"HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS"

The UN Human Rights Office has “growing concerns that the authorities in Nicaragua are actively silencing any critical or dissenting voices in the country and are using the justice system to this end,” spokesperson Marta Hurtado said. UNTV CH

As South Sudan grapples with multiple challenges, Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of UNMISS, urged political leaders to galvanize momentum in peace processes so that free, fair, and credible elections can be held on time. UNMISS

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, held a wide-ranging press conference in Geneva during which he commented, among others, on the issues of systemic racism, sexual violence in Darfur, the effects of cyclone Mocha in Myanmar and the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. UNTV CH

Addressing the Security Council annual debate on the protection of civilians (PoC) in armed conflict, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “war is devastating lives around the world,” and stressed that “we must intensify our efforts to prevent conflict, protect civilians, preserve peace and find political solutions to war.” UNIFEED

“I strongly condemn this wanton violence, in which both sides have trampled international humanitarian law,” said the UN human rights chief Volker Türk at the opening of the Council’s Special Session on Sudan. UNTV CH

The Human Rights Council today opened a special session on the human rights impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, hearing the High Commissioner for Human Rights strongly condemn the wanton violence taking place in the country in which both sides had trampled international humanitarian law. UNTV CH

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) today issued an advisory in which it urges states to keep borders open to people fleeing ongoing hostilities in Sudan and to suspend negative asylum decisions for Sudanese nationals outside the country who cannot return because of the conflict. UNTV CH

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti said that a path for Haitians to engage in dialogue toward restoring democratic institutions in the country has been charted; however, “it will be difficult to move forward without effectively addressing rampant insecurity.” UNIFEED

Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, said, “We urge the Mexican authorities to act swiftly on the ruling by the Supreme Court declaring unconstitutional last year’s transfer of the National Guard to military control.” OHCHR

The United Nations High Commissioner Volker Türk just issued a press statement this morning in which he called for immediate cessation to hostilities and for the Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to return to the negotiating table. UNTV CH