Tag Archives: International Covenant on Civil and Political rights

United Nations and the abolition of the death penalty

UN Photo of prison by Martine PerretUN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remark that “The death penalty has no place in the 21st century.” reflects the global trend away from capital punishment. More and more Member States from all regions acknowledge that the death penalty undermines human dignity, and that its abolition, or at least a moratorium on its use, contributes to Continue reading →

UN comments on mass state surveillance and human rights

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefs journalists on the state of human rights around the globe, at a press conference held at the UN Office in Geneva. In her opening statement, Ms. Pillay asked “all States to devote much more to making human rights a reality”. 30 June 2011 Geneva, SwitzerlandThe situation of Edward Snowden and alleged large-scale violations of the right of privacy by surveillance programmes raise a number of important international human rights issues which need to be addressed, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said on Friday. “While concerns about national security and criminal activity may Continue reading →