The week's Human Rights news stories and videos (27 Feb - 2 March)

Featured stories, news and videos from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) - 27 February / 2 March

OHCHR represents the world's commitment to universal ideals of human dignity. They have a unique mandate from the international community to promote and protect all human rights.

FEATURE STORIES

The Human Rights Council holds an urgent debate on Syria. UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay addresses the Human Rights Council's urgent debate on Syria, describing the situation in the country as dire, and calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to end the fighting and bombardments.

The Human Rights Council calls on the Syrian Government to immediately end attacks on civilians. Condemning the continued widespread and systematic human rights violations in Syria, the Human Rights Council passes a resolution calling for an immediate end to all human rights violations and attacks against Syrian civilians.

The 19th session of the Human Rights Council opens in Geneva. The Human Rights Council, convening for its 19th session, immediately schedules an urgent debate on the human rights and humanitarian situation in Syria.

Strengthening human rights starts at home: the Paraguayan experience. The Government of Paraguay presents a National Human Rights Action Plan aimed at improving the human rights situation in the country.

Harnessing the potential of sports for human rights. “Both sport and human rights share many fundamental values and objectives,” says Pillay at a UN Human Rights Council panel discussion on sport and human rights.

Combating homophobic violence against women. A combination of legal reforms and public education are needed to combat discrimination and violence against lesbians, bisexual women and transgender persons.

VIDEOS

Syria - Urgent debate of the Human Rights Council
Link: http://youtu.be/cdFhNpUyzLk

Human Rights Council - Internet Freedom
Link: http://youtu.be/EkBr3oZSQFY

SOCIAL MEDIA

United Nations Human Rights on Facebook , Twitter and Youtube
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).