By Megan Abbot

Civilians are being killed in Yemen, possibly as part of a targeted campaign in violation of international law.  In the conflict that has killed over 4,500 people, the U.S.-backed coalition led by Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s president-in-exile, Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi, against the predominantly Shiite Houthi fighters from the northern provinces.  Iona Craig reports for Intercept that while it’s unclear whether the bombings are intentionally targeting civilians—which would be a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law—airstrikes show a pattern of indiscriminate bombing in densely-populated areas, including “double-tap” strikes seeming to target civilians assisting in recovery.  Human rights groups have called for the UNHRC to investigate these alleged violations of international law, including U.S. involvement in the killings.

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September 08, 2015

By Huiyu Yin

The updated “VotesCount” website published the voting records of United Nations Human Rights Council members, organized by their votes on situations in individual countries during 2014.

“Countries often hide behind their regional groups or the political dynamics at the Human Rights Council, but each has a role in the council's successes and failures,” said John Fisher, the Geneva director at Human Rights Watch. “Each council member should be held accountable for its votes and for its leadership, which our VotesCount website makes easily accessible.”

Journalists in Yemen need support and protection.

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April 16, 2015

By Courtney Cox

The U.S. refused to discuss Israel’s human rights record during the annual U.N. Human Rights Council forum. Reuters reports that the debate focused on alleged abuses occurring in the Palestinian territories. The U.S. has not spoken on the issue in the forum since 2013. That same year, the U.S. and Israel entered into an agreement (essentially a gag clause) when Israel resumed its participation in the U.N. Human Rights Council. The Israeli Foreign Ministry justified the agreement because the debate “negatively singles out Israel.” The U.S. was not the only country that remained silent. Israel’s other allies, including France and Great Britain, also refused to participate in the debate.

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April 15, 2015

By Ena Cefo

U.S. investors, headed by hedge funds NML and Aurelius Capital Management, are suing Argentina in U.S. courts for full payment on their Argentine government bonds totaling US$1.3 billion. The investors bought Argentine bonds for low prices after Argentina’s 2001 default, when the bonds were at a dramatic low. Argentina defaulted on its debt after the investors rejected a widely accepted bond restructuring agreement. The UN Human Rights Council’s resolution condemned the activities of the so called “vulture funds” and warned against the effect of payments to such “vulture funds” on the deterioration of human rights conditions in South American countries such as Argentina.

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October 27, 2014

By Courtney Cox

After footage of the beheading of a second American hostage surfaced, the United States declared war on the self-proclaimed ‘Islamic State’ (IS) this week. Concurrently, the twenty-seventh session of the United Nations Human Rights Council launched to discuss dire humanitarian issues. In the opening session, the Council prioritized crimes against humanity at the hands of IS. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, urged the international community to combat the ruthless bloodshed in the regions targeted by IS.

BBC reports that IS is coercing religious conversions, and consistently executing those who refuse to acquiesce on a massive scale. Yazidi, Turkmen, Shabak, Kaka’i, Sabeans and Shia communities have been specifically targeted. Horrific accounts of violent abuse and the detainment of women and children (who are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse) have also come to light. To date, thousands of civilians have been killed, and over a million have abandoned their homes. The vicious acts of IS reek of genocide and warrant a sense of international urgency.

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September 17, 2014

By Katie Bacharach

Michael Kirby, Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea, appealed to the U.N. Security Council to have North Korea referred to the ICC, according to Reuters. 

The U.N. inquiry’s final report determined that North Korean security chiefs, and possibly even Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, should be brought to the court for ordering systematic torture, starvation, and killings “comparable to Nazi-era atrocities.” 

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power agreed with the inquiry’s recommendation. However, China has suggested that it would shield North Korea from prosecution, telling the Human Rights Council in Geneva last month that the inquiry had mad “unfounded accusations and recommendations ‘divorced from reality’.”

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April 19, 2014

By Julie Inglese

The Times of India is reporting that the United Kingdom has agreed to vote in favor of an independent investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka at the upcoming U.N. Human Rights Council.

The U.S.-led resolution alleges that 40,000 civilians were killed at the end of Sri Lanka's separatist war despite the great progress that they have made in reintegrating child soldiers and reconstructing conflict areas. The United Kingdom said it strongly believes “that, without a credible investigation… it will be very difficult for the Sri Lankan people to move forward in the true spirit of lasting peace, reconciliation and unity…”

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March 31, 2014