its interrelationship with sexual orientation and gender identity; there is no advocacy of new rights for particular groups.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
A world fit for children 2002, para. 40.14
- Paragraph text
- [To achieve these goals and targets, we will implement the following strategies and actions:] Enhance the status, morale, training and professionalism of teachers, including early childhood educators, ensuring appropriate remuneration for their work and opportunities and incentives for their development.
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2002
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Review of the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners 2013, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has noted that inappropriate conditions of detention, including conditions characterized by structural deprivation and the non-fulfilment of rights necessary for a humane and dignified existence, amount to a systematic practice of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (E/CN.4/2004/56, para. 41, and A/HRC/13/39/Add.5, para. 230). A considerable amount of jurisprudence at the international and regional levels has also consistently found that conditions of detention can amount to inhuman and degrading treatment. Overcrowding, lack of ventilation, poor sanitary conditions, prolonged isolation, the holding of suspects incommunicado, frequent transfers from one prison to another, the non-separation of different categories of prisoners, the holding of persons with disabilities in environments that include areas inaccessible to them and the holding of persons without means of communication could constitute or lead to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or torture. The Rules could benefit from adhering to the requirement established by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights regarding services in places of detention (see general comment No. 19 of the Committee, especially paras. 1, 9, 31 and 46).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Water & Sanitation
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the creation of the Forum on Minority Issues, and the Special Rapporteur considers this to be an ideal opportunity to further reflect on the above-mentioned challenges and ways to better promote and achieve the goals of the Forum.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Caste-affected groups have also been identified in other countries, such as Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali and Sierra Leone.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism 2015, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur also remains concerned by the failure of public authorities to protect Roma from violent attacks. That includes the lack of systematic intervention and condemnation by public figures when political and public discourse perpetuates racist and extreme views about Roma, and the failure of law enforcement authorities to protect Roma from the perpetrators of crimes against them. For example, a violent police crackdown on a Roma community in Slovakia in 2013 was condemned by a number of special procedures mandate holders, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the country's Ombudswoman. Nevertheless, the Minister of the Interior of Slovakia publically labelled the Roma victims of that intervention as criminals, and investigation into the police misconduct has been slow, with no charges brought against the police to date. Such failures by authorities to protect Roma adequately and to distance themselves from all manifestations of anti-Gypsyism not only promote a climate of distrust, dissuading Roma from reporting violent crimes against them to authorities, but also create an atmosphere of impunity and may encourage further acts of violence against Roma.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Fundamentalism and its impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association 2016, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- Free market fundamentalism in the United States of America has led to a systematic rollback of the right to freedom of association for workers in several jurisdictions, particularly in the 26 States that have enacted so-called "right to work" legislation. The laws forbid unions from negotiating contracts that require all workers represented by a union to pay dues. Proponents of the laws frame their purpose in free market terms, saying that employees should "decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union". But at the same time, United States law requires unions to represent all employees in a bargaining unit. Thus, the effect of the "right to work" laws is to give non-dues-paying workers a free ride: they reap the benefits that the union has negotiated without having to pay the costs. This can weaken unions over the long run, and the Special Rapporteur views these laws as legislative obstacles intentionally designed to discourage people from exercising their right to freedom of association in the workplace.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Ability of associations to access financial resources as a vital part of the right to freedom of association & Ability to hold peaceful assemblies as an integral component of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly 2013, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- By contrast, as in the view of the OSCE/ODIHR Panel of Experts, a notification should be considered as unduly bureaucratic if any of the following requirements is imposed on the organizers: that there be more than one named organizer; that only registered organizations are considered as legitimate organizers; that formal identity documents, such as passports or identity cards, be produced; that identification details of others involved in the event, such as stewards be provided; that reasons for holding an assembly, bearing in mind the principle of non-discrimination, be given; and that the exact number of participants, which is difficult to predict, be given. In this connection, the authorities should not punish organizers if the number of participants does not match the anticipated number, as stipulated by domestic legislation (as has occurred in the Russian Federation).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Hate speech and incitement to hatred 2012, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- Lastly, ensuring accountability for what is reported in the media also remains important. For example, the open journalism paradigm promoted by the Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland encourages two-way interaction between journalists and the audience online, which has reinserted journalists' willingness to engage in debate and be accountable for what they do into the core of journalism. At the very minimum, media outlets and journalists should adopt voluntary ethical codes and standards that do not allow hate speech and promote high standards of professional journalism, in addition to establishing independent and self-regulatory bodies to elevate standards of journalism and to ensure the accountability of all media professionals. Self-regulatory bodies should be seen not only as an exercise in policing and dispute resolution, but also as an opportunity to involve society at large in debates about the role and contribution of the media, to monitor the state of the media, to advocate professional journalism and to promote media literacy. Such bodies can also play a proactive and exemplary role in setting and reinforcing ethical standards for online content and the social media.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Protecting education against commercialization 2015, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- Courts in the United States have also ruled that using public money to fund private school tuition vouchers is unconstitutional, and that public money being so used should instead go to public schools.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to education
