Some 65 years after it was founded, and after decades of reports on every species of sex discrimination and its wasteful effects, the United Nations has decided to set up a single, powerful body to promote equality for women around the world.

Kyrgyzstan: UN experts alarmed by ethnic violence and call for restraint & dialogue

A group of UN human rights experts* today expressed their alarm and deep concern about ethnic tensions that have erupted into violence in the south of Kyrgyzstan, including the cities of Osh and Jalalabad. The violence has reportedly claimed the lives of over one hundred and left many hundreds more injured. A state of emergency has been declared in the region following the outbreak of violence between ethnic Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks. The situation has dramatically deteriorated since 11 June with reports of continuing killings and the burning of residences, shops and other properties.

إسرائيل: اصوات: نساء فلسطينيات مثليات، تستنكر بحدة الهجوم العنيف على اسطول الحرية

فلسطين:اصوات: نساء فلسطينيات مثليات، تستنكر بحدة الهجوم العنيف على اسطول الحرية
وتنادي بالبدأ فورا بتحقيق دولي حول الهجوم، معاقبة المسؤولين
ورفع الحصار عن غزه

UN: Report of the Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights

Human Rights Council, Fourteenth session, 31 May - 18 June 2010, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Report of the Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights, Closing Remarks and Answers: Ms. Farida Shaheed. [English] 6 minutes.

UN: Report of the SR on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo

There are substantive references to shari'a and gender-based discrimination in the Fourteenth session (Agenda item 3) HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Advanced edited version of PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT. Read the full report here: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/14session/A.HRC.14.22_AEV.pdf

UN: Statement by experts on World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development

Human rights are essential tools for an effective intercultural dialogue: On this World Day for Cultural Diversity, let us celebrate the richness of our common humanity embodied in cultural diversity which is as essential for humankind as bio-diversity is for nature and recognise the imperative of defending this diversity which cannot be dissociated from respect for the dignity of the individual and complete commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Palestine: Ramallah conference on honour crimes

At a landmark conference held recently in Ramallah in the occupied Palestinian territory, delegates were told of documented cases of “honour” crimes where women and girls had been poisoned, strangled, shot and forced to commit suicide by arelatives because their alleged behaviours had tarnished the family “honour”. These behaviours included talking on the phone with a man, being late or the mere rumour or supposition that an illicit behaviour may have happened.

الأمم المتحدة:أشكال العنف ضد المرأة

جاء تقرير الأمم المتحدة الصادر هذا العام عن أشكال العنف المختلفة ضد المرأة حول العالم مثيراً للشجون والألم، وكاشفاً عن حجم الانتهاكات الصارخة التي تتعرض لها النساء حول العالم. ولم يأتي هذا التقرير محض اختلاقات وأوهام مكتبية ونظرية لا تمت للواقع المعيش بصلة، بقدر ما جاء عبر مسح عالمي شامل، وعبر مساهمة خبيرات دوليات في شؤون المرأة حول العالم، إضافة إلى مساهمة المؤسسات الحكومية الرسمية، والمؤسسات غير الحكومية بما فيها تلك المنظمات الدولية ذات الصفة عبر القومية. ويمكن القول أن التقرير قد شمل المحلي والقومي والإقليمي والدولي فيما يتعلق بأشكال العنف التتي تواجهها المرأة حول العالم.

ONU: L’Iran élu à la Commission de la condition de la femme

Nous venons d’apprendre avec stupéfaction que, mercredi le 28 avril dernier, les Nations Unies ont élu l’Iran à la Commission de la condition de la femme , pour un mandat de quatre ans. Par cette décision scandaleuse, l’ONU permet à cet État théocratique d’exercer son influence sur le sort des femmes dans le monde. On le sait, la République islamique d’Iran pratique la lapidation des femmes et fouette celles qui sont jugées "immodestes", certains les accusant même d’être de ce fait responsables des tremblements de terre !

UN: Iran kept off Human Rights Council but elected to Commission on Women's Rights

Without fanfare, the United Nations this week elected Iran to its Commission on the Status of Women, handing a four-year seat on the influential human rights body to a theocratic state in which stoning is enshrined in law and lashings are required for women judged "immodest." Just days after Iran abandoned a high-profile bid for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, it began a covert campaign to claim a seat on the Commission on the Status of Women, which is "dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women," according to its website.

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