The Human Rights Committee this morning discussed a revised General Comment on article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the principle of equality before justice. The revised General Comment has already been discussed by the Committee at a previous session, and…

The Human Rights Committee has considered the initial report of Thailand on how that State party implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Introducing the report, Sorajak Kasemsuvan, Vice Minister at the Thai Prime Minister’s Office, said human rights…

Louise Arbour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, met this afternoon with Members of the Human Rights Committee to discuss her plan of action for expansion and renewal of her Office. The Member States of the United Nations appeared to be enthusiastic about the plan's proposed…

Eduardas Borisovas, the new Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. Borisovas had been serving as…

Elena Ponomareva-Piquier, Chief of the Press and External Relations Unit of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing which provided information about new statements by the Secretary-General on Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Iraq and the Middle East; Geneva activities; and other…

The Human Rights Committee has considered the third periodic report of Syria on how that State party implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Introducing the report, Bashar Ja’afari, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations…

The Human Rights Committee has considered the second periodic report of Slovenia on how that State party is implementing the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Introducing the report, Vinko Gorenak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior of Slovenia…

Elena Ponomareva-Piquier, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing which provided information about the launch of the "Alliance of Civilizations" initiative; the reform of the United Nations, tsunami developments,…

Observes Minute of Silence in Honour of Victims of Terrorist Attack in London The Conference on Disarmament today observed a minute of silence in honour of victims of last week's terrorist attack in London and heard statements by Bulgaria, Peru, Hungary, the Russian Federation, Brazil, China,…

The Human Rights Committee has considered the initial report of Tajikistan on how that State party implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Introducing the report, Khalifa Bobo Khamidov, Minister of Justice of Tajikistan, said from the very first days…