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2015
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right to adequate housing of persons with disabilities 2017, para. 45f
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- [The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has identified some indicators of whether a State has satisfied a standard of reasonableness, including:] Whether decision-making is transparent and participatory.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right to adequate housing of persons with disabilities 2017, para. 45d
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- [The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has identified some indicators of whether a State has satisfied a standard of reasonableness, including:] Whether the precarious situation of disadvantaged and marginalized individuals or groups has been addressed;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right to adequate housing of persons with disabilities 2017, para. 45b
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- [The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has identified some indicators of whether a State has satisfied a standard of reasonableness, including:] Whether resource allocation is in accordance with international human rights standards;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- Since the first report submitted by the Independent Expert, he has attended a range of conferences and consultations and participated in related activities. For example, he participated in a conference in New York in early 2017 on the role of the business sector in the integration of sexual orientation and gender identity into their policy and practices, as monitored by a gender equality index and as recognized through a number of awards for exemplary performance. Indicators for measuring performance include the need for specific corporate policy reflecting sexual orientation and gender identity at the administrative level as well as in the entire work place, with training for mutual respect and provision of remedies in the case of discrimination. The Independent Expert highlighted the importance of incentivization in the work place, side by side with accountability, as well as integration of the message of non-discrimination throughout the supply chain and interaction with small-scale industries, which are often closest to the general population, particularly in developing countries. When the workplace personifies an environment of non-discrimination and both management and workers feel a sense of inclusion and belonging, there is a key dividend in both economic and social terms, adding to the positive value chain in the global-local dynamic.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Strengthening voluntary standards for businesses on preventing and combating trafficking in persons and labour exploitation, especially in supply chains 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Regarding recruitment regulation, the ILO launched in September 2016 the non-binding ILO general principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment, in which it is reiterated that recruitment should take place in a way that respects, protects and fulfils internationally recognized human rights, including those expressed in international labour standards, such as prevention and elimination of forced labour. The guidelines enshrine principles related to the prohibition of recruitment fees, transparency in the terms and conditions of employment, the prohibition against confiscating workers’ identity documents, and contracts, among others. Another initiative, the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS) was launched by IOM in 2014. IRIS is a multi-stakeholder initiative for labour recruiters that offers a certification system to recognize ethical recruiters on the basis of an evaluation of their compliance with the IRIS Code of Conduct. Based on the ILO labour standards, the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and good practices in the industry, the Code of Conduct also includes principles on the prohibition of charging recruitment fees to jobseekers, respect for freedom of movement, respect for transparency of terms and conditions of employment, respect for confidentiality and data protection and respect for access to remedy.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
The right to mental health 2017, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- Discrimination, de jure and de facto, continues to influence mental health services, depriving users of a variety of rights, including the rights to refuse treatment, to legal capacity and to privacy, and other civil and political rights. The role of psychiatry and other mental health professions is particularly important and measures are needed to ensure that their professional practices do not perpetuate stigma and discrimination.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2014, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- Schools can be an ideal environment in which to promote the development and dissemination of values of non-violence and respect for human rights among pupils and staff, and in the wider community. For this reason, schools in many countries promote restorative justice practices to prevent and respond to bullying and violence in the playground and address serious offences within the school, including rape.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Stigma and the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation 2012, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- For many stigmatized individuals, stigma results in a negative impact on their right to privacy when attempting to meet their water and sanitation needs. For instance, homeless people may be forced to urinate and defecate in public, given the inexistence or lack of maintenance of public facilities. During her mission to Slovenia, the Special Rapporteur met with Roma communities who were forced to defecate in the open and bathe in a stream due to the lack of adequate facilities. When doing so they were reportedly chased by the police (A/HRC/18/33/Add.2, para. 35). In these cases, the State directly interferes with people's privacy, not only by chasing them, but also by not allowing their dwellings to be connected to water supply and sewerage systems due to their alleged "illegal" status. Similar situations can be found in slums all over the world where the alleged "illegal" status of settlements results in people being denied access to facilities that would guarantee their privacy. In South Africa, a case was brought to the court concerning unenclosed toilets built by the municipality, that is, toilets that were erected without the enclosing superstructure that would hide people from view when using them. The Western Cape High Court found, inter alia, a violation of the right to privacy enshrined in article 14 of the South African Constitution.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Pathways to, conditions and consequences of incarceration for women 2013, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- In India, the conditions in which prisoners are held can vary according to how they are classified: foreign citizens, political prisoners and individuals belonging to "higher" castes receive better treatment while incarcerated, including placement in larger or less-crowded prison cells, access to books and newspapers, and more and better food. Those who belong to the "lower" castes do not receive these benefits.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2013
