"POLITICAL PARTICIPATION"

The dramatic real-life effects of internet shutdowns on people’s lives and human rights are vastly underestimated, the UN Human Rights Office warns in a report released today. UNTV CH

The UN top political affairs official and two experts told the Security Council how new technologies are affecting the international peace and security situation and how the UN can respond to the situation. UNIFEED

Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

The human rights situation in Somalia came under the spotlight with the first visit of the United Nations Independent Expert Isha Dyfan who noted progress and challenges and called for more international support for human rights in the country. UNSOM

At a press conference on Saturday concluding a 3-day visit to Niger, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, discussed the myriad of significant human rights challenges that the people of Niger have been grappling with, directly with the authorities, civil society, and other actors. OHCHR

UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues Fernand de Varennes said there is a need for a “new deal” in the United States for “comprehensive national human rights legislation to prevent the increasing exclusion [and] discrimination, and also [to] attack hate speech and hate crimes” experienced by minorities. UNIFEED

Realizing women’s 30 per cent quota, political participation in Somalia ‘a game changer’ for sustainable peace, Deputy Secretary-General tells Security Council.

Continuing their regular contact with the leaders of Somalia’s Federal Member States, representatives of some of the country’s international partners today visited Puntland to discuss a range of issues, with a particular focus on upcoming local and federal elections. UNSOM

The latest round of public consultations on Somalia’s constitutional review process came to an end this week, with members of the public providing more of their views on what should go into the final document to safeguard their rights on a range of issues. UNSOM

A delegation of Somalia’s international partners today visited South West State to meet with its president, electoral authority and civil society on the country’s upcoming elections for the House of the People, and reaffirmed their support for the holding of a credible electoral process. UNSOM