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Violence against women with disabilities 2012, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- The principle of non-discrimination in article 2 encompasses the commitment not to engage in discrimination on the basis of disability and to take steps to counter both direct and indirect forms of discrimination. In addition to prohibiting discrimination both on the basis of disability and other grounds, article 5 requires States to ensure the provision of reasonable accommodation, in order to promote equality and eliminate discrimination.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Stocktaking exercise on the work of the mandate on its tenth Anniversary 2014, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- With regard to national rapporteurs and equivalent mechanisms, the Special Rapporteur wishes to mention specifically the outcomes of the two consultative meetings she convened in 2013 and 2014 in order to foster partnerships and enhance collaboration, in fulfilment of General Assembly resolutions 59/166, 61/144, 63/156, 64/293, 68/186 and 68/192 and in follow-up to reports to the Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur and to the Economic and Social Council by the High Commissioner for Human Rights (see, for example, E/2002/68/Add.1, A/HRC/10/16 and Corr. 1 and A/HRC/26/37/Add.1) and directives of the European Union, including directive 12011/36EU. According to statements made by participants at the twenty-sixth session of the Human Rights Council and the responses to a questionnaire sent out by the Special Rapporteur, those outcomes were highly appreciated. The establishment of an informal network of such mechanisms from all over the world in order to address trafficking in persons consistently, exchange information and best practices and build on different national experiences was one of the main outcomes of those meetings. Other recommendations included the need for a global baseline study in order to better understand the roles of national rapporteurs and equivalent mechanisms and provide guidance for their work.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2014
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Manifestations and causes of domestic servitude 2010, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Restrictions of domestic workers' human rights to freedom of movement and residence can also be indicators for dependency. In some cases, domestic workers are forced to live with their employers and locked into the house virtually 24 hours a day. This is not only a violation, but also means that they are isolated, unable to report exploitation to the authorities and incapable of obtaining support from peers, friends or labour union representatives.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Violence
- Year
- 2010
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Study on illegal adoptions 2017, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Attitudes towards the accreditation of adoption agencies vary among receiving States, with some accrediting a small number of bodies that have the resources to provide all the necessary professional services and can be monitored effectively, and others having multiple and diverse accredited bodies.Accreditation is no guarantee of professionalism, however. The fact that adoption agencies are not effectively monitored and vetted for their professionalism and ethics is a major problem.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- The background and daily experience of justice sector staff, especially judges, are often very different from those of persons living in poverty, and this often means that, without proper training and sensitization, they do not understand and value their views, choices, behaviours or problems. Persons living in poverty may be denied access to impartial justice owing to negative stigma and stereotyping from judges, prosecutors and police.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Year
- 2012
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 117
- Paragraph text
- In its general recommendation No. 29 (2002), the Committee requested States to "establish statutory mechanisms, through the strengthening of existing institutions or the creation of specialized institutions, to promote respect for the equal human rights of members of descent-based communities".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 115
- Paragraph text
- In Japan, the Law on Special Measures for Dowa Projects, enacted in 1969 and in force until 2002, was aimed at improving the living conditions in identified Buraku districts (Dowa districts) by improving access to welfare, employment and education, and providing redress in cases of discrimination against Buraku people.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 110
- Paragraph text
- In South Asia, several constitutions explicitly refer to "caste" as one of the grounds for prohibited discrimination, including those of Bangladesh (art. 28), India (arts. 15 and 16), Nepal (art. 18), Pakistan (arts. 22, 26 and 27) and Sri Lanka (art. 12.2 and 12.3). Furthermore, the constitutions of India (art. 17) and Nepal (art. 24) explicitly outlaw "untouchability".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- Studies in South Asia demonstrate patterns of discriminatory behaviour against individuals from lower castes, particularly in health care, including denial of or restrictions on services, lack of treatment and longer waiting periods. Health-care providers spend less time with them, and staff use derogatory or demeaning words and avoid physical contact when examining them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- Caste-based discrimination confines Dalits in South Asia to certain occupations associated with their caste, which often involve the most menial tasks, such as sanitation jobs. In Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, street cleaning and the handling of human waste and animal carcasses are almost exclusively performed by Dalits.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Water & Sanitation
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- In Yemen, the Muhamasheen ("marginalized ones"), also known as Al Akhdam, constitute a minority group subjected to descent-based discrimination. There are no official data, but unofficial sources estimate their number at between 500,000 and 3.5 million. Their occupational roles include garbage collection, street sweeping and cleaning toilets and drains. They suffer from social stigma and discrimination, which exacerbate their socioeconomic exclusion and poverty.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph